With golf courses crowded and tee times at a premium, even for members, it is easy to see why golf simulators are growing in popularity.

Some of the numbers being reported are hard to believe.

One national magazine reported it’s survey found over 40 percent of rounds played by new golfers are on simulators.

Add in regular golfers who want to avoid weather conditions or don’t have the time to play a round on a course and it is easy to see the need for more golf opportunities.

Jennifer and Damon Ammons have done their research and believe those numbers.

The growing popularity of indoor golf has persuaded the family to get a franchise for indoor golf from The Back Nine Golf for Spartanburg.

“We were at the beach and our boys got to playing a simulator and had so much fun we looked into bringing it here,” said Jennifer Ammons.

The Ammons’ had experience running a business and operated a franchise in the past.

It was golf that was new to them, but in seeing their new facility on the Eastside of Spartanburg you would have thought they were in the golf business for a long time.

The Back 9 Golf is located in a strip mall near Lowes on East Main in Spartanburg.

With plenty of parking just outside the door and little traffic to contend with, golfers will enjoy the convenience of getting out of their cars and onto the tee.

While the franchise helped the Ammons get started, the layout and build of their Back 9 location was their own.

The first Back 9 in Spartanburg and in fact in South Carolina starts with three TrackMan simulators.

“We built this location to add two more as our membership grows and we have plans ,if we need to get even more,” said Jennifer Ammons.

A putting green rounds out the golf portion of the facility.

One very big difference between The Back 9 and other golf simulator locations, golf, not the bar is the focus of the facility.

“We have some elements like a lot of TVs, but we are not selling beer or alcohol. We have some vending machines, but we are here for golf,” said Ammons.

The Back 9 concept offers the convenience to play 24/7 so members can use the facility on their schedule, rather than during strict operating hours.

“Our members can play here anytime. They have an app on their phone to get in and play. They book their tee time when they want, any time of the day. We have lots of cameras around for security. Being available for members any time makes us very different from other simulator locations,” Ammons said.

Some golfers are convinced the game isn’t much fun without a beer or two, while others don’t see the need for that kind of refreshment.

By not selling beer and alcohol, but allowing golfers to bring some refreshments to The Back 9, most golfers will understand.

“We want this to have a family atmosphere and not be a bar with some people playing golf. If our golfers want to have a drink they can bring a small golf cart type cooler, but we want golfers to play golf, not come here to drink” she said.

The highlight of the Back 9 is the quality of the simulator. The facility uses TrackMan and the simulators offers over 200 courses for golfers .

“You are playing real golf on the TrackMan,” said Trevor Phillips, who is a manager at the new golf business. “This isn’t a video game. You hit real shots and the TrackMan is very accurate Playing all

the different courses is great,” he said.

The former Georgia golfer and two time Spartanburg County champ is convinced golfers of every level can enjoy playing at The Back 9.

“It is already better than a golf course, because you can’t lose a golf ball,” joked Phillips. “The temperature and conditions to play are always comfortable you don’t have to fight with the weather when you play here,” he added.

And for golfers who may not want to challenge Pebble Beach or St Andrews on the TrackMan, “the games are really great,” said Will Ammons, one of the owners sons. “There are all kinds of different games you can play and you don’t have to be a really good golfer to have fun playing them,” he said.

Golfers use their own clubs and rent one of the simulator bays by the hour. It usually takes a golfer a little over an hour to play a round, The TrackMan bays can accommodate multiple golfers, so four ball or team matches can be played as well as individual rounds.

Memberships are available, but the public is always welcome to play.

The Back 9 will hold a grand opening on Saturday, February 24th from 12-4 with a Scottie Cameron putter, the prize, for the closest to the pin contest and some other door prize surprises,

“We want people to know families are welcome and we will have the kind of atmosphere they will enjoy and be safe. We are playing golf so children who are old enough to understand the game and golf etiquette will also enjoy the experience,” added Ammons

Information about The Back 9 is available on line at http://www.thebackninegoif.com/spartanburg