Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Pena
Hi Chris, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I come from the steel distribution industry – mainly oil and gas related products. Work was very demanding and I didn’t get to spend very much time with my family. I have a beautiful wife of 10 years, almost 11, and 3 wonderful kids ages 8, 5, and almost 2. Spending time with them is the most important thing, so I wanted to open a business close to home. Golf has been one of my passions for over 30 years. The game of golf continues to reach more and more people each year but the amount of golf courses has not changed in decades. The supply is not keeping up with demand very well. Golf courses now are packed and play is very slow. For beginners and experts alike, this is very frustrating. I decided to open an indoor golf entertainment venue that allows golfers of all skill levels to enjoy a full round of golf, solo or with a group, have the bar right behind them, and have TV’s throughout the facility so they can enjoy watching their favorite sports teams at the same time. It’s also a great place to host corporate events, company happy hours, birthday parties, or host your very own tournament as a fundraiser for a sports team or group you are involved with. We love helping people enjoy the game of golf and provide them a space to do just that!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building a new business is never a smooth road. In fact, it’s probably the bumpiest road of all endeavors. If I had to pick one thing that is the hardest, I would say marketing. X-Golf is not a household name in the south yet. There are ALOT of X-Golf stores up north so it’s a name that most people recognize. We are starting from scratch down here, being we are the first X-Golf in the entire Houston area, and only the 2nd in Texas, so building brand awareness has been the most difficult. We have tried many different marketing avenues – some have been complete busts, and some have been great! Finding those avenues that work best for us was definitely a struggle!
And then there is social media, which is a beast all in itself! Learning to optimize posts and reels, when to put our paid advertisements, and how to target your ideal customer has definitely been a learning experience.
I truly enjoy challenges and growing as a business owner, so none of it has ever been a bad thing in my eyes.
As you know, we’re big fans of X-Golf Katy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
X-Golf Katy is a fully indoor golf entertainment venue. We have 8 full simulator bays, one of those bays being a private bay. You can enjoy the driving range, 50+ different golf courses from around the world – courses like Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, and Kapalua. We also have different game modes that you can enjoy with your friends and family like Long Drive, Closest to the Pin, and Putting competitions. Our technology is what sets up apart from any other indoor simulator venue. We can confidently say that our tech reads a golf ball with 98%+ accuracy EVERY time. Our short game, chipping and putting, is the worlds best. Putting is accurate to the inch, which other simulator venues cannot provide. This allows a golfer to truly enjoy a full round of golf.
We have a full bar and menu to go along with it. We have incredible happy hour specials and some of the most unique cocktails in the Houston area!
We offer seasonal scramble leagues. These leagues are very popular, and they are some of the best nights of the week! We have so much fun each week during the leagues and it’s an opportunity for people to enjoy friendly competition, meet new folks, and even network their businesses during these times.
We also put on monthly scramble tournaments that are open to anyone and everyone. These usually have a cash prize for the winning team.
We are also a popular spot for hosting any and all types of private events. We have done fundraising tournaments, birthday parties, retirement parties, bachelor parties, diaper parties, corporate happy hours, corporate team building, and some other special day events. We can help you carry out an event that will be memorable for everyone involved!
All in all, we are an entertainment venue that you can enjoy to it’s full potential or just enjoy parts of it! We are here to help people feel less intimated by golf and give everyone the opportunity to learn and enjoy the game at their pace!
How do you think about luck?
In both life and business alike, I have found that success is more a result of strategic decisions, hard work, and preparation rather than luck. While there are certainly unexpected challenges and opportunities that arise, I believe it’s how we respond to those moments that ultimately shapes our path forward. I focus on being prepared and adaptable, which allows me to create opportunities rather than relying on luck.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.playxgolf.com/locations/katy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xgolfkaty
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550191202898&mibextid=LQQJ4d
