When Brian and Kim Rex began turning a Centerville space into The Back Nine Golf—an indoor golf facility featuring state-of-the-art Full Swing golf simulators—their daughters, Stella (12) and Carly (11), helped with demolition, getting an early, hands-on lesson in building a family business from the ground up.

“We want our kids to be happy, healthy adults who demonstrate empathy and appreciate working hard for something,” Kim shares. “We hope their experience, from helping with demolition to meeting customers, gives them a legacy of a business and the tools they need to leave Centerville better than we found it.”

The Back Nine Golf offers golfers of all ages and skill levels a place to play world-class courses, practice, and enjoy the game year-round. But Brian and Kim envisioned something beyond simulator time. “What sets The Back Nine apart from other golf facilities is that we are community-first, not simulator-first,” they stress. “Our goal is to make The Back Nine feel less like a facility you visit and more like a place you belong.”

The facility offers memberships, leagues, tournaments, youth programs, corporate events, and opportunities for families and friends to spend time together. Members receive unlimited monthly golf, free guests, discounts, and access to more than 500 Back Nine locations around the country. The Centerville location is also accessible to members 24/7, offering the flexibility to play for a few hours or squeeze in 30 minutes. “Whether you’re an experienced golfer who wants to level up your game, someone who is just beginning a golf journey, a family looking for something fun to do, or friends looking for a unique night out, we want you to feel welcome,” Brian and Kim emphasize.

The business brings together several pieces of Brian’s life. A Beavercreek native, he spent more than 20 years in catering at Kohler Foods and has coached high school basketball for over 15 years. He currently serves as varsity assistant coach for boys basketball at Archbishop Alter High School. He also loves golf: the atmosphere, the numbers, and the challenge. When he discovered The Back Nine franchise, it aligned with conversations he and Kim were already having about work-life balance, business ownership, and creating something their daughters could share. Today, The Back Nine is Brian’s full-time job, with his catering experience coming into play when customers want a fully hosted event or celebration.

Kim brings a different background. A health care executive for more than 25 years, she began her career at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus and relocated to Centerville in 2010 to work at Wright State University. For the past 16 years, she has served the Boonshoft School of Medicine, working at the intersection of health care and higher education. She is also learning golf herself. On weekends, she helps with events, stocks bay refrigerators with complimentary bottled water, and gets to know customers. She looks forward to hosting ladies’ nights.

Sports naturally fill much of the Rex family’s time, from watching their daughters compete and attending Alter basketball games to playing golf together. Stella plays volleyball and basketball and dreams of becoming a teacher and Division 1 coach. Carly plays volleyball, is the family’s resident artist, and hopes to become an engineer who designs sets for Broadway productions. Away from the court and course, the family enjoys hiking, summer beach trips, neighborhood walks and bike rides, local breweries, and an occasional date night for Brian and Kim.

Their first year as business owners has brought plenty of lessons while affirming why they took the chance. “The greatest lesson we’ve learned so far is we love this community, and we love having the opportunity to bring the game of golf to everyone in it. To be a small, family-owned business here has been its own success story.”

Brian and Kim reflect fondly on those early demolition days with Stella and Carly. “We’re grateful to be part of a community that puts people first and invests in its future through schools, libraries, health care, and small family-owned businesses like ours. We look forward to being a place where the avid golfer and the beginner alike can make memories to last a lifetime.”

And they want residents to know their golf game doesn’t have to slow or stop in the offseason. “It’s always sunny and 73 degrees at The Back Nine,” Kim reports with a smile.