Indoor Miniature Golf Is Glowing in Suwanee

Is there such a thing as work-life balance? Some entrepreneurs say that work is just part of life and therefore work-life balance doesn’t exist. The requirements of work fluctuate, so there is no set balancing point.

For Sophia Woolridge and Marcia Leach of Suwanee, the question is about following a dream of running a small business while at the same time managing a home with children and husbands. Woolridge and Leach opened the doors to Tee Glow in November 2009. It’s an indoor miniature golf course that glows in the dark.

Tee Glow includes 18 holes of mini-golf, arcade games, and a concession area. A game purchase is good for 36 holes.  The glowing effect comes from the paint used on the holes in combination with black lighting throughout. Tee Glow has a single-hole portable course that is movable to support organized events such as school, church, or corporate outings.

“Tee Glow is not just a golf place” Woolridge said.  “It’s an atmosphere for fun.  We host birthday parties, corporate events, date nights, play dates, etc.” Woolridge and Leach specialize in kid’s parties, but they’ve also hosted a birthday party for a 40-year-old and corporate ice breakers.  Customers can order anything on the Papa Johns, Cooleys, or Carvel ice cream menu.

The most important aspect of the store to Woolridge and Leach is keeping it clean. They model the aspects of their business on things they look for when they are the customer. “It creates a good customer experience and return customers,” Wooldridge said.

The story of Tee Glow starts in a local gym where Woolridge and Leach met through a mutual friend. During a discussion after a workout they decided they didn’t want to go back to corporate America. So they brainstormed ideas.

Indoor miniature golf was on Woolridge’s list because she had experience with playing outdoor mini-golf with the family when temperatures were above 90 degrees.  She thought about how the experience inside could eliminate the aspects of weather but still keep the fun. Five years later, after the brainstorming session with Leach, they decided to research the idea for an indoor mini-golf business.

In their research, they found a place in the Midwest with indoor mini-golf where the course glowed.  They liked the glowing effect because they thought it would appeal to children, and they were targeting a family-oriented business.  

 “Our first business plan was for our husbands,” Woolridge said. “They were our first investors.”  Even though their initial funding was from personal sources, they still created a business plan detailing specifics of how the business would operate.

Woolridge and Leach designed the Tee Glow course and store layout from scratch. The design was created from a parent’s perspective.  Parents can sit at tables and have full visibility to the course and there is only one entry and exit point for players.

Woolridge and Leach also handpicked all of the holes on the course.  Then they had the landlord remove the drop ceiling, which added depth with darkness.

The name Tee Glow came from a moment of inspiration. While registering as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) they were asked for a Doing Business as (DBA) name.  They were not prepared to answer the question at that time, but it was a required field on the form. So while standing in the courthouse they chose the name Tee Glow because it described their business to a T. It was simple but distinctive.

Opening day was Nov. 7, 2009. When they first opened, the store hours were seven days a week. This however, took a big toll on their family commitments.   After some time, they tweaked the hours to keep what was sufficient for business and made them more available for home commitments. Now, when school in session, Tee Glow is open Thursday through Sunday. When school is out, Tee Glow is open seven days a week.

In their first two years, the business partners have learned a few things.  “Being a business owner is tough,” Woolridge said.  “It’s a rewarding but time-consuming work. We have our responsibilities at home but also need to manage all the aspects of a small business.”

Woolridge and Leach are business partners and sponsors of North Gwinnett Middle School. They have also worked with local organizations to support fundraising efforts. For example, they have given free golf games, which can be auctioned for fundraising.

Originally from New York, Woolridge and Leach both fell in love with Suwanee since it didn’t have the hustle and bustle of big city life.   Now with family, school, and work in the North Gwinnett cluster, they are living their dreams and find just the right balance.  

For more information on Tee Glow, visit www.teeglow.com.