How does X-Golf operate after opening?
A standard X-Golf outlet combines reserved simulator time, golf training and play, leagues, memberships, events, retail merchandise, and approved food-and-beverage service. The franchisee staffs and runs the location; X GOLF Franchise Corporation sets the operating standards; X GOLF America, Inc. supplies and supports the required simulator platform.
Data basis. This analysis uses the X GOLF Franchise Corporation U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document issued April 15, 2026, for the Individual Unit Franchise. Evidence comes principally from Items 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19 and 20, the Franchise Agreement and the Operating Manual table of contents. Item 20 reports outlet status through December 31, 2025. Research was checked July 27, 2026.
Public context: the official U.S. X-Golf franchise page and the official consumer website. Contractual statements below are cited to the 2026 FDD because no verified franchise-controlled public copy of that FDD was located.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 11, 15, 19 and 20, pp. 28-29, 36, 41-43; Franchise Agreement §§2.4, 7.4-7.5.
What does an X-Golf location sell, and who buys it?
The licensed business sells golf simulator training and play with food and beverage service. Required or authorized programs include memberships, X-Leagues, lessons, gift cards, tournaments, private events and retail merchandise. Customers include first-time golfers, social groups, regular players, league teams, lesson customers and event organizers.
Simulator-led services
Reserved bay time, practice modes, virtual course play and lesson activity are delivered through the required X-Golf Simulator hardware and software. The official technology page describes the customer-facing sensors, shot data, course play and mobile-app functions.
Recurring and group programs
Memberships, gift cards and required loyalty or incentive programs support repeat visits. X-Leagues create scheduled team play, while the official league program connects local qualifying activity with regional and national competition.
Events and venue use
Locations can book corporate gatherings, birthdays, tournaments, fundraisers and full-venue events. The official events page shows that simulator capacity, food, beverages and group hosting are combined into one customer transaction.
Food, beverage and merchandise
The unit serves only approved menu items and beverages using prescribed recipes and authorized ingredients. X GOLF America, Inc. also sells gloves, hats, shirts, golf aids and other merchandise for retail, although Item 8 does not classify every merchandise purchase as mandatory.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Item 1, pp. 6-7; Item 8, pp. 19-21; Item 16, p. 37; Operating Manual table of contents; Franchise Agreement §§7.3, 7.11.
How does customer work move through the location?
The FDD does not publish a shift-level service script. Its required systems, offerings and reporting duties support this operating sequence, subject to the Operating Manual and later System Standards.
- Actor:
- Customer and unit marketing staff.
- Action:
- Customer selects simulator play, a lesson, league, membership or event, then books or contacts the unit.
- Required system/asset:
- Brand website, approved local marketing and Acuity.
- Output:
- Reservation, inquiry or scheduled program.
- Actor:
- Front-of-house employee.
- Action:
- Confirms the booking, assigns a simulator bay and explains operating or league requirements.
- Required system/asset:
- Acuity schedule and an available X-Golf Simulator.
- Output:
- Customer is placed into the reserved service slot.
- Actor:
- Unit staff, manager and any lesson personnel engaged by the franchisee.
- Action:
- Delivers play, practice, lessons, leagues, tournaments or events under prescribed procedures.
- Required system/asset:
- Six or more required simulators, course software and program rules.
- Output:
- Completed golf or group experience.
- Actor:
- Food-and-beverage employees.
- Action:
- Prepares approved food and beverages while maintaining inventory, recipes and health-code compliance.
- Required system/asset:
- Approved kitchen equipment, ingredients, suppliers and local licenses.
- Output:
- Food-and-beverage fulfillment linked to the visit or event.
- Actor:
- Cashier or authorized employee.
- Action:
- Records simulator time, products, food, beverages and program payments, including valid gift cards.
- Required system/asset:
- Square POS, approved payment equipment and customer-program procedures.
- Output:
- Completed payment and sales record.
- Actor:
- General manager, Principal Executive and X GOLF Franchise Corporation.
- Action:
- Reviews sales, inventory, complaints, inspections and financial statements; corrects deficiencies and submits required reports.
- Required system/asset:
- Square data, business records, monthly reports and audit access.
- Output:
- Royalty basis, operating controls and follow-up actions.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 6, 8 and 11, pp. 12-16 and 19-29; Franchise Agreement §§7.3-7.12, 10.1-10.5.
The contract requires active Principal Executive participation: at least 15% ownership unless waived, decision authority, completed training and at least 20 hours each week. On-premises supervision may be delegated, but the outlet must employ a trained full-time general manager.
Who performs each operating function?
The franchisee is the employer and controls hiring, scheduling, supervision, compensation and termination. X GOLF Franchise Corporation may set qualifications, appearance rules and minimum staffing standards, but disclaims joint-employer status. The franchisee must staff to volume and remains responsible for employee conduct.
Principal Executive
Acts for the franchisee, allocates at least 20 hours weekly, attends required meetings, completes training and remains accountable for system compliance and business decisions.
Full-time general manager
Provides on-premises management, must complete XGF training and must be replaced by a trained manager within 90 days if the position becomes vacant.
Unit employees and contractors
Handle reservations, simulator setup, customer service, food and beverage, payments, cleaning and program execution. The FDD does not disclose a required headcount, shift plan or labor ratio.
A third-party management company requires prior written approval. A general manager need not own equity, so local management may be delegated, but the Principal Executive's weekly obligation remains.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Item 15, p. 36; Franchise Agreement §§2.4, 7.5, 7.20.
Which suppliers and systems are mandatory?
X GOLF America, Inc. is the mandatory source for X-Golf Simulators and related installation and maintenance; no other simulator may be used. X Golf Co. Ltd. supplies simulator software and hardware upstream to XGA but is not an affiliate of X GOLF Franchise Corporation.
Franchisee-controlled execution
- Hire, schedule and supervise all unit personnel.
- Maintain permits, liquor licensing and health compliance.
- Buy approved food, equipment and operating inputs.
- Maintain the premises, simulators and required technology.
- Resolve customer complaints before franchisor intervention.
XGF-controlled operating standards
- Define the menu, recipes, required services and program rules.
- Approve suppliers, advertising, digital marketing and locations.
- Require technology updates, reports, inspections and audits.
- Access sales, customer and simulator data.
- Change the Operating Manual and System Standards.
XGA and third-party dependencies
- XGA supplies and supports the simulator fleet.
- Approved distributors supply food and kitchen inputs.
- Acuity manages simulator reservations.
- Square records sales, refunds, inventory and financial data.
- Outside vendors may provide feedback, mystery shopping or IT support.
Acuity reservation layer
The FDD requires Acuity for simulator reservation management. Acuity's official materials describe direct online booking, calendar management and appointment follow-up; see the official Acuity Scheduling overview.
Square transaction layer
The FDD requires Square as the point-of-sale and facility-management system. XGF receives store data including sales, refunds, inventory and financial reporting; Square's official POS overview describes those core functions.
The franchisee must replace or update hardware and software when XGF directs, maintain PCI and privacy compliance, and provide independent system access. Customer, POS and simulator data belong contractually to XGF and are licensed back for unit operation.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 8 and 11, pp. 19-21 and 28; Item 14, pp. 35-36; Franchise Agreement §§7.4, 7.7, 8.1-8.7, 11.4.
What does the franchisor control, and what remains local?
XGF controls the customer promise through mandatory product, supplier, technology, marketing, data and quality standards. The franchisee retains day-to-day employment and local execution decisions within those standards.
| Operating decision | XGF authority | Franchisee discretion |
|---|---|---|
| Products, menu and programs | Requires all prescribed offerings and prohibits unapproved offerings. | Executes approved offerings; may request approval for a nonstandard item. |
| Pricing | May prescribe minimum and maximum prices, subject to law. | Generally sets local prices within any required limits. |
| People | May set qualifications, training and minimum staffing standards. | Controls hiring, scheduling, pay, supervision and termination. |
| Marketing | Approves materials, controls digital marketing and may mandate campaigns. | Funds and executes approved local marketing; proves required spending. |
| Quality and records | Inspects, audits, requires reports and sets evaluation thresholds. | Maintains records, corrects deficiencies and handles first-line complaints. |
| Technology and data | Selects platforms, mandates upgrades and accesses operating data. | Buys, operates, secures and maintains the required technology. |
Artificial intelligence may not be used in franchise marketing or operations without prior written authorization. XGF may also revise the Operating Manual and System Standards, require surveys or mystery shopping, inspect the premises, set minimum scores and intervene after unresolved complaints.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 8, 11 and 16, pp. 19-21, 24-29 and 37; Franchise Agreement §§7.1-7.10, 9.1-9.9, 10.1-10.5, 11.1-11.3.
What protection does the location receive?
The Franchise Agreement assigns a site-specific mileage radius called the Designated Area or Protected Territory. XGF will not establish another conventional X-Golf outlet there, but the territory is expressly non-exclusive. XGF may use nontraditional venues, alternative channels and different marks without compensating the franchisee.
The public franchise page uses the phrase “exclusive territory.” The 2026 FDD controls the contractual analysis: it defines a Protected Territory with carve-outs for private clubs, transit facilities, shopping centers, airports, parks, arenas, stadiums, highway-exit locations and alternative distribution channels.
The franchisee must make sales at or from the approved premises. Delivery, mail order, internet sales, satellite locations and direct marketing outside the territory require approval. Customers can find and contact local outlets through the official location directory, but the franchisor retains control of brand websites, social accounts and other digital marketing.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Item 12, pp. 30-31; Item 16, p. 37; Franchise Agreement §§2.1-2.2, 7.3(c), 9.2.
What does Item 20 show about the operating network?
At December 31, 2025, Item 20 reported 133 U.S. outlets: 129 franchised and four classified as company-owned. Item 1 explains that the franchisor itself does not operate the franchised business; the four non-franchised outlets are operated by affiliated entities in New Jersey, Washington and Washington, D.C.
- Franchised outlets 129 · 97.0%
- Item 20 “company-owned” 4 · 3.0%
The operating network remained overwhelmingly franchisee-run, while affiliated operators accounted for the four outlets classified in Item 20 as company-owned.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 20, Table 1, p. 43; Item 1, p. 6. Calculation: 129 ÷ 133 = 97.0%; 4 ÷ 133 = 3.0%.
Systemwide outlets increased from 98 in 2023 to 123 in 2024 and 133 in 2025. During 2025, Item 20 recorded 14 franchised openings, two reacquisitions and four outlets that ceased for other reasons, producing a net increase of eight franchised outlets; the company-owned classification rose by two.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Item 20, Tables 1, 3 and 4, pp. 43-49.
Which operating questions remain undisclosed or inconsistent?
The FDD supplies the control structure but not a complete local labor model or operating calendar. These items require verification against the final agreements, current Operating Manual and approved site.
- What staffing roles, minimum staffing levels and manager coverage will XGF require for the proposed simulator count and hours?
- Which menu, liquor program, food distributor, kitchen specifications and local health requirements apply to the site?
- Which memberships, leagues, lesson programs, gift-card rules and national campaigns are currently mandatory?
- What current Acuity, Square, network, security, mobile-app and simulator-support specifications must the unit maintain?
- How will the mapped Protected Territory treat nearby private clubs, shopping centers, arenas, stadiums and other nontraditional venues?
- Is multi-unit development currently offered? Item 22 names a Multi-Unit Development Agreement, while Exhibit C is marked reserved and no separate operating path is attached.
Operating-model synthesis. X-Golf's central mechanism is paid use of required simulators, supplemented by approved programs, events, food, beverages and merchandise. The franchisee's most important responsibility is staffing and executing the customer experience while maintaining regulatory, premises and reporting compliance. The strongest dependency is XGF/XGA control over simulators, systems, data, suppliers and System Standards. The key distinction is that a manager-run location still requires an active Principal Executive, and the largest unresolved question is the current multi-unit agreement and its operating obligations.