Shark Tank's Mark Cuban Backs Portable Golf Game Despite His Hate For Golf – 'I'll Do Videos Of This, Even At A PGA Event!'

Mark Cuban doesn't care for golf, but he's betting $1 million on a portable version of the game anyway. Recently on Shark Tank, Cuban surprised everyone by investing in BucketGolf, a customizable backyard-friendly game created by San Francisco siblings Tyler and Jenny Simmons.

BucketGolf ditches manicured greens and golf carts in favor of collapsible buckets, which serve as holes players can place wherever they want – on beaches, in parks or across backyards. The sets are priced between $114.99 and $254.99, with higher-end options featuring light-up holes and multiple clubs for added fun.

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Despite Cuban's blunt admission – "I hate golf. I hate the concept of it" – the company's financials made it impossible to ignore. 

On the show, CEO Tyler Simmons said the startup was on track to generate over $12 million in sales for 2024, doubling its $5.9 million revenue from 2023 and a far cry from $2.5 million in 2022. Profits account for roughly 15% to 20% of sales this year.

According to Statista, the U.S. outdoor games and sports market was valued at $37 billion in 2023 and has experienced steady annual growth, highlighting ample opportunity for innovative products like BucketGolf.

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The Simmons siblings entered the tank asking for $1 million in exchange for 10% equity, hoping to use the investment to expand inventory and prevent stockouts during busy seasons. "We have yet to make it through a busy season without running out of some of our best products," Tyler explained.

The pitch lit up the Sharks' interest, sparking a rare bidding war. Kevin O'Leary offered $1 million for 25% equity, which Daymond John quickly matched. 

John, who humorously admitted he'd never been much of a golfer, said, "This, I can actually see that I would like … I can say to my friends and family, ‘Come on over, we'll play that.'" Lori Greiner joined in with a bid of $1 million for 22.5% equity with preferred stock.

Cuban, true to form, waited in silence as the others fought it out – then swooped in with a strategic offer: $1 million for 15% equity, noticeably less than his competitors demanded. Lori Greiner quipped, "He always undercuts us. He sits and waits until the last moment." 

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Cuban defended his move, confidently adding, "Just the fact that I hate golf and I'm going to do videos of doing this … we can do demos at PGA events. There's a lot of ways to build visibility."

The siblings countered Cuban's terms, asking for 12.5% equity instead. 

They compared their product's potential to Spikeball, the wildly popular backyard game that appeared on Shark Tank in 2015. Cuban famously passed on investing in Spikeball, later calling it "the one that got away" during an interview on Hart to Heart. Not about to repeat history, Cuban stood his ground.

As negotiations hit a standstill, Lori Greiner caved and accepted the siblings' counteroffer – prompting Cuban to match it. Ultimately, the Simmons chose Cuban as their partner. "We felt he had a little bit more of a sports background," Tyler said. "He is the perfect partner for us to take this to a whole new level."

It remains unclear whether the deal closed after taping. CNBC Make It reported that BucketGolf didn't respond to their request for comment.

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