b.stage Officially Launches Golf-Focused Platform Grounding to Target the Golf Fandom Market

Global fandom platform b.stage has officially launched “Grounding,” a dedicated platform for golf, as it moves to target the golf market. Grounding provides an integrated fan experience tailored to the golf industry, covering fan communities, memberships, commerce, and real-time interaction. The project, promoted through a business partnership with professional golfer Kim Hyung-sung, is expected to become a central hub for expanding golf fandom going forward. Grounding is designed to help professional golfers move beyond the limits of social media, turn their personal influence into an asset, and build sustainable business models through direct engagement with fans. Its core value lies in offering dedicated infrastructure that enables players to operate sustainable fandom businesses, rather than relying on fragmented interactions centered on conventional social platforms. The platform’s main services include memberships and subscriptions to “POP.” Membership users can participate in various programs, including exclusive content and offline events. POP allows professional players and fans to move between chat and live streaming, continuing denser one-on-one interactions. All of these services are integrated into the main space, “Lounge.” In Lounge, content from both inside and outside competitions and fan communities can be managed in one place. Through tournament schedules, announcements, notifications, and insights based on fan activity data, the platform builds a player-centered fandom environment. Fans can enjoy all forms of interaction with players in one place, including behind-the-scenes match content, daily updates, real-time live streaming, and private one-on-one chats. To commemorate the launch, a showcase titled “THE FIRST GROUNDING: Beyond the Rope” will be held this afternoon, the 14th, in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, with an online event taking place at the same time. Members can apply for membership verification and POP subscription verification events, and experience a special connection with players through a raffle for golf balls signed by the players. The expansion of offline touchpoints is also drawing attention. Based on its accumulated expertise in designing fan experiences, b.stage will actively support offline activities that reflect the unique characteristics of golf, such as rounds with professional players, one-point lesson programs, and fan signing events. In particular, the company plans to host Pro-Am events for membership users, offering premium experiences in which fans can play in the same group as professional golfers. The goal is not simply to remain an online community, but to create a new golf fandom culture itself. Grounding is also beginning full-scale global expansion. The platform officially supports Korean and Japanese, connecting directly with fans in Japan, where demand for golf fandom is high. Through collaboration with partner companies in Korea and abroad, b.stage plans to organically combine content and commerce, continuously strengthen related brand partnerships and membership benefits, and accelerate innovation in digital fan experiences across the golf industry. Seo Woo-seok, CEO of bemyfriends, said, “Grounding is a new dimension of golf business model in which professional players and fans grow together.” He added, “Based on b.stage’s fandom business design capabilities cultivated across the entertainment industry, including K-pop, we will create a new trend in golf fandom culture.” b.stage currently has more than 350 clients worldwide and is strengthening its position as global fandom business infrastructure across diverse industries such as K-pop, esports, and sports under its “Fandom Business 360” strategy. In addition to the launch of Grounding, the company has recently opened the fan community for LIV Golf’s Korean Golf Club (KGC), expanding its influence across the sports sector in all directions.