Five Things We Learned From Our First & Nine Event

Launching & Nine wasn't just about setting up a golf simulator. It was about creating the kind of event we'd want to attend ourselves.

Our friends and family popup was our first chance to test everything: the equipment, the flow, the games, and ourselves as hosts. Like any first event, a few things surprised us. Here's what we're taking into every event moving forward.

1. Setup always takes longer than you think.

We knew bringing a mobile golf simulator to an event would take work. What we underestimated was everything surrounding it.

Lighting. Furniture placement. Signage. Extension cords. The putting green. Decor. The photo booth. Custom scorecards. Finding the perfect angle for photos. Those details aren't "extra." They're what transform a golf simulator into an experience. At & Nine, we're not dropping off equipment and leaving. We're building a popup environment where people can relax, connect, compete, and have fun. That takes intention, and intention takes time.

We'll absolutely become faster with every event, but one lesson is already clear: we'll always protect the details that make the experience feel elevated.

Next time, we'll probably avoid also running a pizza oven, serving drinks, and hosting a party all at once. That may have been a bit ambitious. But the pizza was a hit.

2. Hosting is just as important as the technology.

The simulator gets people curious. The host keeps people engaged.

One thing I learned while playing double duty as host was that simply having the simulator running didn't keep people playing. The energy faded quickly if Tate or I weren't there facilitating games, offering tips, celebrating great shots, and inviting the next person to step up.

That was an important reminder that hosting isn't an add-on. It's one of the core pieces of our experience design.

Technology creates interest. Great hosting creates connection.

3. You have to choose between capturing the moment and living it.

As a new business, we wanted photos. Videos. Behind-the-scenes content. Reels.

At the same time, we wanted to greet guests, answer questions, serve pizza, reset games, and make sure everyone felt welcome.

Trying to do all of those things at once is harder than it looks.

We're already thinking about better ways to capture future events without sacrificing the guest experience because hosting will always come first.

That may also mean teaching my husband how to take photos without cutting off people's feet.

It's a work in progress.

4. The best golfers weren't necessarily having the most fun.

One of our favorite moments was watching people who don't normally play golf give it a shot.

There were laughs. A few air swings. Plenty of "Can I try that again?"

That's exactly what we hoped for.

Our goal isn't to create an event just for golfers. It's to create an experience where anyone can step up, take a swing, and feel like they belong.

Because sometimes the best shot of the day isn't the longest drive. It's the first swing someone was nervous to take.

5. This is exactly why we started.

At one point we looked around and saw people eating pizza, trying golf for the first time, cheering each other on, and meeting neighbors they'd never talked to before. That was the vision.

Golf was simply the catalyst. Connection was always the goal.

Our first event reminded us that memorable experiences aren't built around perfect execution. They're built around giving people something to do together and creating moments they'll still be talking about after they leave.

We'll keep refining the setup. We'll make the logistics smoother. We'll capture better photos.

But if people leave having laughed a little more, met someone new, or discovered they actually enjoy golf, we'll consider it a successful event.

This was just our first swing.