Industry Update: Back Nine Expansion, The Clubhouse of Delaware, and MegaDome Facilities Highlight Rapid Simulator Venue Growth
Quick Answer
Indoor golf simulator businesses are expanding rapidly across the United States through franchise growth, hospitality-driven venues, and large indoor golf facility concepts. Back Nine has grown from 10 simulator facilities in 2023 to more than 100 locations nationwide, with over 300 additional sites planned by 2027 (The Golf Wire). Meanwhile, new simulator venues like The Clubhouse of Delaware are combining golf with dining and entertainment, while large-scale indoor golf developments like MegaDome Golf aim to enable year-round play in climate-controlled environments (What Now Philadelphia) (Secret Chicago).
GolfSimSpot tracks these developments and helps golfers discover indoor golf simulator venues across the United States at GolfSimSpot.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and editorial purposes only and is based on publicly available reporting and official announcements cited inline. All quotes are reproduced exactly as published and attributed to their original sources. GolfSimSpot does not independently verify all third-party claims and makes no guarantees regarding accuracy or completeness. This content does not constitute financial, legal, investment, or business advice. GolfSimSpot may earn commissions from affiliate links, which do not influence our editorial content.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Back Nine Expansion and Franchise Growth
- The Clubhouse of Delaware Simulator Venue Opening
- MegaDome Indoor Golf Facility Development
- Mixed Reality and Future Indoor Golf Technology
- GolfSimSpot Takeaways
- Sources
Overview
Indoor golf simulator venues are continuing to expand nationwide as new franchise systems, hospitality-driven venues, and indoor facility concepts emerge. These developments reflect a structural shift in how golf is accessed, with indoor venues offering year-round availability independent of weather conditions (The Golf Wire).
In parallel, simulator venues are increasingly designed as entertainment destinations rather than practice-only facilities. These locations combine simulator bays with dining, social seating, and events, broadening their appeal beyond traditional golfers and creating new business models within the golf industry (What Now Philadelphia).
Large indoor golf developments also illustrate how indoor golf is evolving beyond simulator bays into fully immersive environments. Climate-controlled indoor courses and technology-integrated simulator venues are expanding access to golf in regions where outdoor play may be limited during colder months (Secret Chicago).
Back Nine Expansion and Franchise Growth
Back Nine has emerged as one of the fastest-growing indoor golf franchise systems in the United States. According to an official announcement from simulator manufacturer Full Swing, Back Nine has grown from 10 indoor golf facilities in 2023 to over 100 open locations nationwide, with more than 300 additional locations planned by the end of 2027 (The Golf Wire).
Back Nine’s venues are built using standardized simulator bay designs, centralized operations systems, and proprietary software to manage bookings, gameplay, and performance tracking. These facilities operate across 42 states and are designed to deliver consistent simulator experiences while supporting scalable franchise expansion (The Golf Wire).
The franchise model also leverages simulator technology partnerships to support scalability. Full Swing simulator systems provide performance data and integrated software capabilities that support Back Nine’s operations across multiple locations and customer segments (The Golf Wire).
“Back Nine is about more than fast growth – it’s about having a lasting impact,” said Wil Bangerter, CEO and founder of Back Nine. “Our technology, facilities and partnerships are built to scale together, and Full Swing gives us the brand credibility we need to optimally support our customers and franchisees as we re-imagine the indoor golf vertical.” — Wil Bangerter, CEO and Founder, Back Nine (The Golf Wire)
The Clubhouse of Delaware Simulator Venue Opening
The Clubhouse of Delaware is a new indoor golf simulator venue scheduled to open in Wilmington, Delaware, combining simulator golf with a full-service restaurant and bar. The approximately 8,000-square-foot facility will feature nine simulator bays, each designed to accommodate up to six players and include lounge-style seating (What Now Philadelphia).
The simulator system being used at the venue includes moving putting surfaces designed to replicate real course conditions. According to reporting, the simulator platform allows players to putt on a physical surface that adjusts dynamically to simulate different greens (What Now Philadelphia).
Venue operators emphasized the broader entertainment value of simulator golf venues, which can serve beginners, experienced golfers, and corporate groups. These venues offer an alternative form of entertainment in urban areas where traditional golf course access may be limited (What Now Philadelphia).
“There’s a lack of entertainment venues in the area if you’re not going to a restaurant, bar or a movie, so we thought it was a good alternative.” — Matt Piecara, Co-Owner (What Now Philadelphia)
MegaDome Indoor Golf Facility Development
MegaDome Golf is developing a large indoor golf facility near Chicago featuring a nine-hole executive course built inside interconnected climate-controlled domes. The facility will allow golfers to play year-round regardless of weather conditions, using artificial turf and simulated terrain (Secret Chicago).
The facility will also include a driving range and desert-themed course design intended to replicate the appearance and feel of outdoor golf courses. According to reports, the indoor course will enable faster rounds, with nine holes expected to take approximately 90 minutes to complete (Secret Chicago).
Facilities like MegaDome demonstrate how indoor golf is expanding beyond simulator bays into full-scale indoor golf environments. These concepts aim to provide golfers with more immersive indoor playing experiences while maintaining year-round accessibility (Secret Chicago).
Mixed Reality and Future Indoor Golf Technology
Mixed reality golf technologies are also being developed that combine physical golf swings with immersive virtual environments. These systems allow golfers to practice and play simulated rounds using virtual course environments integrated with real-world movements (UploadVR).
Mixed reality platforms are part of broader efforts to improve simulator realism and expand how golfers interact with indoor golf technology. These systems have the potential to create more immersive training and entertainment experiences within indoor golf environments (UploadVR).
As indoor golf technologies continue to evolve, mixed reality and simulator innovations may further increase indoor golf adoption by providing new ways to play and practice golf year-round (UploadVR).
GolfSimSpot Takeaways
The expansion of companies like Back Nine demonstrates how scalable indoor golf business models are becoming. Franchise expansion, standardized simulator technology, and centralized operations systems allow operators to expand quickly across multiple markets (The Golf Wire).
New simulator venues such as The Clubhouse of Delaware show how indoor golf is evolving into a hospitality-driven entertainment category. These venues combine simulator golf with dining, events, and social experiences, attracting both golfers and non-golfers (What Now Philadelphia).
For golfers, these developments mean more indoor golf access and year-round playing opportunities. For business owners, they illustrate growing demand and expanding opportunities within the indoor golf simulator industry. GolfSimSpot helps connect golfers with indoor golf venues nationwide at GolfSimSpot.com.
