Franchise Owners Explain Why They Picked Crofton

CROFTON, MD — For many federal employees, the Donald Trump administration's sudden shift away from remote work threw a wrench into their daily lives. And for the DePasquale family, it was no different.

After five years of working remotely, Nate was ordered back to the office, a change that — with two small children — did not mesh well.

He was out the door in the morning before his kids were awake and back home only an hour before their bedtime.

However, things changed when his wife, Nirali, asked one simple question: What do you think about a golf simulator business?

"My eyes lit up," Nate told Patch, speaking to the moment that Nirali pitched the idea of becoming franchise owners of Back Nine, an indoor golfing simulator chain. "We really were into the business model, and the rest is history."

The DePasquales are now the franchise owners of Back Nine Crofton, which will hold its grand opening Saturday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 1166 MD Route 3, Suite 207.

"We have better flexibility for the family, that's the win for us," Nate said.

Nirali told Patch that Nate "was in before he even knew the business model of the actual franchise" since he'd gotten into golfing within the last few years.

Aside from the golfing and the improvement toward the family's routine, Nirali's interest in Back Nine also came from how it could positively impact residents in the area.

"We thought it could provide a lot of community and engagement as well, and that was kind of the draw for me," she said.

From signing on with the Utah-based chain to securing a lease at the Crofton Princess Center, the DePasquales made the Back Nine Crofton a reality within the span of about a year.

And they're not planning on leaving anytime soon after signing a 10-year lease. "We plan on being here and a staple of the community for many years to come," Nate said.

Unlike other indoor golf simulators, Back Nine Crofton is offering members the opportunity to get in some tee time at all hours of the day.

Related: Indoor Golfing Simulator Comes To Anne Arundel Co.

"It's been kind of cool," Nirali said. "There's a few people that come at, like, 4:30 every morning. They're there 4:30 to 6:30 before work, or 10 to 11 in the evening, just knocking out a couple of hours."

"It is nice … to kind of have a private space where you can just kind of go in and see how you're hitting the ball and what you're doing and then it gives you instant feedback to say, 'OK, this is how you can improve.'"

Feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Nate, who told Patch that residents have relayed to him that the Crofton community had been waiting for such an enterprise to open locally.

Looking to the coming months, after the weekend's official grand opening, the DePasquales intend to direct their focus to boosting the women's golf world in Crofton.

Anticipate some ladies' nights in the near future, according to Nate.

"I'm not going to be here," he said, noting Nirali would be taking the reins for the events. "It'll be 100% ladies' night, including the owner."

Residents can find the Back Nine Crofton at 1166 MD Route 3, Suite 207.