I’ve played on muddy, messy courses. I’ve played on exclusive courses with scenic terrain, too. I was bad at all of them but I still enjoyed it.

Because I now understand the relaxation, camaraderie and connection that happens on golf courses, experiences that have largely been reserved for white golfers throughout history. That’s why I always encourage my BIPOC friends to buy a cheap set of golf clubs and learn the game. If nothing else, it’s two-plus hours of nature, calm and conversation on these sculpted courses often hidden from the general public.

Those traits inspired PAR365. For Jackson and his wife, they knew golf had potential that many communities could not access. Plus, the fun Jackson and his friends had in the spring and summer on Twin Cities courses would end once the cold arrived.

Now, they have their business and a goal: to turn PAR365 into a Twin Cities hub for golf, fun and the opportunity to create new bonds with nothing more than a few clubs.

“We thought we’d be able to create not only a business and a brand, but an experience for people that was markedly different than what they thought,” he said. “People who were avid golfers, who had golfed their whole lives, who had come from that background, come from a golf family, would feel that connection at PAR365 and say, ‘Hey, this is different, but I think this is dope.’ And people who had never golfed before would be like, ‘I always thought golfers were like this, but it could be [a good experience, too].’”