How Tee 2 Green Turned a Hybrid Golf Sim Model Into a Year-Round Success
Why Keith’s flexible approach to access, pricing, and real estate is the blueprint more sim owners should be following
Keith didn’t build Tee 2 Green Indoor Golf to replace his day job. As a full-time ophthalmologist, this indoor golf venture started more as a passion project. But over the last two years, his facility in a small North Carolina mountain town has evolved into a thriving hybrid model that runs on smart automation, a flexible membership structure, and no wasted hours.
We sat down with Keith to hear how he built the business, what he’s learned along the way, and why he’s now looking to buy property to take the whole model to the next level.
From Basement Golf to Full-Time Flex Space
Like many, Keith got deep into golf during COVID. What started with a basement sim setup turned into a real business idea. His wife encouraged him to open the facility in a town 90 minutes away, where seasonal tourism and long winters made indoor golf a perfect fit.
“I’m paying $6,000 a month in rent. So yeah, I wanted to see if I could fill this place as much as I could.”
He landed on a hybrid model: staffed hours with bar service for tourists and casuals, and 24/7 unmanned member access for serious golfers and night owls.
Summer Revenue? Up 50% This Year
Unlike many sim owners who “just shut down in summer,” Keith leaned into his town’s tourism traffic. The result?
“This summer was up at least 50% over last year. We were in the black every month. Lots of non-members, lots of walk-ins, and people having fun.”
The flexibility also caters to service-industry locals—chefs and bartenders who get off work at midnight and head straight to Tee 2 Green to play till 2:30am.
“We’ve had bookings in every single hour block except maybe 4am. That’s it.”
Setting Up with Birrdi + RemoteLock
Initially, Keith explored gym-style access control vendors but found most were overpriced or clunky. Birrdi’s integration with RemoteLock sealed the deal.
“It cost me a few thousand to set up, but it paid for itself in that first month. And RemoteLock's monthly fees are a few bucks. It just works.”
Daily Operations: Hands-Off, With a Safety Net
“It’s totally hands-off. I glance at my email to see who’s booked. That’s about it.”
Even when an employee no-shows or forgets a shift, Keith can still let customers in remotely, walk them through getting started, and keep the experience smooth.
“That’s the beauty of the hybrid model. Even when something goes sideways, people can still get in.”
Memberships: Simple, Fair, and Flexible
Keith started with complicated tiers (Silver, Gold, etc.) but eventually simplified to a core model:
- Eagle Membership: $60/mo for 24/7 access + 50% off hourly rates
- Albatross Membership: $300 for 6 months (pay for 5, get 1 free)
- Peacock Membership: $400/mo + $5/hr play (for heavy users)
“No free hours. Always skin in the game. And it still feels like a great deal.”
He also gives members free credits as loyalty perks, which has helped reduce churn.
“I’ll tell someone, ‘Hey, you have 4 free hours saved up’ and suddenly they’re not cancelling.”
Members Love After-Hours Access
All new members are required to come in during staffed hours for orientation. After that, they get their codes and a walkthrough video for off-hours use.
“It’s worked great. Only had one or two issues in almost two years. And even when something goes wrong, members are super understanding.”
One example? A member showed up at 11:30pm before completing his training. Keith refunded him, and the guy still raved about the experience.
“He said, ‘This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.’”
Launch Monitor Talk: No Trackman, No Problem
Keith runs Uneekor launch monitors with GS Pro, and he’s adamant that you don’t need a big brand name to succeed.
“Nobody’s ever told me, ‘I’m not playing here because you don’t have Trackman.’ In fact, some people try the Trackman facility and come back here.”
He even had a customer say the GS Pro version of his home course played exactly like the real thing.
“Boone Golf Club gets more play here than Pebble Beach. People love playing their home course.”
And since GS Pro allows for custom course uploads, Keith has added seven local courses to his rotation.
“That’s a huge league advantage. You can’t do that on Trackman.”
Birrdi: Built for Owners, Backed by a Community
“You guys listen to us. That’s the biggest thing. I’ve asked for features and seen them get built.”
Keith regularly uses Birrdi’s Facebook community to suggest ideas, troubleshoot, and stay connected. He runs weekly leagues, gives out credits as prizes, and says the credit system has been a huge win.
Advice for New Owners
When we asked Keith what advice he’d give to someone just getting started, his answer came quickly:
“I wish I had bought property and built. Rent just burns cash. You want equity.”
He’s now looking at commercial lots nearby and weighing his options for relocating.
And what about owners nervous about running an unmanned model?
“Don’t worry. Nothing’s been stolen. Two TVs broken, one lamp. That’s it. Security cameras and some common sense go a long way.”
He even has self-serve alcohol on timers and a Venmo fridge for snacks. Zero issues.
“It’s a sport people respect. I think that matters.”
Final Takeaway
Keith built a sim business that works for his life, not the other way around. By combining staff-supported tourism hours with 24/7 member access, he’s created something scalable, respected, and genuinely fun to operate.
“You don’t need Trackman. You need a system that runs itself.”