The Back Nine® Golf was born out of a pure love of the game. Founded by Wil Bangerter in January 2021, The Back Nine Golf was his solution to a personal question: With a demanding schedule, how could he fit more games of golf into his day? Bangerter is an attorney with young kids. The solution: a premier indoor golf simulator experience that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By Kelsi Trinidad
The Back Nine® Golf was born out of a pure love of the game. Founded by Wil Bangerter in January 2021, The Back Nine Golf was his solution to a personal question: With a demanding schedule, how could he fit more games of golf into his day? Bangerter is an attorney with young kids. The solution: a premier indoor golf simulator experience that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Back Nine Golf currently has 35 open locations with a total of 178 locations sold. What was once a side hustle for Bangerter is now a nationwide phenomenon. The company has developed a streamlined franchise model where each location has multiple bays with private golf simulators that are available 24/7. No employees are needed at the locations, meaning the customer experience is all self-service. Golfers can drop in for a practice session to refine their game, bring friends and clients for a laidback hang or squeeze in a round whenever they have the time.
“I think the reason why our business has taken off is we run our business differently, right?” said President of Franchise Development Darren Wilstead. “A lot of the locations out there have a lot of other things, whether food and beverage, whether it’s a gym; we’re strictly golf.”
The company prides itself on its proprietary software, which does a lot of the heavy lifting regarding scheduling and building the customer experience. Once a customer books a time on the company’s app or website, they will receive a text or push notification with a link that opens the facility’s door. This automated flexibility helps make the game of golf more accessible to all golfers no matter their time constraints.
Another unique aspect of The Back Nine Golf’s franchise model is its tight-knit community of franchisees who are keen to support each other as both business owners and golf enthusiasts.
“I’m a huge sports person,” explained Wilstead. “I get to talk golf, I get to go out and golf, and I get to be around golf. It really is the people that we have at The Back Nine that make it a special place.”
Kelsi Trinidad