When Dylan Waters talks about golf, it’s clear he’s not just talking about a sport. For him, the game has always been about something bigger—connection, laughter, and the kind of friendships that last a lifetime.
That perspective took root during his college years. After transferring from Lipscomb University to Trevecca Nazarene University, Dylan found himself the “new guy” walking into a close-knit golf team. Instead of being treated as an outsider, his new teammates welcomed him in with open arms. “It showed me that golf isn’t just about competition; it’s about community,” he recalls. That moment of acceptance planted a seed, one that would eventually grow into Simply Golf.
Years later, the camaraderie Dylan shared with his college buddies sparked the idea of creating a place where others could experience the same thing. “For us, golf wasn’t only about practice or competition,” he says. “It was about the laughter, the encouragement, and the sense of belonging.” The transition from friends playing golf to building a facility around it wasn’t a sharp leap, but a natural extension of the joy they found together. Simply Golf was born from that vision, a space designed to be welcoming, not intimidating, and to help people form connections through the game.
Part of what makes golf such a strong connector, Dylan believes, is that it allows people of different skill levels to share the same experience. “You can have a scratch golfer and a total beginner on the same course, and both will feel the same highs and lows, the thrill of a perfect shot and the frustration of a miss,” he explains. “The beauty is that everyone plays their own ball at their own pace, but they’re still together. That shared journey bridges the gap.”
Community has continued to play a central role in Simply Golf’s story. This past June, Dylan was invited to help sponsor a golf tournament benefiting the American Cancer Society. The opportunity was deeply personal, his father passed away from cancer eight years ago, and the chance to honor him through the game he loved was powerful. Thanks to a friendship that grew out of a customer’s interest in Simply Golf, Dylan’s small business was able to join major sponsors like Deloitte, Pinnacle, and KPMG in supporting the event. “Without his support, Simply Golf could never have been part of something on that scale,” Dylan says. “It meant the world to me.”
The tournament left him with lasting memories, not only of the impact made for cancer research, but also of the moments shared with family and friends that day. For Dylan, it was yet another reminder of golf’s unique ability to bring people together in meaningful ways.
While running a business comes with its share of challenges, what keeps Dylan going is watching others fall in love with the game. “Seeing someone hit a pure shot for the first time or walk out after their best round, it never gets old,” he says. “That joy makes everything worth it.”
Looking ahead, Dylan admits he doesn’t have every detail mapped out, but he’s certain about his heart for the mission. “I want Simply Golf to grow into a place Mount Juliet can be proud of,” he says. “A gathering place where community, friendship, and the love of the game come together.”
At Simply Golf, it turns out the true scorecard isn’t measured in strokes or stats, but in the friendships and memories made along the way.