Building a Year-Round Revenue Engine With "The Nest" - with Kyle Holmes / Quail Ridge Golf Course

What if the future of golf isn't on a golf course at all, but in a building that lets you play Pebble Beach in January while snow piles up outside?

Host Colin Weston speaks with Kyle Holmes, General Manager and Managing Partner of Quail Ridge Golf Course in Ada, Michigan to explore The Nest - an eight-bay dual-mode indoor/outdoor golf simulator facility that Kyle believes is the first of its kind in Michigan, and possibly the entire country.

Unlike traditional simulator venues, The Nest features dual-mode bays that let golfers hit down a 375-yard outdoor range on TrackMan 4 technology with the garage doors open in summer, OR hit into an impact screen with virtual courses projected overhead in winter without ever moving from their spot. It's a game-changer for a northern golf course that sits buried under snow for four months of the year.

Kyle walks Colin through the design and construction journey of The Nest, from the original six-bay concept to the final eight-bay layout, the decision to build tall (16-foot roofline) and bright (tan curtains, green and white interior) instead of the dark, low-ceiling "windowless closet" feel of typical simulator venues, and the choice to repurpose the maintenance barn site to save on water, septic, power, and internet costs.

Whether you're a golf course owner looking for off-season revenue, an entrepreneur curious about calculated risk-taking, or simply someone who loves seeing innovation in unexpected places—this video will show you what's possible when you refuse to accept the status quo.

🔗 Watch the full audio podcast interview with Kyle Holmes for the complete backstory of Quail Ridge, his journey from employee to owner, and his vision for acquiring more courses: [Link in description]

Episode Chapters
00:00 Welcome to ModGolf: Is golf an 18-hole experience or a virtual simulator? Or both?
00:30 Meet Kyle Holmes: Co-owner and Managing Partner of Quail Ridge Golf Course
01:00 What is The Nest? Eight dual-mode bays with indoor/outdoor flexibility
02:00 Why The Nest is different: Hit down the range OR into an impact screen without moving
03:15 The vision for year-round golf: Four months of snow, but no months off
04:30 Serving every golfer persona: Clinics, club fitting, lessons, leagues, date nights, and more
06:00 The design journey: Why the original six-bay concept became eight bays
07:30 Two must-haves: Tall ceilings (16 feet) and bright, welcoming interiors
09:00 "Golfers don't play golf in the dark": Creating an elevated experience
10:30 A place to gather: Team building, football watch parties, and company events
12:00 The business case: 30% of revenue, 18-month breakeven, self-funded passion project
14:00 Better margins than green grass: No maintenance, minimal staffing
15:30 Scaling the vision: Acquiring more undervalued courses and applying the formula
17:00 Calculated risk: Why The Nest "isn't a risk at all" for Kyle and Tim
18:30 Naming The Nest: How Tim's one-word suggestion became the brand
20:00 Where in the world is Quail Ridge? A Google Maps tour of Ada, Michigan
21:30 Site selection: Why the maintenance barn location was "the one"
22:30 Grand opening plans: Soft launch, celebration night, and rolling into business
23:30 Hours of operation: 9 AM to 9 PM bookable, with early grinders and evening entertainment
24:00 How to visit The Nest and connect with Quail Ridge Golf Course

🔗 Connect with Kyle Holmes & Quail Ridge Golf Course
🌐 Website: quailridgegc.com/the-nest

🎧 Listen to the Full Audio Podcast Episode
modgolf.fireside.fm/230-kyle-holmes

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