From Garage Sim to Community Golf Clubs: A Chat with Neighborhood National

By Reid Colson

In 2022, Jeff had a lightbulb moment while chatting with his wife about installing a golf simulator in their garage—he wanted to see if their neighbors might be interested in sharing and using the space too. This sparked the birth of Neighborhood National No. 1, transforming an ordinary garage into a local golfing hotspot.

Today, Neighborhood National is on a mission to make high-end golf accessible, transforming any available space—garages, office corners, or community areas—into vibrant local clubs. We caught up with Jeff and asked him about:

The Inspiration Behind Neighborhood National
Key A-Ha Moments Along the Way
Essential Advice for Starting a Sim Business

This interview by the Sim Weekly Newsletter has been edited for length and clarity.

Can you share what inspired Neighborhood National's unique golf simulator club concept and how it differs from traditional simulator experiences?

I struggle with the price tags associated with the game, and the fact that everything these days—inside or out—seems to be a combination of expensive, extremely busy, and/or lacking in quality. I had a previous business idea that was more aligned with a traditional sim venue model. However, like the traditional models, the biggest challenge was the math to make it work.

This time around, my inspiration focused on convenience and affordability. I revisited my earlier business plan but made a significant change by eliminating all fixed costs—no labor, no real estate, no simulators. We now facilitate a sim sharing network that operates as one collective Neighborhood National club. Members enjoy extremely affordable and often convenient access to high-end technology, while Club Pros (hosts) manage a local, fun golf hangout for a small group that we oversee on their behalf. They use it as much as they like, and it also manages to pay for itself.

What kind of technology do you use in your golf simulators, and how does it contribute to a realistic and enjoyable golfing experience for players of all skill levels?

We are sim and software agnostic by design, with the requirement that all systems must be "high-end." We aim to appeal to all types of players, including elite players, which is why we focus on high-performance systems. Understandably a debatable distinction, we draw a conservative line to ensure consistency in performance across clubs. Currently, the base entry into the network is a BLP/GC3 and up.

Ultimately, our focus is on building the community of Neighborhood National with the aspiration to create the world's largest private golf club. Anyone can belong since we're just minutes away and a fraction of the cost.

Do you offer different packages for individuals looking to set up a club? For example, something tailored based on the amount of space available?

We don't sell the systems or components today. However, we are very happy to consult, whether it's a DIY approach or a more formal custom build. We have relationships across the industry and can refer folks based on their needs. Broadly speaking, our clubs fall into three general categories:

DIY Approach: This could involve a single-car garage with a homemade retractable screen, working well with a BLP and $50/month memberships, like we have at No. 6 in the NW Atlanta metro.
Turnkey Residential Build: Similar to No. 2 in downtown Raleigh, this setup leverages a GC3 and customized enclosure buildout, with memberships that started at $65/month and have moved to $75 due to a steady waitlist over the last six months.
Executive Club: This includes a higher-end build-out of amenities, like we have with No. 8, featuring a Trackman iO inside a fitness center with a comfortable space for larger groups to hang and play.

Who is the ideal owner/operator for Neighborhood National?

The ideal Club Pro (host) is someone who sees the prospect of starting a club as fun and enjoys the idea of creating a lively golf hangout for their neighbors. This person might already be planning to get a simulator and views any monetary benefit as a bonus. Ultimately, we require a clear members-first, community-first priority across the club. As I often say, "members first, profits follow." This approach is key to making the clubs work well and allowing the simulator to pay for itself over time.

What has been the most surprising aspect of starting a golf simulator business for you?

Two things have been my biggest aha moments. First, community is the key. Making sure that every club is a "member's golf dream come true" is the mantra. When we focus clearly on the member, three things happen. 1) everyone wants to help out, becoming additional eyes and ears for the club; 2) expectations are managed, accepting that things don't have to be perfect; and 3) no one wants to disrupt the experience. After all, who wants to ruin their golf dream come true?

It’s also been interesting to learn that residential clubs are generally easier to market than commercial clubs. This comes down to the inherent credibility that people give to someone like Jimmy or Jane down the street who shares a sim for $65/month, compared to hearing the same pitch from a new club operating out of a commercial space. We've been able to make both work for sure, but it was definitely interesting to learn as we gained experience with both types of space.

Do you have any plans for expanding the Neighborhood National concept?

We're definitely expanding. Our model is infinitely scalable. Currently, we're holding off on other continents due to logistical challenges, particularly time zone differences, given our small support team. However, there's no reason we won't be able to pursue those opportunities in the future. At the moment, we have clubs in NC and GA, with TX and VA in the works, and we're having conversations literally coast to coast in the U.S.

For someone interested in starting their own golf simulator business, what are some key pieces of advice you would offer?

t's a very hot space and will only become more popular in the near term, with relatively low barriers to entry. Traditional models often come with high fixed costs, making it easy to enter the market but challenging to sustain and grow over time. I start by advising folks to consider which business they truly want to enter—whether it's a restaurant, an academy, or a driving range, as all these can be geared towards off course concepts. Each has distinct business model implications.

Then, I emphasize the importance of differentiation. Assume that someone else might launch a similar concept just down the road—which is quite likely. You need to ask yourself, "what will make folks visit your spot over theirs?"

To wrap things up, let's do a rapid-fire round. Favorite simulator golf course? Most surprising use of a golf simulator you've seen? Dream feature you'd love to see added to future simulator technology?

As crazy as it sounds, I'm not a huge virtual round guy—I'm more of a simulator range rat. That said, I'd say Tobacco Road, largely for nostalgia. It was part of our initial winter league across all NN clubs. As a grand finale, I grabbed a bunch of tee times at the actual Tobacco Road, and we had members from all clubs meet up to play live together. It was a ton of fun, super memorable, and exactly what we're looking to build with the club.

On the surprising front, I don't have a specific use case, but I've been surprised by the fact that there is a definite segment of players who prefer to putt—believe it or not.
As for dream features, I'm interested in seeing capabilities like shots gained/lost and all the stats that platforms similar to Arccos capture automatically incorporated into sim software. It's in the works, and it will be fun to see what the future holds!

Our Key Takeaways:

Accessibility and Affordability: Neighborhood National is transforming the golf simulator business by eliminating traditional cost barriers, making high-end golf accessible to more people.
Community-Centric Approach: At the heart of their business model is a focus on community, turning local spaces into vibrant, social golf hubs that cater to the desires and conveniences of its members.
Unique Business Model: By avoiding fixed costs and fostering a sim sharing network, Neighborhood National offers a distinct approach compared to traditional golf simulator businesses like restaurants or academies.

Check out Neighborhood National to learn more.

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