Beyond the Grass

Bringing Tour-Level Performance to the Indoor Golf Boom

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Back Nine Golf, the largest and fastest-growing indoor golf franchise, today announced a new partnership with Bridgestone Golf, bringing together the fastest-growing indoor golf franchise and one of the most trusted names in golf ball performance. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering a better golf experience for patrons by pairing Back Nine’s modern indoor golf environment with Bridgestone’s innovative golf balls, designed to support a more consistent and optimal simulator experience.

As Back Nine continues to expand its footprint and redefine how golfers practice, play and connect indoors, the company selected Bridgestone Golf as a partner due to its reputation for quality, consistency and performance. With simulator play relying on accurate ball flight data and dependable results, Bridgestone’s precision golf balls – proven at the highest level through Tour staffers such as Tiger Woods, Chris Gotterup and Jason Day – help support the level of play and realism that Back Nine aims to provide at every location.

“We chose Bridgestone Golf because performance matters at every level of the game, especially in an indoor setting where precision and consistency shape the entire experience,” said Wil Bangerter, CEO of Back Nine. “Our goal is to give every patron the best possible version of golf, whether they are practicing with purpose or simply enjoying time with friends. Bridgestone shares that commitment to quality, and their golf balls are a natural fit for the kind of simulator experience we want to deliver.”

The partnership aligns with Back Nine’s broader mission to bring the best parts of the game to more people in a welcoming, high-quality indoor setting. By working with Bridgestone Golf, Back Nine is strengthening that experience with equipment that complements the technology and precision golfers expect from today’s simulator environments.

“Indoor golf continues to be one of the fastest growing segments of the game and is critical to how players at every level train and enjoy golf,” said David Vogrin, director of marketing for Bridgestone Golf. “This partnership with Back Nine allows us to extend our ball-fitting expertise into a highly controlled and data-rich environment, giving golfers even more precise feedback to improve their performance and confidence.”

The partnership underscores a shared commitment innovation, performance and making the game more enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels. Back Nine continues to align with best-in-class industry partners like Bridgestone Golf to elevate the indoor experience and shape the future of the category.

New National Competition Platform Brings Together Simulator Golf, Player Development, and Year-Round Play for Golfers of All Skill Levels

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Back Nine Golf, the largest and fastest-growing indoor golf franchise, is taking simulator competition to a new level with the launch of Beyond the Grass, a new year-round tournament series designed to connect the work golfers put in indoors with the results they see on the course.

Built around structured competition, player development and accessible play, Beyond the Grass will serve as Back Nine’s national competitive platform, bringing together simulator tournaments, local participation, and future indoor-outdoor golf experiences under one connected system. The series is designed to make competitive golf more approachable for everyday players while creating opportunities for golfers to track improvement, compete against others at similar skill levels, and stay engaged with the game year-round.

“At Back Nine, we believe that indoor reps should translate directly to confidence and improvement outdoors,” said Wil Bangerter, founder of Back Nine Golf. “Beyond the Grass gives us a way to build community, competition and player development around that idea while making golf more accessible and less intimidating for players of all experience levels.”

The 2026 Beyond the Grass calendar will feature a series of competitive events and themed tournaments hosted throughout the year, including:

• BTG Spring Series
• Back Nine Legends
• BTG Fall Series
• Back Nine U.S. Open and more

The launch comes as indoor golf and simulator-based training continue to grow in popularity among golfers seeking more flexible, data-driven, and weather-proof ways to play and practice. Through Beyond the Grass, Back Nine aims to create a more connected golf experience that combines competition, convenience, and player progression in a private, pressure-free environment for golfers of all levels.

In addition to tournaments and league play, The Back Nine will highlight players whose simulator practice has translated into real-world improvement on the course from casual and competitive golfers of all ages connected to local Back Nine locations across the country. Future plans for the platform also include expanded hybrid indoor-outdoor competition formats, new scoring and handicap concepts, and youth-focused training opportunities designed to create a more natural pathway between simulator golf and traditional play.

“The goal is to create a place where golfers can improve, compete and build confidence no matter where they are in their golf journey,” added Bangerter. “Indoor golf should lead somewhere, and Beyond the Grass is our vision for what that future can look like.”

Back Nine Golf is now the largest and fastest-growing indoor golf franchise in the United States, with 200 locations open and operating and an additional 300 locations in development, providing year-round 24/7 access for golfers everywhere.

For more information about Back Nine Golf and the Beyond the Grass tournament series, visit www.thebackninegolf.com.