Jeff Ma, now the Chief Digital Officer at Troon Golf, brings more than just digital expertise to the world’s largest golf management company—he carries a fascinating story that’s likely familiar to many blackjack fans. While at MIT, Ma was a key player on the famous MIT blackjack team, the group that mastered card counting to win millions in Las Vegas, inspiring the best-selling book Bringing Down the House and the popular movie 21.

The MIT blackjack team became legendary for their strategic trips to Vegas, where they used their mathematical skills and carefully planned tactics to consistently beat the odds. As Ma recalls, their success was often dramatic. “Our biggest weekend ever we won over half a million,” he shared on GOLF’s Subpar podcast. But with highs also came lows: “Our biggest loss ever, I think we lost a couple hundred thousand.”

 

 

Ma’s story doesn’t end at the blackjack table. After leaving the world of high-stakes gambling, he built a successful career in technology and now leads Troon’s new loyalty program, Troon Digital. On the Subpar podcast, he not only dives into his experiences at MIT and his thoughts on how accurately 21 captured the reality of their adventures but also talks about his journey into the golf industry.

For fans of blackjack, the book, or the movie, Jeff Ma’s story is a must-see. Watch the full segment below to hear Ma discuss the thrilling ups and downs of his time on the MIT team, as well as his insights on the intersection of data, sports, and gaming in his current role.

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