Indoor golf franchise opens in Pinellas, Manatee counties

A new indoor golf franchise has laid down turf in Pinellas and Manatee counties. The Back Nine recently opened locations in Oldsmar and Bradenton.

At the Back Nine, golfers can try their hand at more than 250 internationally known courses using simulators by TrackMan and Full Swing. In addition, players receive analytics in real time to help them improve their game. Facilities are climate-controlled so golfers can play no matter the weather.

The Back Nine does not have any employees, according to Korey Rogers, who owns the Oldsmar location. Players book their tee times by using the app or going online, then receive a confirmation text that enables them to access the facility and get started.

There are 28 Back Nine locations nationwide, including five in Arizona and eight in Utah, where the company is headquartered. Florida has franchises in Bradenton, Miramar Beach and Oldsmar, while a Naples location is coming soon, according to the Back Nine website. 

The Oldsmar location opened to founding members in July and to the public in October, according to Rogers, who says the Bradenton facility opened in early November.

Florida is a prime spot for indoor sports due to its sometimes unpredictable weather and the surge in residents, according to Rogers.

“Indoor golf is also a great way for new golfers to get introduced to the sport as they are able to practice without slowing down the pace of play or having a ton of eyes on them — especially good for women looking to get into the sport," Rogers says in an email to the Business Observer. "My wife is the COO for a construction company and feels more comfortable practicing for scrambles at The Back Nine vs. a public driving range, as an example.”

To play at the Back Nine, anyone can book a $50 hourlong tee time between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. However, it is a membership-based concept, according to Rogers, who explains memberships enable people to pay a flat rate for unlimited 24/7 access to the facility as well as any Back Nine location across the country. Tiers of memberships provide longer tee times (90 minutes to three hours) and the ability to bring guests (from one to four). Memberships range from $170 to $295 a month, according to Rogers.

The Back Nine Oldsmar is at 3800 Tampa Rd., #120, while the Back Nine Bradenton is at 2115 Cortez Rd. W.