8 Iron Therapy
Photos By: John Burns
Building a business from the ground up takes grit. But for a couple of veterans, that’s a non-issue. Matt Vanderpool, who served 12 years with the Kansas Army National Guard, and his wife, Sarah, a retired Major with the Army Reserves, applied the mental and physical endurance from their time in uniform to open 8 Iron Therapy, an indoor simulated golf facility in Southeast Topeka.
The idea came last fall when Matt begrudgingly prepared for the dreaded cold temperatures that signal the end of the golf season.
“It sucks knowing you have to put your clubs up in bad weather,” said Matt. “In Kansas, if you take wind and weather into consideration, you have 70 ideal days for golf. That’s it.”
During quarantine, Matt’s time at the range became even more sacred. When he needed a break from the world of remote work and school, Matt told Sarah he was heading out for a little “8 iron therapy.”
That October, as the clock was ticking on his lockdown escape, an idea took hold. Inspired by the 24/7 gym model, Matt thought about applying the same concept to an indoor golf facility. Sarah was immediately on board. With her master’s degree in business and Matt’s in technology, it felt like a winning combination.
“I thought if anyone could do it, he could,” said Sarah. “Between our combined education and experience, I figured we’d be able to make anything go.”
Less than 10 months later, 8 Iron Therapy opened. For golfers craving a longer season to work on their short game, the shop is a dream come true. Course simulation technology gives players access to over 100 different courses. In the rare case a golfer wants to play less than 18 holes at once, players can pause and resume their game later. Perhaps best of all, golfers get stats for every shot, including ball speed, trajectory and smash factor.
“They love seeing that,” Matt said. “Golf really is a numbers game. You have to know how far you can hit shots and with what clubs.”
Even for less enthusiastic golfers, like Sarah, the indoor setting provides a better environment.
“I much prefer playing in the shop,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about people watching me hack at the ball or good golfers coming up behind me on a hole because I’m taking too long.”
A GRITTY ROAD TO THE GRAND OPENING
Before 8 Iron Therapy opened to the public, Matt and Sarah had a few bunkers to conquer. Matt spent five months researching and refining the business plan. Talking to owners of indoor golf facilities across the country helped him shape his model. Getting advice from Army Reserve friends who owned small businesses also played a key role, especially with financial preparation.
“We just assumed we’d be able to pay the bills right away, which hasn’t happened,” said Sarah. “It was great to know we needed to have operating capital in the bank to pay bills for a few months.”
By the time the business plan was complete, Matt had thought through everything from software to beverages. The next part was picking a location. While an indoor golf facility doesn’t require the lush greens of a traditional course, the Vanderpools had other factors in mind. When Southeast Topeka came to mind, it felt right. Just a half mile away from their house and minutes away from three golf courses, Southeast Topeka offered both convenience and the chance to serve their community.
“Southeast Topeka is its own small town,” said Matt. “It’s really an underserved part of Topeka, we felt.”
Matt and Sarah were hands on in building their space, ordering the granite, cutting out walls and picking out furniture. While Matt was away on a three-week training for the Reserves, Sarah laid the carpet. Enlisting the help of her friend’s teenage kids, Sarah led a small troop of workers. But the physically taxing labor soon took a toll, and Sarah had to dig into her military experience to rally the group.
“One thing the army taught me is I can do anything,” said Sarah. “If I have enough time, money and willpower, I can do absolutely everything.”
OPERATION: OPEN DOORS
Aside from the physical toll, the Vanderpools had to push through the relentless legal requirements before getting the city’s OK to open their doors. From inspections to informational meetings with local residents, the hoops seemed endless. But they pushed through anyway.
“Military instills a lot of values,” said Matt. “One of them is that grit to push through.”
Despite their frustration, they said the people behind the desks were supportive.
“The staff we worked with at the City of Topeka were very helpful,” said Sarah. “They weren’t excited to tell us about regulations requiring x, y and z.”
Final approval arrived the day before their grand opening.
“It was a lot of hard work,” said Matt. “We were just relieved that we were there.”
A NEW WAY TO SERVE
Even months after opening, military values continue to shape the way the Vanderpools do business. Integrity, being leaders of character and doing the right thing all the time are the values at the heart of their operation. 8 Iron Therapy’s no-commitment policy is one example of those values in action. While
Matt and Sarah offer a player’s card, they tell customers not to get it unless they plan to be in the shop at least 8 hours a month.
“Life happens. Things change,” said Matt. “We don’t want to be a burden to anyone, especially not anyone in our community.”
While military values drive their business from the inside, Matt and Sarah choose not to highlight their veteran status as part of their marketing.
“We want people to come in because they love golf or love a golfer,” said Sarah.
Matt and Sarah also have plans to use the space to serve their community by using the space for blood drives, fundraisers and local school events.
“We’re really there to serve them,” Matt said. “Just like Sarah and I served in the military, we really take a lot of pride in serving our customers, soliciting that feedback and making the experience better and better.”
