Pin High PGH: New indoor golf experience in Moon Township
Pin High PGH opened its doors in Moon Township in January, offering round-the-clock indoor golf simulator bays available year-round. Owner Nick Notto is a pharmacist by profession but opened Pin High after getting his MBA from Duquesne University and deciding to put his business skills to use.
“I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” Notto said. “I've been golfing ever since I was a kid, so that's kind of the reason why we're here today.”
After working as a pharmacist for CVS and Kroger, Notto moved to the Pittsburgh area and saw a gap in the industry he believed he could fill.
“I'm really looking for more accessibility in the golf area,” he said. “A lot of the time you may be working, you might have family commitments, kind of just looking for a place [to golf] in Pittsburgh that's affordable, that's accessible nearly 24/7.
“That was an open spot in the golf market, and golf is pretty huge in Pittsburgh. So all those factors kind of [led] me to start this business.”
Putting his idea in motion, Notto formed a company and pitched his idea to local property owners. After securing a location at the plaza at 1136 Thorn Run Road, Notto picked the Foresight Falcon for his golf simulator technology, due to its use by professional golfers and data-driven technology.
According to Notto, the Robert Morris University golf team, led by coach Steve Shingledecker, was instrumental in helping him shape Pin High. In January, RMU named Pin High as an official practice facility for its golf teams.
“Shout out to the RMU team and Coach Steve,” Notto said. “Once I opened up, they kind of reached out to me.
“They actually started practicing here to get ready for their Division 1 tournaments last year, so that was huge to have them here. I listened to their feedback, heard what they want to see, what they don't want to see, and was able to model my business off them.”
Shingledecker said that for his players to compete at the highest level, they need access to “accurate, elite level data and a flexible training environment. Pin High provides that for our team.”
Shingledecker said that the combination of Pin High’s technology and generous access gives the Colonials an environment to work on their mechanics and fundamentals on their own schedules.
“We are proud to be a partner with Pin High PGH,” Shingledecker said.
Notto said the arrangement with RMU has been a mutually beneficial one.
“RMU has been a huge advocate of ours, and we're an advocate of theirs too,” he said.
Since opening in January, Pin High PGH has earned 65 reviews from satisfied customers, with a 5-star average rating on Google.
“We ended up getting so much utilization after the first couple months that we had to open up a second bay,” Notto said. “Not part of the original plan, but it was kind of great to have that demand here, and especially at the start.”
Notto said that Pin High has welcomed a wide range of golfers, from beginners and families to long-time players and collegiate teams.
“I had a guy yesterday come here and use hickory clubs from the 1800s, so that was a brand new experience for me,” Notto said. “Never have seen that before.
“We get golfers from all different demographics.”
Scott Powell, who plays in a league at Pin High PGH, said league play is a good way to get continuous time playing.
“If you are short on time, you can get your round in in about an hour,” he said. “It’s easier than four hours on a course.”
Powell said the process to book a tee time in the bays is easy and the cost is very reasonable – and at times rivals an outdoor range but has the tech and the advantage of not worrying about the weather.
Powell also said the equipment that Notto has is solid. “I’ve used Trackman and a few others and (Pin High PGH’s) equipment is as good as any I have used, at least for my needs,” he said.
Powell said the courses available at Pin High PGH are more realistic than others he has played.
“For example, if you are in the rough, you need to club down,” he said. “You need to adjust if you are on a hill or in a bunker just like another course. And if you are in the trees, you have to find a way around them. The graphics are really good – sand flies, grass flies, leaves fall.”
The business has also hosted events, throwing a 30th birthday party one week and a 50th the next. Notto emphasized the low price and accessibility of the facilities at all hours as features that attract golfers of all skill levels.
“People can come here and play an entire round for an hour, which is only going to equate to about 15 bucks,” Notto said. “If you're just starting out, if you don't even have clubs, we have clubs here. You can use our clubs.
“If you need help -- obviously, this is a self-service model, 24/7 -- but I'm always available to help people, especially for their first time.”
While he has no plans to franchise the business, Notto said that he may look into opening one or two locations in the Pittsburgh area. Short-term, he wants to look into expanding the business’ league and membership offerings.
More information about Pin High PGH and its offerings can be found at https://pinhighpgh.com/.
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