Founding All Square on 12.12.12, Patrick Rahme and his business partner Arthur de Rivoire saw an opportunity to unify the $180 billion golf market through a free app. Three years later, it has a directory of more than 33,000 golf courses worldwide.

The app enables golfers to follow other golfers, find someone of the same skill level or “play golf with someone they want to do business with”, Rahme explains. “Golfers love to travel and explore new golf courses all over the world, as well as compare experiences with their peers. So we created a platform for golfers to connect as well as review courses,” says the 27-year old entrepreneur. All Square has been coined “Facebook and Tripadvisor for golf.” When asked about this, he is flattered by the term: “if anything, this comparison helps us because it quickly explains what our app does.”

Previous golf apps focused on scoring and GPS, but Rahme recognises that most golfers play socially. “I believe that only 1% of golfers use apps for scoring and GPS tracking. For the rest of us, it’s more about showcasing the different golf courses we have visited and sharing our experiences through reviews.”

At 13, Rahme was already playing golf with people from all social circles, “including top bank managers in Luxembourg.” It comes as no surprise that he has a 0 handicap and several European championships under his belt. “Actually my business partner and I were competitors when we were junior golf players,” Rahme laughs. After they graduated, both he and de Rivoire started working in private banking in Geneva before launching their firm. “If we are going to take a business risk, now is going to be the best time, neither of us have any major responsibilities,” he says.

What’s next for All Square? “We’re working with the ING international management group for the next six months, leveraging their network and expertise as well as business development.”

The two-time national golf champion is proud to represent the Grand Duchy in his sport and also in his business. “I’m very grateful that we chose to start the company in Luxembourg. We received a significant grant from the government and let’s be honest, it would just be too expensive to do this in Switzerland,” he grins.