The Back Nine Golf, an indoor golf simulator

The Back Nine Golf, a 24-hour indoor golf facility, opened in Willow Park on March 26 at 270 Willow Bend Dr., Suite 200, with the purpose of “not only improving your game but also [socially],” said Lance Westlake, owner. 

It uses Full Swing Golf technology to track the ball, “identifying how hard you hit it, at what angle and [other metrics], so that it can simulate the rest of the ball path” using high-speed cameras and lasers, Westlake continued, “It’s very, very accurate.”

The Back Nine “is not meant to replace outside golf, but it’s a good supplement.” Indoor golf provides the convenience factor of timing, whether you want to pop in for an hour and hit or play a round with your friends, without the worry of waiting on others. It gives you the option to do so, Westlake said. 

Since opening the business, Westlake has noticed three types of golfers.

“The morning grinders that come in before they go to work, and they’re here for an hour [or so], and they hit the driving range just working on their swing.”

The weekend crew that’s here “Thursday, Friday, Saturday night, they bring guests using membership packages that allow for free guests…they will bring in drinks, play around, and socialize.” 

The third type is a combination of both.

To serve the different types of golfers, there are games to choose from, including traditional golf, a driving range, a target range, a chipping range, and a selection of more than 60 Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour and Tournament Players Club (TPC) courses. There are also game styles such as a long-drive challenge, closest-to-the-pin contest, connect 4, tic-tac-toe, battleship, and pitch pong – providing options for all experience levels.   

Tournament play is available at The Back Nine. Players are able to follow along with live tournaments like The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and the Charles Schwab Challenge through technology that simulates the courses so that they can play along. 

Westlake hopes to also host summer camps through the new location, led by a professional golfer. 

“This is a growing area, so The Back Nine provides another activity to do,” Westlake said. The Four bays inside allow for people of all ages and experiences to step in and practice their swing through interactive games and courses. It’s a BYOB and food-friendly space because “we focus on the golf,” said Westlake. “We focus on a premium experience for serious golfers [while also providing a space for] non-serious golfers to have a great time too.”