Business

Golfers on San Antonio’s Northwest Side could soon have a new place to work on their swing without worrying about triple-digit temperatures, thunderstorms, darkness — or even traditional golf course hours.

A Back Nine Golf indoor golf simulator facility is planned for Braun Pointe Shopping Center at 9910 West Loop 1604 North, Suite 109, in San Antonio, according to project information filed for the Bexar County location.

The approximately 2,921-square-foot tenant improvement project carries an estimated construction cost of $250,000. Renovation work is currently scheduled to begin Nov. 30, 2026, with completion targeted for Feb. 1, 2027.

For residents in the growing neighborhoods surrounding Loop 1604, Braun Road and Bandera Road, the project would add a different kind of recreation option: golf that can be played indoors and, at many Back Nine locations, around the clock.

What Is Back Nine Golf?

Back Nine Golf is a rapidly expanding indoor golf company built around a straightforward idea: give golfers access to the game when their schedules — rather than daylight or weather — allow.

The concept traces its beginnings to St. George, Utah, where founder Wil Bangerter launched Back Nine around 2020-21 after recognizing the appeal of being able to use golf simulator technology outside conventional course hours. The company subsequently began franchising in 2022 and has expanded quickly across the United States. 

Back Nine's current franchise website reports more than 241 locations open and operating, with another 330 locations in development, reflecting how quickly the indoor golf simulator business has grown beyond its Utah roots. Its location network now stretches across numerous states, including a growing presence in Texas. 

That expansion already includes Texas markets such as Austin, Cedar Park, Amarillo, Houston, Katy, League City, New Caney, Midland, Odessa and others listed across the company's programs and location network. 

How Back Nine Golf Works

Back Nine isn't quite a driving range, traditional golf course or entertainment venue. Instead, its facilities revolve around private indoor simulator bays where golfers hit real golf balls into a large screen while technology tracks what happens to every shot.

The company uses Full Swing simulator technology, which measures data such as ball speed, launch, spin and dispersion and translates the shot into a virtual golf environment. Players can use that information for focused practice or play simulated rounds on recognizable courses without leaving the building. 

That means someone working on a slice can study detailed shot data, while a group of friends can use the same simulator for a virtual round.

Back Nine says an 18-hole simulator round can often be completed in roughly 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the number of players and their pace. Because there is no walking between holes, searching for balls or waiting for groups farther down a fairway, indoor golf can compress a round into a considerably smaller window. 

For San Antonio golfers trying to squeeze practice into a workday, avoid the peak of a South Texas summer afternoon or keep playing after sunset, that flexibility could be one of the new facility's biggest draws.

Golf at 2 A.M.? That's Part of the Concept

Perhaps the most unusual part of Back Nine Golf is its emphasis on 24/7 indoor golf access.

The company's model allows golfers at participating facilities to reserve simulator bays and play during hours when a conventional golf course would normally be closed. Its website sums up the approach with the phrase “Where Golf Never Sleeps.” 

Rather than requiring every customer to purchase a membership, Back Nine also allows public tee-time bookings. Memberships are available for more frequent players and can include advantages such as preferred access, discounted rates and other benefits. Participating locations may also offer cross-play privileges that allow members to use qualifying Back Nine facilities elsewhere in the country. 

The company additionally promotes leagues, tournaments, camps, clinics and private events, giving the concept uses beyond individual golf practice. Simulator games designed for younger players can also make the experience more approachable for families and beginners who might not be ready for a traditional 18-hole golf course. 

Why Indoor Golf Could Fit San Antonio

San Antonio hardly lacks places to play golf, but indoor simulator businesses address a different set of challenges.

Summer heat can make an afternoon round difficult, thunderstorms can abruptly change plans and shorter winter days limit evening play. Indoor golf removes most of those variables while still allowing experienced players to analyze their swings and giving beginners a more private place to learn.

The planned Braun Pointe location could also appeal to golfers living across northwest San Antonio, Alamo Ranch, Helotes and surrounding communities near Loop 1604, where residential and commercial growth continues to bring new entertainment and recreation concepts closer to home.

Unlike golf-centered entertainment complexes requiring large outdoor sites, Back Nine can operate from a comparatively compact retail footprint. The planned San Antonio facility is just under 3,000 square feet, illustrating how the simulator model can turn conventional commercial space into a year-round golf training facility.

What Happens Next for Back Nine Golf in San Antonio

Based on the currently filed project schedule, renovation of the Braun Pointe Shopping Center suite is expected to begin Nov. 30, 2026, with construction scheduled for completion by Feb. 1, 2027.

The filing describes the work as a tenant improvement for a golf simulator training facility, with an estimated investment of $250,000.

Construction timelines and business opening dates can change, and a formal grand-opening date for the San Antonio Back Nine Golf location has not yet been announced.

Still, the project gives Northwest Side residents an early look at another recreational concept headed to the Loop 1604 corridor — one built around the idea that a tee time no longer has to depend on sunshine, weather or even the time on the clock.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on the Back Nine Golf San Antonio location, its anticipated opening and other new businesses coming to northwest San Antonio and the surrounding Bexar County area.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.