Club Pro Interest & FAQ's
With 4 clubs, 50+ members, and conversations to add more of both taking place every day from coast to coast our expansion is under way. We would love to connect if interested in starting a club of your own regardless of where you are located. A garage, shed, conference room at work, or spare storage in the back of a warehouse can all be perfect for a club. We don't care that the space is fancy, so long as it will fit a fancy sim and the faster we find someone interested in a club of their own the faster we can bring Neighborhood National to a neighborhood near you. Glad to create the membership offering you would like in terms of membership size and pricing plans. We will work to manage all legwork and provide a turnkey, hassle-free experience from the moment you say go all they way through supporting your club operations. We might ask you to meet the members as they come on board - but that should be the heaviest lift to make!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does insurance work?
We have a custom insurance policy supported by the world's largest business insurer and created specifically for Neighborhood National. Broadly described, it is a $1M umbrella that covers property damage (equipment and facility) and personal injury to members and member guests. We can easily coordinate and even add-on to your monthly Neighborhood National admin fee is you like for ease of management.
Do I want strangers using my garage or backyard shed?
A matter of personal preference, club ownership might not be right for everyone - particularly recognizing that other family members will have input. Below are a few factors to consider... Airbnb is the first and most obvious reference - how many people were comfortable renting out a room, or their entire house to strangers 10 years ago? Our approach by design aims to largely mitigate concern. We are a members only club. We do not offer "pay for play" so you will always be able to meet everyone that will use your club. We expect clubs will average between 15-20 members and about 2 tee times a day. It will not be +50 people coming and going constantly. It's a small number of people, that likely live within blocks of you, that like golf, that you will get to know in a short period of time. We conduct a background check on all applicants that screens for theft, assault, and sexual offenses before anyone is accepted. And members agree to a "1 strike and you're out" policy. They are asked (expected) to treat the club as if it were their own. If they choose not to at any point their membership will be terminated.
How often will people be coming and going from my garage?
Experience tells us that a garage club with 15-20 members will average right about 2 tee times a day. Overall, there is not a constant flow of traffic.
How does the sim pay for itself, how does that math work?
At a very high level it’s an upfront investment of just over $20K with a 2.5-year payback covering all operating expenses including the $150 monthly fee we charge. After that you should be looking at ~$5K in passive income. Please contact us for a more detailed walkthrough. We would be happy to discuss and answer questions. Each club/owner’s circumstance will vary depending on their personal preferences including how equipment depreciation is managed. Owners should consult their CPA to determine the approach most appropriate for them. The ~$20K figure assumes a base entry, high-end full simulator build and club startup costs i.e. insurance. There are ways to lower this cost some and systems can be much more expensive as well. The 2.5-year payback assumes a membership of 18 paying $65 per month – our recommended starting point for a mid-market garage club. Varying membership size or price will impact financials accordingly. We expect that a residential club can support memberships of 20-25 before running into availability challenges. Separately, a club in a commercial space that provides 24/7 access can anticipate being able to support 30 members per bay.
Can commercial space be used for a club?
Yes! Any type of space can be used. Our priority is providing safe, secure, and convenient access to world class golf technology. From there, we are excited about the limitless options where clubs can be located. Garages or sheds, office space, apartment buildings, or warehouse space. Grade A real estate or grade D real estate. Clubs may certainly have very nice ammenities but they do not have to - so long as they deliver safe and convenient access to the best simulators in the world.
Can I customize my club hours, operation, and pricing?
Yes! If you are interested in providing safe and convenient member-based access to a world class golf simulator we are easily able to customize a membership program tailored to your preference. We recognize that an uninsulated shed in the middle of North Carolina will provide a different experience than 24/7 access to a climate controlled club with full short game, simulator, and access to professional instruction in Western Michigan. Similar, both are different than a club in downtown Manhattan. We are glad to work with you on the pricing and membership structure you would like.