MSR On the Radar: Thomas Jackson on Making Golf Accessible With Par365
On this episode of MSR On the Radar, Thomas Jackson explains how a pandemic hobby became Par365, an indoor golf simulator, bar, restaurant and event space at 2655 Patton Rd in Roseville. Jackson describes the challenge of breaking into the golf industry, the programming that helps intimidated newcomers step through the door, including Golf 101 sessions and a speaker series for middle and high school students, and the move from a corporate product development career to full-time entrepreneurship. His advice: compress your vision into a minimum viable product and grow at a reasonable pace.
Thomas Jackson’s favorite part about being a Black business owner in Minnesota is the ability to create community, perspective, autonomy and authentic experiences.
“I think it’s what really drew me to entrepreneurship,” he said.
Jackson dived into entrepreneurship after discovering golf as a new hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, many of the activities he loved were put on hold. Venues were closed, Jackson was not playing much music, and he had not been spending quality time outdoors or getting together with friends.
He reclaimed all of that through golf. Jackson and his friends began visiting local courses, bringing music along.
“All these things kind of came together to form my new perception and vision of what golf is and could be,” he said.
The pandemic disrupted routines overall, giving Jackson and his wife, time to reflect, learn new hobbies and consider their future after 20 years in their respective careers, he said.
In December 2023, the couple opened Par365, an indoor golf simulator, bar, restaurant and event space at 2655 Patton Rd in Roseville.
“Our mission was: Could we create this space, vibe and location that made golf more accessible, more affordable and more approachable?” Jackson said.
While golf is popular in Minnesota, there’s a noticeable divide between those who play and those who do not, Jackson said. With Par365, the Jacksons aimed to bridge that gap while still catering to experienced golfers with high-end simulator technology.
Breaking into the industry proved challenging. The business focused heavily on marketing and forming local partnerships, hosting social gatherings and DJ events to reach new audiences.
Jackson initially thought creating a space distinct from a traditional country club would immediately attract non-golfers, but he quickly realized intimidated newcomers needed more encouragement to step through the door.
To address this, Par365 developed specialized programming. Jackson hosts a speaker series for middle and high school students focused on personal development and opportunities in golf, highlighting diverse influencers who are changing how the sport looks and sounds.
The venue also offers a Golf 101 session for groups, from friends to corporate teams, curious about the sport. Participants tour the facility, discuss the cultural context of golf, learn how business deals happen on the course and practice basic swing mechanics. The sessions end with a short virtual course on the simulators.
“Being able to actually do the sport, play with people you already know, and see it in action, there’s a light that comes on in people’s eyes,” Jackson said. “That’s what we feel is so valuable about the programming we’re creating.”
The switch from product development to owning a business was challenging, Jackson said, but he was able to apply skills from his former industry, including how to build a brand. Other aspects were completely new. Managing a team and a budget looks different outside a corporate setting, he said, and strategies that worked in his career didn’t always translate.
Jackson believes building a business while keeping a day job provides more of a safety net. But the Par365 concept grew so rapidly that he chose to become a full-time entrepreneur.
“It became a very obvious choice of if I stayed in my day job the business wasn’t gonna get where it needed to be,” he said.
Balancing the business with family life takes intentional effort. Jackson’s wife is a partner at a law firm, making communication and patience crucial as they navigate business operations, marriage and parenting.
“Anything new is going to bring out a new side of your partner,” Jackson said. “If you can slow down and be patient, that becomes part of the fun, the curiosity of seeing new things in each other.”
When advising aspiring entrepreneurs, Jackson encourages them to focus on a minimum viable product rather than trying to launch a massive operation overnight.
“Take that vision and compress it as small as you can while keeping the essence of the idea,” Jackson said. “Entrepreneurship is really hard. The bigger you try to make your idea at first, the more it will take over your life. Grow it at a pace that is reasonable.”
For more information on Par365, visit www.par365golf.com/.
Damenica Ellis welcomes reader responses at dellis@spokesman-recorder.com.
On the Radar highlights established Black-owned businesses and the people behind them. To have your business considered for a future feature, email dellis@spokesman-recorder.com.