Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 13, 2026

1. Introduction

Fore ("we", "us", "our") is operated by Thomas Xu as a sole proprietor based in Washington State, United States. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the Fore mobile application, the gofore.app website, and our SMS messaging services (together, the "Service"). By using the Service, you agree to the practices described here.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

• Account information: Phone number (for SMS verification and messaging), name, email address, and an optional handle.
• Profile content: Optional profile photo, home city, and home course you choose to provide.
• Round and RSVP data: Golf courses you select, tee times, players invited, and RSVP responses.
• Device contacts (on-device only by default): If you grant contacts permission, the app reads your device contacts on-device to suggest friends. To match contacts who are already Fore users, we transmit normalized phone numbers from your contacts to our servers for a lookup; we do not store the broader contact data (names, emails, photos) on our servers.
• Location data: If you grant location permission, your approximate location is used to suggest nearby golf courses. Location is processed but not stored long-term.
• Push notification token: A device-specific identifier provided by Apple or Google so we can deliver push notifications.
• Device and log data: Limited technical information such as device type, operating system version, app version, IP address, and timestamps, automatically collected to operate and secure the Service.
• Communications: Any messages you send to us (e.g., support emails).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain the Service;
• Verify your identity via SMS one-time codes (provided through Twilio Verify);
• Send SMS round invitations, RSVP confirmations, and tee-time reminders that you or your friends initiate;
• Deliver push notifications about round updates;
• Match your contacts with existing Fore users so you can add them as friends;
• Recommend nearby golf courses;
• Diagnose problems, prevent abuse, and improve reliability and performance;
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your data for cross-context behavioral advertising or to build advertising profiles.

4. Service Providers (Sub-processors)

We rely on the following third-party service providers to operate the Service. Each provider processes only the data necessary for the purpose listed and is bound by confidentiality and data-protection obligations:

• Twilio (United States) — SMS delivery and phone-number verification. Receives phone numbers and message contents.
• Google Cloud / Firebase (United States) — Firestore database, Cloud Storage (profile photos), Firebase Cloud Messaging (push notifications), and Cloud Run (backend hosting). Receives the account, round, and profile data described in Section 2.
• Apple Push Notification Service — iOS push notification delivery. Receives the device push token and notification payload.
• Cloudflare — hosts the gofore.app marketing site and waitlist signup form.
• GolfCourseAPI.com — tee, yardage, and rating data for golf courses you view. Receives only course name strings, never your personal data.
• Google Places API — golf course search and details. Receives only your search query and approximate location, never your account identity.
• Open-Meteo — weather forecast data. Receives only coordinates of the course you are viewing, never your personal data.

We may add or change service providers in the future and will update this Privacy Policy to reflect material changes.

5. Sharing with Other Users

Information you share within the Service may be visible to other Fore users. Specifically:

• Your name, profile photo, and handle (if set) are visible to anyone who can see a round you create, join, or are invited to.
• Friends you add can see your name and profile photo.
• When you invite someone to a round by phone number, that person receives an SMS that identifies you as the inviter.

You are responsible for making sure that people you invite to rounds are willing to receive SMS messages from Fore on your behalf. By using the invite feature, you confirm that you have a personal relationship with the people you invite and that they would reasonably expect to be contacted by you.

6. SMS Data — No Sharing

We do not sell, rent, share, or otherwise disclose your phone number or SMS opt-in data to any third party for that party's marketing purposes. Your phone number is transmitted only to our SMS provider (Twilio) for the sole purpose of delivering messages you or your friends have requested. This restriction also applies to any affiliates of Fore.

7. Data Retention

We retain account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete your personal information within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (e.g., transaction records for tax purposes) or necessary to enforce our Terms or defend against legal claims. Aggregated or de-identified data that no longer identifies you may be retained indefinitely. If you opt out of SMS messages, we may retain your phone number on a suppression list to honor your opt-out.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards intended to protect your information, including encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS), access controls on our backend systems, and limited employee/contractor access. No method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. International Data Transfers

Fore is operated from the United States, and the third-party providers listed in Section 4 are predominantly U.S.-based. If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer. We rely on standard contractual clauses and other appropriate safeguards where required.

10. Your Rights and Choices

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:

• Opt out of SMS: Reply STOP to any text message at any time. You will receive a one-time confirmation; we will not send further marketing or invitation SMS to that number.
• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct: Update or correct your information through the app or by contacting us.
• Delete: Request deletion of your account and associated personal data.
• Object or restrict processing: Where applicable under GDPR or similar laws, object to or restrict certain processing.
• Withdraw consent: Withdraw permissions you have previously granted (such as contacts or location) at any time in your device settings.

California residents (CCPA / CPRA): You have the right to know what personal information we collect, to request deletion, to correct inaccurate data, to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell or share), and to non-discrimination for exercising any of these rights. To exercise these rights, email support@gofore.app from the email address associated with your Fore account. We will respond within 45 days.

EU/UK residents (GDPR): Our legal bases for processing are (a) performance of the contract you enter into by using the Service, (b) your consent (for optional permissions like contacts and location, and for SMS messaging), and (c) our legitimate interest in operating, securing, and improving the Service.

11. Children's Privacy

The Service is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a person under 18 has provided us personal information, please contact us at support@gofore.app and we will delete it promptly.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Material changes will also be communicated through the app or by email where reasonably possible. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise any of the rights described above, contact us at support@gofore.app.