Bath businessman moves from bedroom to golf course with latest venture

From sex toys to golfing gadgets, Bath businessman Richard Longhurst's latest venture has moved from the bedroom to the fairway.

The 53-year-old avid golfer, who co-founded the world’s biggest sexual wellness company Lovehoney in 2002, has invented Pocket Timer, a gadget, which can alert players to time when they are looking for a lost ball.

Under the rules of golf, they are entitled to three minutes and the pocket timer buzzes every 30 seconds, ending with a double buzz when that is up.

Visit Hampshire Biz News for bright, upbeat and positive business news from the county

Longhurst said he first came up with the idea in 2019 when the rules changed to having three minutes to locate the ball, from five previously.

"Not everybody likes wearing a watch when they play golf, so the only other way you’d be able to keep time is by using your phone. But most golfers keep that in their golf bag and it’s unlikely anybody is going to pull it out before they go traipsing off into the rough to look for their ball," he said.

"I figured having a little thing in your pocket that keeps time and vibrates – of course – when your three minutes is up would be a simple, efficient solution.

"Most golfers were giving up too soon because they were worried about holding up play and needlessly conceding a shot."

Pocket Timer was born after he shared his idea with Chinese company Joy Factory, which he had used in his Lovehoney days, and the mould for a sex toy remote control was used.

Longhurst set up a new website selling Pocket Timer and is now sending the gadgets out all over the world.

Longhurst quit Lovehoney in 2019 with co-founder Neal Slateford after they sold their majority stake to Swiss venture capitalists, but he still attends board meetings and has a 10% stake.

Lovehoney merged with German sex toy giant WOW Tech in 2021 and Lovehoney Group is forecast to deliver more than £300 million in revenue per year

Sales are expected to exceed £40 billion globally by 2028 due to the rapidly growing sexual wellness sector.

Longhurst spoke about his varied business journey on Brightpearl's Lightning 50 podcast and is optimistic about the golf gadget's potential.

“You never know - there might be more money to be made from Pocket Timer than from selling sex toys," the Bath resident said.