Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Vainer.
Hi Paul, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Former Life
For most of my adult life, I worked in corporate sales and marketing across Metro Detroit, primarily in the commercial building materials industry. When COVID hit, it forced me to slow down and re-evaluate everything — what I wanted to do, where I wanted to be, and who I wanted to do it for.
I realized I was done building someone else’s dream. I didn’t want to keep working for massive corporations where a stranger on another continent could make a decision that changed my life overnight.
For a few years, I’d kept a side hustle as a small business development consultant, helping owners build sustainable growth strategies. When I finally left corporate life, I decided to bet on myself and see if I could make that work full time.
My first big project was a consulting role at a small radio station in northern Michigan. My family has had a cottage in East Tawas my entire life, and I’d bought one of my own in my mid-20s. The station was just 30 minutes away, so I figured it’d be a nice three-to-six-month project — a working break at the lake before figuring out my next move.
Becoming a Varsity Golf Coach
While working at the radio station, I heard that Tawas Area High School was hiring a boys varsity golf coach. Coaching had always been something I wanted to do, but I never had the time to take it on.
I applied, got the job, and had an unexpectedly strong first season — despite starting with four first-year golfers. I approached it like a business: build a plan, execute it, and create buy-in. We became one of the school’s top fundraising programs, bringing in nearly $7,000 in just a few months.
I wanted to invest that money into something lasting for the kids and community. There wasn’t an indoor golf facility within 90 minutes of Tawas, and that gap became an opportunity.
Opening the Business
Within three months, Bogey’s Indoor Golf was open. It quickly became clear that I’d found what I was looking for — something that connected my love for golf, community, and entrepreneurship.
Running the business and coaching at the same time was demanding. There were long hours and constant problem-solving, but it was the first time in years that I felt energized by work. I never tracked the ROI of community events or fundraisers — because that wasn’t the point. Doing the right thing became the foundation of everything we built.
Starting Girls Golf
Giving back always seems to create new opportunities. I let my golfers play for free at Bogey’s when the bays weren’t booked — a policy that still stands today.
That first winter, a few of the boys brought friends who wanted to learn the game, which sparked the idea of starting a girls team. After months of board meetings and proposals, Tawas Girls Golf became official.
Two years later, it’s thriving — and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a coach.
Boys Golf Success
Since that first season, the boys program has grown from four players to sixteen, plus three middle school managers. We’ve reached the state finals four out of the last five years, finishing 4th, 6th, and 11th in Michigan over the past three.
We’ve built a feeder system through the area’s first junior golf program that i established, and we’ve had players go on to compete in college. Today, Tawas has one of the strongest small-school public golf programs in the state — something I’m incredibly proud of.
Bogey’s Growth
Bogey’s took off right away — strong local support, solid early revenue, and great word of mouth. But I quickly learned how seasonal the business was: once golf season started outdoors, revenue dropped by 90–95%.
I kept searching for the next step while balancing coaching and community involvement. That next step came in early 2024, when a prime downtown space opened up. Most people told me not to move — downtown lacked parking and car traffic, both critical for most indoor golf businesses. But I didn’t see Bogey’s as just a simulator business. I saw it as a community gathering place.
Bogey’s Success
Instead of saving profits to survive the slow season, I reinvested everything into transforming a former boutique shop into Bogey’s Indoor Golf & Sports Bar.
The move doubled our space, expanded our bar service, and put us right in the heart of downtown. It allowed us to host larger groups, participate in community events, and become part of the town’s social heartbeat.
Today, Bogey’s has become what I always hoped it would be — a third place between home and work where people connect. By day, it’s family-friendly and welcoming; by night, it’s lively and social. We feature over 50 Michigan-made liquors, canned drinks, and rotating draft beers, and we proudly host everything from fundraisers to 25 Christmas parties in December alone.
Girls Golf Success
The girls team’s progress has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2023, we played as a club team to prove there was interest. By 2024, we’d earned full varsity status. That first official season, our mostly first-time golfers won the conference championship.
In 2025, they dominated — winning every nine-hole match by an average of 35 strokes and taking the conference title by nearly 100. All six of our top players earned All-Conference honors, and senior Mackenzie Kinney became the first girl in school history to compete at the state finals.
Participation keeps growing, and with the younger players coming up, the future looks even brighter.
Other Business Opportunities
The success of Bogey’s naturally evolved into another venture: Fore Seasons Indoor Golf Solutions, a high-end simulator contracting business. When I built Bogey’s, I had to learn the installation side from scratch. That experience, combined with my construction sales background, created an opportunity to help others.
Fore Seasons now designs and installs premium residential and commercial simulators across Michigan. The work is project-based but rewarding — and it’s helped me build a reputation as a go-to guy for indoor golf.
One highlight was helping a friend open Bogey’s Indoor Golf of Alpena, about 90 minutes north. I helped with the business plan, layout, and buildout. Seeing someone else succeed using lessons from my own experience has been one of the most satisfying parts of this whole journey.
Conclusion
Looking back over the last five years, the path has been anything but predictable. I’ve caught a few lucky breaks, but most of it came down to persistence — following through on ideas, learning from mistakes, and choosing community impact over quick wins.
None of it would have been possible without the people around me: my athletes, my staff, and this community. Brett Leppek, my first hire, has been a huge part of Bogey’s success — steady, dependable, and just as committed to our mission as I am.
Future
Five years ago, I was in a job I couldn’t stand, waiting for the weekend. Now I wake up excited to work on something meaningful every day, surrounded by people I care about.
I get to live and work in a small lakeside town I love, doing something that matters — and that still feels like the biggest win of all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bogeystawas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawasbogeys
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BogeysIndoorGolf
- Other: https://foreseason.com
