In the rolling hills of Chillicothe, Ohio, a dream that started with repeated nighttime visions has transformed into what many are calling “America’s favorite backyard golf course.” Jeremy, the mastermind behind Spud Run Golf, has created something that defies conventional wisdom about golf course design — and turned it into a destination that attracts golfers from around the world, some arriving by private jet.
The Genesis of an Impossible Dream
“Not so much a spark, but more of years of gathering kindling before I started this bonfire,” Jeremy reflects on the origins of Spud Run Golf. “I seriously always had a dream of having a golf course on my property. It just took me several years to gather all the necessary ingredients.”
The dream was vivid and recurring: “I used to have this repeated dream about what a backyard hole would look like. It was a downhill dogleg par 5 with a creek in front of it. Although the current setup is different from my dream, it’s still a dream come true nonetheless.”
What Jeremy has accomplished over the past 4 1/2 years challenges everything we think we know about golf course design and space utilization. His solution to the age-old problem of limited backyard space is nothing short of genius: one green, one fairway, and nine different tee boxes that create a complete nine-hole golf experience.
Revolutionary Design: One Green, Nine Unique Experiences
Jeremy’s background as a student of golf course architecture proved invaluable in creating his masterpiece. “I’ve always been a student of golf course architecture and golf course routing,” he explains. “Most players breeze through a golf round more concerned about hitting that next great shot. I’m the guy that compliments or criticizes the routing or hole design.”
His approach was methodical and thoughtful: “The nucleus of our project was the bentgrass green and creek. This was my starting point. Fortunately for me, I was able to finagle the creek to flow in the correct spots to make each approach unique.”
The result is a course that plays to all angles, elevations and distances. “There is no greater compliment when the groups tell me ‘I can’t believe how diverse each tee shot was,'” Jeremy says with evident pride. Each of the nine tee positions offers a completely different golf experience, utilizing natural topography, strategic creek placement and varying distances to create what feels like nine distinct holes.
From Passion Project to Viral Sensation
What started as a personal dream quickly evolved into something much larger, thanks in part to Jeremy’s savvy approach to social media. His content strategy focuses on what he calls “the three major platforms” — YouTube Shorts, TikTok and Instagram Reels. One particular video, featuring a driver shot off concrete, garnered nearly 4 million views across platforms.
“The social media game is wild! It’s tougher than building/maintaining a golf course,” Jeremy admits with a laugh. “I do my best to be a student of not only grass, but social media. They both are great challenges, and my friends will tell you how much I love an impossible challenge.”
His approach to content creation has evolved significantly since he started. “When I started making long-form videos on YouTube, I had no concern for the efficiency of a video. I might have long pauses; I might repeat mundane points. I’ve learned that retention on any long or short-form content is key!”
Jeremy’s editing philosophy is ruthless in its efficiency: “I’ll start editing a video that might be 45 minutes long, my goal will be to slash it down to around 10 minutes. The viewer does not pay in money, but they pay in their time. It’s critical to capture that attention and make their time spent watching worthwhile.”
The success of his short-form content has been remarkable. “I’ve done some crazy short-form stuff! I’ve had the pleasure of sitting back at the Hack Shack with some very large content creators. It’s unbelievable to hear how much some of these guys are making on social media. I’m at the point in my social media game that I could almost make it full-time.”
The Technical Gauntlet: Maintaining Perfection in Your Backyard
Creating and maintaining a backyard golf course presents unique challenges that would make even seasoned superintendents sweat. Jeremy has faced army worms, bentgrass diseases, record droughts and, most recently, the wettest year on record bringing brown patch disease.
“The three biggest challenges to owning a backyard golf course will always be: time, money and ability!” Jeremy states emphatically. “Do you have the time to maintain it every day? Do you have the monetary resources to throw at it, not knowing if it will even help? Do you have the physical and mental ability to work on it when it’s 95 degrees, the bugs are swarming your head, and you have no clue if you’re even making it any better?”
His advice for anyone considering a similar project is refreshingly honest: “If I had to start over, I would have probably made the green bigger and the tee boxes bigger. Not a huge deal though.”
Equipment management has been another significant challenge.
“Equipment is the bane of my soul most days,” Jeremy confesses. “In a perfect world I would have all new equipment, but in the real world my budget only allows me to buy older equipment that is retired from a real golf course. I’m OK with that though, I’m pretty decent with a set of wrenches.”
The evolution from basic equipment to his current setup tells the story of Spud Run’s growth. He’s upgraded from purple EasyGo carts to an all-Yamaha fleet and invested in proper fairway mowers. “A very positive effect of our social media is the fact that greenskeepers will sometimes reach out to me offering their used equipment at a very discounted rate. Some of it is junk, but nonetheless, it’s cool to hear from them.”
The Business of Dreams: From Passion to Profit
What began as a personal passion project has evolved into a legitimate business model that’s approaching profitability. Jeremy has hosted 56 individual groups at Spud Run Golf, with visitors flying in from California and Michigan in private jets to experience this unique golfing destination.
“Spud Run definitely started as a passion dream project. I thought my project was unique enough to record videos for YouTube. Soon thereafter, some local folks reached out to me and wanted to stop and play it. Within a few months, I had people contacting me from states away wanting to visit.”
The transformation to a stay-and-play destination happened organically: “I quickly realized we needed to get started on a stay-and-play scenario. It was once crazy when someone contacted me from four hours away wanting to visit and now, we get groups from all over the world stay with us.”
The Airbnb component, operating under “The Woods at Karen Creek,” accommodates six people at around $350 per night, though golf is not included in this price. Weekends are often fully booked for the 2024 season, with limited weekday availability remaining.
Jeremy’s insight into golf’s universal appeal has been key to his success: “I’ve found that golf is the single most universal sports language in all of the world. Don’t matter if you’re hillbilly like me or traveling from Australia. Golf has no color barriers, no language clashes, no political agendas. Golf is universal. Put the ball in the cup in as little shots as possible. People all across the planet dream of a backyard course.”
The Guest Experience: Building Community One Group at a Time
Perhaps most remarkably, only two out of 56 groups wouldn’t be welcomed back to Spud Run Golf — an incredible 96% success rate that speaks to both Jeremy’s hosting abilities and the type of guests the course attracts.
“Most of our guests ‘get it’!” Jeremy explains. “When they first pull in, they’ll have their phone in hand taking pictures and videos. I’ll hear them say things like ‘I can’t believe I’m here,’ ‘it looks just like the videos,’ ‘I can’t believe I’m meeting you,’ or they will immediately call one of our dog mascots by their name.”
The emotional connection is palpable: “You can see it in the faces of these folks, you can hear it in their voice, it’s very gratifying each and every time.”
Jeremy has learned to identify the guests who might not be the right fit: “Every once in a great while I’ll get a group that was just looking for a cheap golf trip, an easy red flag is when they pull in and ask, ‘where’s Jeremy?’ That’s never a good sign.”
The repeat visitor rate has been particularly encouraging: “Most of our guests this season are return visitors. They make my life easier by knowing the ropes so to speak.”
The Reality Check: Dreams Come with a Price
Despite the success and growing popularity, Jeremy is refreshingly honest about the challenges and realities of building and maintaining a backyard golf course. His motto — “It’s not easy. It’s not profitable. But daggone it, we do it for the love of the game” — serves as both a warning and an inspiration to would-be course builders.
“The reality is back to what I said above. You might have a strong passion for the game, but do you have the time, money and ability?” Jeremy asks potential dreamers. “You’d be surprised by the number of emails I get from people wanting advice on the very things I’ve done here in the backyard. I do not sugarcoat anything; I’ll tell them straight up what to expect. I hope they have their ‘big boy britches’ on if they go for it.”
This honest approach extends to his social media presence, where he balances the excitement of viral content with the reality of daily maintenance and challenges. His YouTube channel, boasting 41,400 subscribers and 229 videos, documents both the triumphs and struggles of maintaining a backyard golf course.
Balancing Multiple Ventures: The Entrepreneur’s Dilemma
Jeremy’s success with Spud Run Golf is even more impressive considering it’s just one of several business ventures he manages.
“Unfortunately, with my other duties (I own a concrete/excavation company, I own storage units, billboards and rental properties) it would be hard to do this,” he explains when discussing the possibility of making social media his full-time focus.
This diversified approach has provided the financial stability necessary to invest in and maintain Spud Run Golf, but it also limits the time he can dedicate to content creation and course development. It’s a common challenge for entrepreneurs who build something special while maintaining other income streams.
The Legacy Question: More Than Just Golf
When asked about his long-term vision and legacy, Jeremy’s response reveals the deeper meaning behind Spud Run Golf: “Your last question hits hard, it really does. I’m not sure I can say what the next five years will bring. I can tell you what I might hope for.”
His hopes are both ambitious and grounded: “Maybe there is a scenario out there that allows social media to step up and allow me to spend more time at the course. I could see this snowballing into more content, more videos and maybe more monetary gain.”
But the true legacy he hopes to leave extends far beyond golf: “My legacy to most of the world will probably have something to do with backyard golf, but it would be my hopes that the main legacy would be in the privacy of my family and friends for a hard-working individual that took chances and didn’t give up on any ideas or dreams.”
The personal motivation is clear: “I’m hoping I could leave a legacy that would remind my boys to keep digging when times get tough, and they will undoubtedly get tough.”
The Universal Language of Golf
Perhaps the most profound insight Jeremy offers is about golf’s unique ability to bring people together: “I’ve found that golf is the single most universal sports language in all of the world. Don’t matter if you’re hillbilly like me or traveling from Australia. Golf has no color barriers, no language clashes, no political agendas. Golf is universal.”
This philosophy permeates every aspect of the Spud Run Golf experience. It’s not just about creating a unique golf course; it’s about creating a space where the love of the game transcends all other differences.
Looking Forward: The Future of Backyard Golf
As Spud Run Golf potentially approaches its first profitable year in 2025, Jeremy’s creation stands as proof that with enough passion, creativity and persistence, even the most ambitious backyard dreams can become reality. His success has inspired countless others to consider their own backyard golf projects, though his honest assessment of the challenges serves as both encouragement and warning.
The course continues to evolve, with Jeremy constantly making improvements and adjustments based on guest feedback and his own observations.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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