Indoor Golf Franchise Territory Map 2026
You want to open an indoor golf franchise. The brochures all say the same thing: exclusive territory, high demand, turnkey opportunity. What they don’t tell you is which states are already saturated, which systems actually have open territories in your state, and which markets are getting picked clean before you even start looking.
This is the first comprehensive state-by-state territory map for the six major indoor golf franchise systems. I tracked down location counts, franchise registration states, territory protection policies, and expansion plans for Back Nine, X-Golf, Five Iron, Another Nine, TruGolf Links, and Golf Envy. Here is where you can actually open, and where you should not bother. For more context, see our Five Iron vs X-Golf vs Back Nine comparison and franchise cost guide.
The Six Franchise Systems at a Glance
Six franchise models dominate the US market. They fall into three tiers based on investment, operating model, and geographic reach.
| System | Total Units | States Active | Territory Protection | Investment Range | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back Nine | 200+ | 36+ states | Zip codes, pop. ≤75K | $276K-$604K | 24/7 membership |
| X-Golf | 130+ | 38 states + DC | Exclusive by demographics | $990K-$1.9M | Sim bar + F&B |
| Five Iron | 38+ | 13 US states | Designated Area | $1.73M-$4.33M | Premium lounge |
| Another Nine | 75 territories | 16 states | Exclusive franchise region | $334K-$824K | 24/7 unstaffed |
| TruGolf Links | 160+ in dev | 4 states (active) | Regional Developer (1M+ pop) | $689K-$1.2M | Flagship + exec |
| Golf Envy | 11 | 7 states | Undisclosed | $349K-$697K | Private membership |
The counts matter less than the distribution. One system might have 200 locations but zero in your state. Another might be registered to sell in 38 states but only have actual stores in 24. The brochure math and the reality math are different numbers.
Back Nine Golf: Volume Play, Nearly Everywhere
Back Nine is the McDonald’s of indoor golf. They are opening 20 locations per month as of June 2026, have crossed 200 total locations, and are already in more than 36 states. Their territory protection is the weakest in the industry – contiguous zip codes with a population cap of 75,000. That is a small territory. It lets them stack locations inside the same metro area, which is exactly what they are doing.
States with active locations:
Arizona is Back Nine’s densest market with 23 locations. Florida has 27. Utah, their home state, has 18. Pennsylvania has 10. Texas, California, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey (5 current plus 5 opening), New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin all have active locations. Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, and Minnesota also have locations.
What this means for you: Back Nine is not selective about territory. If your market has a population pocket of 75,000 or fewer people, they will sell you a franchise. The problem is that other Back Nine franchisees already have the best metro-adjacent pockets. You end up with a territory that is either too small to support a sim business or a market so remote that your average revenue falls well below their $192K system average.
Back Nine works best for operators who want multiple units. Their multi-unit deals require you to open within two years, and the small territory math only makes sense if you stack two or three locations in a region. One location in a 75,000-population territory at $192K average revenue is a job, not an investment.
X-Golf: 38 States, But Only 130+ Actual Locations
X-Golf says 38 states on their website. They currently list 139-141 locations across America. The National Golf Foundation confirms 130+ across 38 states. That is about 3.4 locations per state on average, but the distribution is not even.
Where X-Golf is actually dense: Ohio leads with 6 locations. Illinois and Michigan have 5 each. Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Texas have 4 each. North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Colorado, Washington, and Florida have 2-3 each. That is 62 percent of all X-Golf locations concentrated in the top 10 states. The remaining 28 states have 1 location or zero.
States X-Golf operates in (confirmed from their location finder): Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.
What this means for you: X-Golf’s territory protection is stronger than Back Nine’s. They award exclusive territories based on local demographics and population density, not arbitrary zip code caps. If you lock down a metro area, you get that metro.
The real opportunity with X-Golf is in undersaturated states. California has one X-Golf location for 39.4 million residents. Texas has four locations for 30 million people. Florida has maybe three for 22 million. These are gaping holes. The reason is that X-Golf requires a full-service bar and restaurant buildout ($990K-$1.9M investment), so they need the right real estate deal and operator capital. The demand exists in these states. The franchisees do not.
Five Iron Golf: Premium Tier, Limited Reach
Five Iron is the most exclusive franchise on this list. They are still mostly company-owned. As of their most recent FDD, they had 22 total units and zero franchised units. That number has changed – they now have 38+ locations and are actively franchising – but they are moving slowly and selectively.
States with Five Iron locations or development agreements: New York (5 locations, home market), Florida (Coral Gables, Miami), Georgia (Atlanta Midtown), Illinois (Chicago, 2 locations), Maryland (Baltimore), Texas (Fort Worth, Dallas), Kentucky (Louisville, 2 locations), Missouri (St. Louis), Oklahoma (Yukon, Norman), Tennessee (Nashville), Connecticut (Norwalk, coming soon), Pennsylvania (Erie), Virginia (McLean), District of Columbia (Penn Quarter), Washington (Seattle), Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio.
States available for franchise development (per FDD registration): 11 states. The specific registration states for franchising are not all public, but Five Iron targets dense urban markets with strong demographics. They are not going to sell you a franchise for a strip mall in Wichita Falls.
What this means for you: Five Iron’s territory protection is the strongest. You get a Designated Area with full exclusivity – the franchisor will not open another Five Iron in your territory. But the investment is $1.73M to $4.33M. They require leasehold improvements of $750K to $2.5M, FFE of $650K to $1M, and three months of additional funds at $80K to $150K.
Five Iron is franchising in 15 states with active operators, but the real opportunity is in the states they have not entered yet. They have zero locations in the entire West Coast outside Seattle. Zero in Colorado. Zero in Arizona. Zero in the Carolinas outside a few franchise development deals. If you have the capital and an urban location, Five Iron’s premium model still has massive white space in the western half of the country.
Another Nine: Youngest System, Most Open Territory
Another Nine has signed 75+ franchise territories across 16 states since July 2025, with the first franchise location opening in Cornelius, North Carolina in June 2026. They operate two company-owned locations in Cincinnati (Columbia-Tusculum and Montgomery).
States with Another Nine presence: 16 states total. They prioritize the Midwest and Northeast – Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina (Charlotte sold out at 12 locations), and expanding into Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and others.
Their franchise inquiry page lists every state as available: Alabama through Wyoming. Every single state appears on their franchise application dropdown. The reality is that 16 states have signed franchisees. The remaining 34 states have zero Another Nine presence.
What this means for you: Another Nine has the most open territory of any system on this list because they are only one year into franchising. Their model (24/7 unstaffed, no membership required, Trackman-based, all-private suites) has the lowest investment threshold at $334K-$824K and the simplest operations – no food, no bar, no staff.
The catch is that Another Nine is still proving the franchise model. They have exactly one franchise location open. The rest are territories sold with locations not yet built. You are buying into a concept that has not been battle-tested at scale. The unit economics look good on paper, but the only real data points are their two company-owned Cincinnati locations. If you are comfortable with that risk profile, Another Nine has open territory in every state east of the Mississippi that is not North Carolina’s Charlotte metro.
TruGolf Links: Four-State Blitz, Nowhere Else
TruGolf Links is the most geographically concentrated franchise on this list. They have signed agreements for 160+ units in development, but all of them are in four states: Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee.
Trust Golf’s model is regional developer-based. You buy a territory of 1 million or more in population, open a flagship location with upscale F&B, and then develop the territory with additional units you own or franchise to sub-operators. The regional developer gets compensated for recruiting franchisees and supporting them locally.
TruGolf Links active development states:
- Illinois: First franchise opened Manteno (July 2025), Chicago-area developer Bob Earley driving Chicago expansion
- New Jersey: Regional developer Nick Reimondo signed lease for Cherry Hill; multiple units planned
- New York: Long Island regional developer Gio Dinsay signed leases for Westbury (flagship, 5 sims) and Farmingdale (6,120 sq ft flagship); two Long Island flagships under construction
- Tennessee: Regional developer agreements in place
What this means for you: If you do not live in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, or Tennessee, TruGolf Links is not available to you. They are a Nasdaq-listed company (TRUG) that only started franchising 14 months ago, and they are focused on saturating their initial four-state footprint before expanding. The regional developer model means you need to buy a population territory of 1M+ and commit to multi-unit development. This is not a single-unit franchise play.
The opportunity is that TruGolf has committed to 160+ units and has the capital backing of a public company. If you are in their four active states and have the capital ($689K-$1.2M per unit), this is the only system actively building flagships in the Northeast corridor.
Golf Envy: 11 Locations, 7 States, Growing Slowly
Golf Envy is a private membership indoor golf club concept with 11 locations across seven states. They are the smallest system on this list but also the most differentiated – private club model, no hourly walk-ins, GOLFZON-based simulators, 24/7 access.
States with Golf Envy locations: California (Covina, Dublin, La Verne), Georgia (Alpharetta), Pennsylvania (Doylestown, Southampton), Tennessee (Farragut), Texas (Frisco), Arizona (Tempe), Idaho (Eagle), New Mexico (Albuquerque – first NM location opened June 2026).
Available markets on their franchise site: They list all states as available but note registration requirements in 15 regulated franchise states. Their franchise investment ranges from $349K to $697K.
What this means for you: Golf Envy has the most open territory of any system because they have the fewest locations. But they also have the smallest support infrastructure and the least brand recognition. Their model works best in affluent suburban markets where a private club membership structure appeals to golfers tired of crowded public sim facilities.
The biggest territory opportunity with Golf Envy is the Southeast and Midwest. They have a single location in Georgia (Alpharetta) and one in Tennessee (Farragut). The entire Southeast outside those two spots is open. The entire Midwest except Idaho is open. The entire Northeast except Pennsylvania is open.
Saturation Analysis: Where Not to Open
The indoor golf franchise market has clear saturation zones. Here is where I would not open a new facility.
Over-saturated:
- Utah – Back Nine has 18 locations in one state. X-Golf has multiple. The home-market advantage is real, and the population is not large enough to support more.
- Arizona – 23 Back Nine locations across the Phoenix metro is approaching saturation. The market can absorb more because of population growth, but not another Back Nine.
- Florida – 27 Back Nine locations plus X-Golf and Five Iron presence. Florida is the most competitive sim state in the country. Every major metro (Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville) has multiple franchise locations operating.
- Ohio – Back Nine (multiple locations), X-Golf (6, highest in any state), Five Iron (Cincinnati corporate), Another Nine (Cincinnati headquarters, 2 corporate locations, 2 dozen planned). Ohio is ground zero for the sim franchise war. Do not open a generic sim facility in Ohio unless you have a differentiated concept.
- Charlotte, NC – Another Nine has 12 planned locations. The Charlotte metro is their first fully sold-out region. Do not try to open a competing concept here.
Moderately saturated (approach with caution):
- Texas – Big enough to absorb more, but Back Nine and X-Golf and Five Iron are all active. The opportunity is in secondary markets (Lubbock, Midland, Corpus Christi), not Austin/Houston/Dallas.
- Pennsylvania – Back Nine has 10 locations, X-Golf has 4, Golf Envy has 2. The Pittsburgh and Philadelphia metros are getting dense.
- Illinois – Chicago has Five Iron, X-Golf, Back Nine, and TruGolf. The suburbs are less dense.
Under-saturated (best opportunities):
- California – 1 X-Golf location per 39 million people. Back Nine has a handful. Five Iron has Seattle but not California. The entire state is a white space opportunity for every system.
- New York City metro – Five Iron dominates urban NYC, but the suburbs (Long Island, Westchester, Hudson Valley) are wide open. TruGolf is building two Long Island flagships. Nobody else is there yet.
- Pacific Northwest – Oregon and Washington have minimal franchise presence outside Five Iron Seattle and a few Back Nine locations.
- Rocky Mountain region – Colorado has some Back Nine locations and one X-Golf. Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico have almost nothing.
- Deep South – Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas have limited Back Nine presence and almost nothing else.
State-by-State Franchise Availability Quick Reference
Here is a simplified decision matrix for each state. An “X” means the system has a confirmed presence. A dash means they do not.
| State | Back Nine | X-Golf | Five Iron | Another Nine | TruGolf | Golf Envy | Best Bet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | X | X | - | - | - | - | X-Golf or Back Nine |
| Alaska | - | - | - | - | - | - | Independent only |
| Arizona | X | X | - | - | - | X | Saturated for Back Nine |
| Arkansas | X | - | - | - | - | - | Back Nine (thin) |
| California | X | X | - | - | - | X | X-Golf (massive gap) |
| Colorado | X | X | - | - | - | - | X-Golf or Five Iron |
| Connecticut | - | X | X | - | - | - | Five Iron (Norwalk) |
| Delaware | X | - | - | - | - | - | Back Nine (thin) |
| Florida | X | X | X | - | - | - | Differentiated concept only |
| Georgia | X | X | X | - | - | X | Premium (Five Iron) |
| Idaho | X | X | - | - | - | X | Golf Envy or Back Nine |
| Illinois | X | X | X | - | X | - | TruGolf (active dev) |
| Indiana | X | X | - | - | - | - | Back Nine or X-Golf |
| Iowa | X | X | - | - | - | - | Both present (thin) |
| Kansas | X | X | - | - | - | - | Back Nine or X-Golf |
| Kentucky | X | - | X | X | - | - | Another Nine (HQ state) |
| Louisiana | X | - | - | - | - | - | Back Nine only |
| Maine | - | X | - | - | - | - | X-Golf (thin) |
| Maryland | X | X | X | - | - | - | Premium (Five Iron) |
| Massachusetts | X | X | X | - | - | - | Moderate saturation |
| Michigan | X | X | X | - | - | - | X-Golf dense, check specifics |
| Minnesota | X | X | X | - | - | - | Back Nine (thin) |
| Mississippi | X | - | - | - | - | - | Back Nine (thin) |
| Missouri | X | X | X | - | - | - | Multiple options |
| Montana | X | - | - | - | - | - | Back Nine (one loc) |
| Nebraska | X | X | - | - | - | - | Both present |
| Nevada | X | X | X | - | - | - | Multiple options |
| New Hampshire | X | X | - | - | - | - | Back Nine (thin) |
| New Jersey | X | X | - | - | X | - | TruGolf (active dev) |
| New Mexico | X | - | - | - | - | X | Golf Envy (just opened) |
| New York | X | X | X | - | X | - | TruGolf Long Island |
| North Carolina | X | X | - | X | - | - | Another Nine (Charlotte sold out) |
| North Dakota | - | X | - | - | - | - | X-Golf (Bismarck, Minot) |
| Ohio | X | X | X | X | - | - | Saturated – differentiate |
| Oklahoma | X | X | X | - | - | - | Five Iron (Yukon, Norman) |
| Oregon | X | X | - | - | - | - | White space |
| Pennsylvania | X | X | X | - | - | X | Moderate saturation |
| Rhode Island | - | X | - | - | - | - | X-Golf (thin) |
| South Carolina | X | X | - | - | - | - | X-Golf or Back Nine |
| South Dakota | X | X | - | - | - | - | Both thin |
| Tennessee | X | X | X | - | X | X | TruGolf (active dev) |
| Texas | X | X | X | - | - | X | Secondary markets only |
| Utah | X | X | - | - | - | - | Saturated – do not enter |
| Vermont | - | - | - | - | - | - | Independent only |
| Virginia | X | X | X | - | - | - | Premium (Five Iron McLean) |
| Washington | X | X | X | - | - | - | Five Iron Seattle |
| West Virginia | - | - | - | - | - | - | Independent only |
| Wisconsin | X | X | - | - | - | - | Both present |
| Wyoming | - | - | - | - | - | - | Independent only |
The Five States Nobody Is In
Five states have zero franchise indoor golf presence from any of these six systems: Alaska, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Hawaii (not tracked). If you live in one of these states, you cannot buy a franchise from any of these systems. You would have to go independent.
That is not necessarily bad news. Independent facilities in underserved states can capture the entire local market with no franchise competition. The risk is that the population base might not support a sim business. A facility in Wyoming needs to draw from a 150-mile radius. A facility in Vermont needs to survive ski season competition for entertainment dollars.
Which Franchise Should You Pick Based on Your State?
If you are in a state with multiple options, here is the decision framework.
Pick Back Nine if your market population is under 500,000 and you want the lowest-cost entry point ($276K-$604K) with brand recognition. Accept that your territory will be small, your revenue will average $192K per location, and you will compete with other Back Nine franchisees in neighboring zip codes.
Pick X-Golf if your state has zero or one X-Golf location and you have $990K-$1.9M for a full-service sim bar. The strongest opportunities are in California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest – states with large populations and thin X-Golf coverage.
Pick Five Iron if you have $1.73M-$4.33M and an urban location in a state they have not entered yet. The western half of the US is wide open for Five Iron. Southern California, Denver, Phoenix, Portland, and Nashville are all white space.
Pick Another Nine if you want the lowest-risk entry into franchising ($334K-$824K, no staff, no F&B) and live in the Midwest or Northeast outside Charlotte. Every state east of the Mississippi except Ohio (saturated) and North Carolina’s Charlotte metro (sold out) is available.
Pick TruGolf Links if you live in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, or Tennessee and have the capital for a multi-unit regional developer deal ($689K-$1.2M per unit). This is the only system actively building flagship locations with full F&B in the Northeast.
Pick Golf Envy if you want a private membership club model in an affluent suburban market. The entire US is open territory except California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Idaho, and New Mexico – and even those states have single locations with room for more.
The Brochure Says Exclusive. The Reality Depends on Your State.
Every franchise brochure promises an exclusive territory. The value of that exclusivity depends entirely on which state you are in and which system you choose. A Back Nine territory in Arizona is not exclusive – it is a 75,000-population pocket in a state with 23 other Back Nine locations. A Five Iron territory in Southern California is genuinely exclusive because they do not have a single location west of Seattle.
The franchise systems know which states are under-penetrated. They will sell you a franchise in California, Oregon, or Colorado with enthusiasm. They will be less excited about a franchise in Ohio or Florida because those markets are approaching saturation.
Do your own math. Get the FDD. Check Item 20 for the state-by-state unit count. Call existing franchisees in your region. The territory map above gives you the starting point. The FDD gives you the truth.
Cross-linked: Indoor Golf Franchise Comparison, Franchise vs Independent Analysis, Startup Costs by Bay Count, Break-Even Analysis by Market Size, X-Golf Franchise Model Breakdown, GOLFZON Commercial Dominance, Facility Boom Update #14