Company Founding and Origins

The Back Nine was founded by Wil Bangerter and two friends, who were lawyers-turned-entrepreneurs. The company was born from a genuine love of golf and a practical problem - busy schedules and unpredictable weather made it difficult to play golf as often as they wanted. The founders developed a simple solution: create an indoor, simulator-powered venue where golfers could play world-class courses anytime.

What began as a way to cover costs quickly evolved into a profitable business model as memberships grew. Recognising the potential, Wil and his small team began building The Back Nine brand whilst still working full-time in their legal careers.

Growth Milestones and Investment

As the network expanded past 25 locations, private equity interest validated the strength of the business model. After consulting with trusted business partners, Wil secured new investment, providing the company with resources to accelerate growth whilst retaining majority ownership.

Following this investment milestone, Wil committed fully to the business, leaving his legal career to drive The Back Nine forward. Since opening its first franchise in early 2025, the company has achieved rapid growth with over 300 franchises sold and nearly 100 locations open across the U.S.

Mission and Business Philosophy

The Back Nine's mission centres on creating a dynamic golf community where golfers and franchisees don't just succeed on and off the course - they live and breathe the game. The company is dedicated to providing opportunities for players of all levels, from seasoned professionals refining their craft to newcomers discovering golf.

The company positions itself as "Where Golf Never Sleeps" and emphasises that it does not aim to replace traditional golf courses. Instead, it offers a climate-controlled, year-round venue where players can sharpen their skills with precision technology and experience world-famous courses that might otherwise be out of reach.

Core Values and Culture

The Back Nine operates on five core values that guide all business decisions:

• Show Integrity: Leading with transparency and doing what's right, building trust through every interaction
• Be Kind: Treating every person with respect and humanity, seeing people rather than patrons
• Be Resilient: Facing challenges head-on, staying focused under pressure, and believing that grit drives success
• Take Ownership: Taking pride in proactive problem-solving and daily accountability
• Live for Golf: Understanding golf's history and feeling privileged to play a part in its future, dedicated to breaking down traditional barriers in golf

The company describes itself as "a family of passionate, hardworking people" with the motto "People First. Golf Always."

Onboarding and Pre-Opening Support

The Back Nine provides dedicated support from the moment franchisees sign their agreement through to opening day and beyond. Each franchisee is assigned an Onboarding Success Manager (OSM), who serves as their dedicated partner throughout the entire journey.

Before lease signing, franchisees receive support with site analysis, vendor introductions, and coordination with trusted partners including Full Swing and approved contractors. During the construction and build-out phase, franchisees benefit from coordinated project management via partner Total Fitouts and ongoing coaching. The team oversees permits, contractor alignment, signage, and simulator installation, whilst providing business-side coaching on pricing, membership strategy, and marketing preparation.

In the final pre-opening phase, comprehensive support ensures security systems are activated, technology is set up, and Full Swing simulators are fully installed and tested. Franchisees operate in a soft-launch phase for a few weeks to gain confidence before hosting a high-energy launch party supported by the franchisor.

Training and Business Coaching

Franchisees receive full training, launch support, and ongoing business coaching. Training and tools are provided to kick off founding memberships before opening and build early momentum. Comprehensive systems training prepares franchisees to run their facility confidently, engage members, and drive lasting growth.

Initial training costs $5,000, with up to $6,000 available for remedial training if required. Support doesn't stop once the facility opens—for the first 12 months post-launch, the OSM continues to schedule regular check-ins, provide coaching, and offer resources to help grow memberships, reach revenue benchmarks, and build operational confidence.

Marketing and Technology Support

Franchisees receive training and tools for marketing and membership launches, with support to create buzz and build momentum from day one. The franchisor provides marketing resources and national campaigns, along with access to the franchise portal, CRM, and reporting tools. Automated booking software enables facilities to run with minimal owner involvement, supporting the semi-passive business model.

Ongoing Franchise Network Support

Even after onboarding, franchisees remain connected to The Back Nine community and support systems through regular check-ins and training refreshers, access to the franchise portal and reporting tools, marketing resources, annual conventions and training opportunities, and a growing network of franchisees to share best practices. The franchisor charges an annual convention fee of $800.

Daily Operational Responsibilities

The Back Nine franchise is designed as a semi-passive business model requiring minimal daily involvement from franchisees. The facilities operate with automated booking software and no staff required, allowing franchisees to maintain their current careers whilst running the business. The 24/7 access model means the facility is available to members around the clock without constant owner presence.

Morning and Midday Activities

Franchisees check booking reports online to review membership activity and manage payments or updates through the custom software system. During afternoon or evening periods, owners visit the facility to ensure cleanliness, reset bays if needed, and maintain a welcoming environment for members and guests. These visits focus on maintaining the quality of the space rather than day-to-day operational management.

Weekly and Ongoing Focus Areas

The primary weekly responsibility centres on local marketing and community engagement. Franchisees build relationships within their local golf community, create promotional offers, and ensure golfers recognise The Back Nine as their preferred venue. Ongoing duties include monitoring performance metrics, maintaining regular communication with The Back Nine support team, and planning for long-term growth. Franchisees receive continuous support through regular check-ins, access to the franchise portal, CRM tools, and reporting systems.

Business Management Approach

Franchisees are encouraged to be community leaders who build relationships with members and engage locally whilst setting an example aligned with the brand's core values. The main operational duties involve cleaning on busy days and driving local marketing initiatives, rather than hands-on service delivery or staff supervision. This structure allows owners to remain actively involved in their facility's success without requiring full-time commitment to daily operations.