Golf’s been having its moment in Milwaukee lately, and Golfing Local wants to make sure everyone feels invited to the party.
What started as Jacob Berg’s love for the game has quickly evolved into a community-driven brand combining golf-inspired apparel, mobile golf simulator rentals, and a mission to make golf less intimidating and a lot more fun.
We caught up with Jacob to talk about dropping out of college twice, building a business while working a 9-to-5, Milwaukee’s growing golf culture, and why creating community matters more than chasing birdies.
How did Golfing Local get its start? What is your background?
Golfing Local started from a genuine love for the game of golf and the community that comes with it. I was tired of not being able to find clothes that I could wear off the golf course that showed how much I loved the game. I’ve also always enjoyed how golf brings people together, whether it’s competitive rounds with friends, networking, or just spending time outside. Over time, I realized a lot of people are interested in golf but feel intimidated by it or think it’s not for them.
That inspired me to create Golfing Local, a brand focused on making golf more approachable, fun, and community driven. I am originally from Sheboygan and moved to Milwaukee for a job. I went to Concordia in Mequon for marketing and then dropped out not just once but twice. After getting jobs in sales, finance, and really not knowing what I wanted to do, golf was always there. Not knowing what I wanted made my entrepreneur mindset scream at at me. I always loved building connections with people, and I wanted to combine that with something I’m passionate about.
How long have you been in business? Have you faced any major challenges with growing your business or any triumph stories?
I have been in business for about nine months. Like most small businesses, growing Golfing Local has definitely come with challenges. Starting a business while balancing work, finances, and personal life takes a lot of time and consistency. One of the biggest challenges has been building awareness and growing organically while still handling a nine-to-five corporate job.
At the same time, some of the biggest triumphs have come from seeing people genuinely enjoy what we’re creating. Watching someone who’s never golfed before have fun on the simulator or seeing people connect at one of our events reminds us why we started this in the first place.
Every successful event, returning customer, and community connection feels like a huge win for us.
What is Golfing Local, and why did you feel it would be a good fit in Milwaukee?
Golfing Local is a golf lifestyle and event business centered around community. We offer apparel along with a mobile golf simulator rental experience that can be brought directly to parties, businesses, weddings, graduations, festivals, and other events.
Milwaukee felt like the perfect place to start because the city has such a strong local culture. People here genuinely support small businesses, local events, and community-focused brands. Wisconsin also has an incredible golf culture, from casual weekend golfers to die-hard fans of the game.
We felt there was an opportunity to create something that blended golf, entertainment, and community in a way that felt accessible to everyone.
What’s the mission behind Golfing Local?
The mission behind Golfing Local is simple: bring people together through golf.
We want to make golf feel welcoming, not intimidating. Whether someone plays every weekend or has never picked up a club before, we want them to feel included. Golfing Local is about creating experiences, building community, and helping more people enjoy the game in a relaxed and fun environment.
What is it like being a small business in Milwaukee? What do you like about being in Milwaukee?
Being a small business in Milwaukee has been incredibly rewarding because of how supportive the local community is. People genuinely want to see local businesses succeed here, and there’s a strong sense of pride around supporting local brands and entrepreneurs.
Milwaukee also has a great mix of sports culture, community events, breweries, festivals, and golf courses, which creates a perfect environment for what we’re building with Golfing Local.
What’s your favorite part about what you’re doing?
The best part is seeing people come together and have a good time. Whether it’s at an event, on the simulator, or through the brand itself, it’s rewarding seeing people laugh, compete, and connect over golf.
It’s especially fun introducing people to golf who may have never thought they’d enjoy it. Seeing someone take their first swing and immediately get hooked is one of the coolest parts of what we do.
What can people expect when shopping from Golfing Local or renting the mobile simulator?
When people shop with Golfing Local or book the simulator, we want them to feel like they’re supporting more than just a business, they’re becoming part of a community.
For apparel, we focus on creating comfortable, stylish golf-inspired clothing that people can wear both on and off the course.
For simulator rentals, people can expect a fun, interactive experience that works for golfers of all skill levels. We handle setup and takedown, making it easy for hosts while creating something unique and memorable for guests. Whether it’s a graduation party, corporate event, wedding, fundraiser, or backyard gathering, our goal is always to create an experience people remember.