Wausau Pilot & Review
Publisher’s Note: Business of the week is a sponsored post that shares the stories of local and run companies in the Wausau region and highlights their products and services and how they contribute to the unique flair of the metropolitan region. Find out how to showcase your business by emailing [email protected].
This week’s highlight in the Wausau area is 4 Seasons Golf of Wausau, which allows golfers to stay in shape all year round. Shane Saari opened the store in December 2019 at 151411 Robin Lane on Rib Mountain, a building formerly inhabited by Ethan Allen. As a former educator, Shane dreamed of starting his own business and that was a perfect fit. 4 Seasons Golf offers full swing simulators and 84 simulated courses, perfect for golfers of all levels. Beginners can register for lessons with one of three golf professionals, while experienced golfers will find unique challenges on realistically simulated courses throughout the winter. With an on-site sports bar and 13 other simulated sports including soccer, baseball, dodgeball, hockey, and soccer, the 4 Seasons Golf of Wausau is a great choice for a fun day or evening with colleagues, family, or friends. Everyone can have their share of the fun! Shane also hosts a number of tournaments and league games – whatever the weather. Read on to learn more and find out how you can keep your golf game up year-round.
Q: When was your company founded and how did you choose the name?
A: We opened on December 6th, 2019. I’d spelled out about four or five company names that I liked, and ultimately my wife and I picked 4 Seasons Golf of Wausau because it best suited our offering. Our main task is to offer the Wausau area a place for golfing in the winter months so that golfers can keep their swing. We offer leagues, open tee times, and the occasional tournament. Our further goal is to provide families and friends with a place to have fun and relax with our 13 other simulated sports that we offer.
Q: Tell us about your company. What makes it unique
A: We are the only company in Wausau that offers indoor golf on the best simulators in the industry from Full Swing. We offer leagues, open tee times and tournaments. We have a sports bar with a wide selection of local and artisanal beers and other malted beverages, as well as Portesi pizzas. Each bay has its own TV, so you can start the game while playing golf. We can also host business and company outings, birthday parties, bachelorette parties and more. We offer lessons from three different golf professionals and with a driving range and more than 100 courses we have something for every golf level. There is nothing in the Wausau area that offers our service to golfers. We also have 13 other simulated sports for children and adults. This is just a great place to relax and have a great time.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: After 18 years of training with a secure job, I left the company to start my own business, which I always wanted to do. It’s been two tough years. When we opened, we were only open four months before we closed due to the pandemic. Having no income and closing doors after four months is a very scary situation. When we were able to open it was summer and golfers were out on the course. We don’t have regular summer opening hours – we’re essentially closed – so we had to wait a long time to get customers through the doors again. Even when autumn came at the end of our first year, we found that a large part of the population was still reluctant to go out and we respected that and let them know we would be here when they felt comfortable. Through all of this, we’re still open and up and running and have the best customers in the world. We emerged as a start-up during one of the toughest times for small businesses in this country. That makes me proud.
Q: How have you changed and developed over time? What is different now than at the beginning?
A: In my first two years, I was very interested in feedback from league members and customers. When they asked, I have tried my best with the resources available to me. We have changed a lot of what we did in our top division compared to what we are doing now. There have been a number of customers who have been with the league every season since it opened. I may never be able to repay such people for what they did for this business. Your support and help with feedback to make this place the best it can be is essential. Our summer lessons in this second summer are basically no longer available. We tried that first summer but quickly realized that it was cheaper to close. We are thinking about closing completely for the summer with early autumn hours and then extending the opening hours in winter and early spring. We will continue to listen to feedback from our customers and continue to make the changes that make this place the best it can be, including enhancements.
Q: What challenges did you face and what are your hopes and dreams for the future?
A: Great question. To be honest, I have the feeling that I am still mastering challenges, and have been since I opened. I was initially turned away at every bank in the area when trying to get a business loan as a startup. I’ve had some key players to help me out as early investors, and the rest were, well, let’s just say, strategic, bold financial decisions. The funding, the pandemic, finding well-qualified help, learning a solid business strategy, marketing, taxes, payroll, hiring an accountant and attorney, budgeting, etc. It was and is a steep climb, but I did it on my own and that – no matter where this business ends up – is a success story in my book. My goal would be to expand at some point and get my own building to add a few more bays and maybe a few more dining options and some surprise ideas that I’m working on right now. One step at a time.
Q: Is there anything that the public should know about right now?
A: We are currently accepting registrations for the Winter League, which starts the week of November 29th. The men’s Wednesday league is currently full, but there are still some places available on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We only have a few places left in our women’s league and there will be a number of openings in the couples league on Monday evening. Leagues are made up of teams of two. For more information, email Shane from 4seasonsgolfofwausau.
Connect with the 4 seasons Golf of Wausau
4 Seasons Gulf of Wausau – 151411 Robin Lane
715-679-3769
www.4seasonsgolfofwausau.com
On Facebook as 4 seasons Golf von Wausau,