Handicomp, Inc.

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Jim Healey, the founder of Handicomp, earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1953. In the 16 years following graduation, he worked on guidance computer design on several defense and space missile programs, including POLARIS, GEMINI, and APOLLO. Jim has had a love for the game of golf since the age of 13, and consequently spent considerable time at the golf course. During his youth he was a caddie at the Country Club of Lansing. Later, having been involved with handicap committees who had the tedious monthly chore of calculating handicaps, Jim conceived the idea of computer automated handicapping in 1960. However, it was 1967 before he decided to proceed. The original Handicomp computer was designed and built by Jim Healey in 1967/1968 and was first used at Clearbrook Country Club in Saugatuck, Michigan in 1968. At that time, Charlie Feeley was the PGA golf professional at the club. Jim remains extremely grateful to Charlie for that initial installation. This is believed to be the world's first micro-computer installed in a golf shop used strictly for instant handicap calculation. Because of a lack of funds for promotion, this was the only model of this computer ever built or installed. In 1969, Jim cannibalized the electronics of this computer and started the Handicomp handicap computing service. Essentially, the electronics were interfaced with an IBM Selectric Typewriter for printing and a Fiden paper tape punch/reader for data stor ...

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