From Franchisee to CEO: Building the Future of Indoor Golf | Closed Course w/ Michael Ruvolo

Welcome back to another episode of 'Closed Course'! The guys are back with another great guest interview, this time joined by Michael Ruvolo, President and CEO of X-Golf America, one of the fastest-growing indoor golf and entertainment brands in the country. Michael's journey with X-Golf started from the ground up. After opening his first location in 2019, he continued expanding through COVID, eventually growing to five locations before being offered the opportunity to take over the entire company in 2024. Today, X-Golf has grown to more than 130 locations across the country, combining golf, technology, entertainment, food and drinks into a unique experience for golfers of every skill level. Michael and the hosts dive into what makes X-Golf different from other indoor golf experiences, including its proprietary simulator technology, automatic ball-feeding system and focus on creating a faster, more realistic experience. They also discuss how indoor golf has continued to grow, why X-Golf works in both cold and warm-weather markets, and where Michael sees the company heading next. The conversation goes beyond the simulators as Michael shares what he's learned building and scaling a business. From pouring beers and cooking food at his own locations to now leading the entire X-Golf organization, Michael talks about the work it takes to turn an idea into a successful business and why empowering the people around you is so important. Of course, it wouldn't be 'Closed Course' without plenty of golf talk. Michael shares his dream foursome, stories about following Jon Rahm and J.J. Spaun before they became household names, his love for the game and what makes simulator golf so competitive and accessible. The guys also get Michael's side of the viral Pat McAfee X-Golf simulator story. Michael explains how the simulator ended up on McAfee's set, what actually happened when it failed to register a shot, and why the simulator itself wasn't broken. Tune into the latest episode of 'Closed Course' for a conversation about golf, entrepreneurship, the rise of indoor golf and what's next for X-Golf America. Powered by Pins and Aces Produced by Guerilla Sports