At 20 years old, Bodo Sieber packed his bags in Germany and boarded a plane to South Africa - not for business, but to chase his passion for rugby. Standing on a dusty rugby field in South Africa, sweat dripping down his face, the African sun beating down without any mercy, he found more than just sport. Immersed in a country brimming with challenges and opportunities, Sieber discovered the spark of entrepreneurship, fueled by a love of problem-solving and the belief that big impact often begins with simple solutions. That same mindset would one day lead him to become the co-founder and CEO of Tagmarshal, a global leader in golf course optimization technology - trusted by hundreds of golf courses worldwide, including many of the game’s most iconic venues.
The Birth of Tagmarshal
Growing up in Germany, Bodo was shaped by a culture obsessed with precision - where every train is on time and every process has a system. That mindset faced its true test when he moved to South Africa. Here, on top of rugby and studies, he discovered a society where opportunities lay hidden in inefficiencies. It was the perfect launchpad for someone wired to solve problems.
That problem-solving spirit led directly to the founding of Tagmarshal in 2014. While reconnecting with a former rugby teammate from the University of Cape Town, Sieber was introduced to a challenge that golfers everywhere were all too familiar with: the game was too slow. His friend posed a simple but powerful question: “Surely, we can use technology to fix this, right?”
The problem was clear: golf was simply too slow. Rounds that stretched far beyond their expected time frustrated players and disrupted the overall experience. Sieber compares it to a familiar frustration many of us have faced:
For golfers, that “missed connection” might mean cutting time short with family, skipping plans after a round, or simply leaving the course feeling dissatisfied. And for golf courses, it meant unhappy players, lost revenue, and a reputation that could suffer.
Technology as the Answer
That observation sparked an exploration into the golf industry. What Sieber and his team discovered was a significant gap: while many industries were rapidly adopting data and technology, golf remained largely untouched by this transformation. Rounds were slow, management decisions were often based on instinct rather than insight, and players were left frustrated by inefficiencies.
Tagmarshal was created to fill that gap. By harnessing technology and data, it became a tool designed to optimize course operations, enhance decision-making, and, most importantly, make golf faster, more efficient, and more enjoyable. The business case was just as clear.
What began as a conversation between friends has since evolved into a solution transforming the way golf courses worldwide operate, turning frustration into opportunity and proving that when efficiency and experience align, everybody wins.
Problem-Solving as a Philosophy
For Sieber, entrepreneurship does not stem from his interests or insider knowledge, as, perhaps surprisingly, Sieber is not a golfer himself: he is a problem solver.
That is also the point he emphasizes when offering advice to younger tech entrepreneurs who may be overthinking their ideas:
That philosophy is exactly what has carried Tagmarshal to where it is today. When asked about the proudest moment in the company’s journey, Sieber doesn’t point to a single milestone or award. Instead, his entrepreneurial mindset shines through:
The Future of Tagmarshal
For Tagmarshal, the future is bright. Even though the company has come a long way, there are still problems to be solved in the world of golf. Sieber and his team are currently working on implementing new technologies and artificial intelligence to further improve the experience for golfers.
Their latest innovation is a product line called Wind Tech, which measures wind directly on the flagsticks. With this addition, golfers will have real-time insights into two critical questions: “How far is it to the hole? And which club do I need to choose?”
By continuing to identify and solve problems, Tagmarshal is not only shaping the future of golf technology - it’s transforming the game itself.
