Blake Salmi never planned on building a golf company. The son of a PGA Professional who spent more than two decades running the Eaton Canyon and Altadena golf courses in Pasadena, California, Blake actually resisted the game for much of his childhood. It wasn't until his late teens, while working at local golf courses, that golf became something more than a high school sport. It became a passion. At the same time, another passion was beginning to take shape: entrepreneurship. At just 18 years old, Blake became the first employee and Operations Manager of SidioCrate, a direct-to-consumer startup focused on innovative storage products. In less than a year, the company grew from zero revenue to more than $250,000 per month, giving him a firsthand education in product development, operations, and what it takes to build a business from the ground up. When he eventually left SidioCrate to finish college, Blake found himself right back where he started. Working at golf courses once again. This time, however, the game meant something different. The pro shop became more than a job. It became the place where his passion for golf deepened and where the idea for The Birdie Band was born.