What happens when you discover something later in life and realize you've been looking at it the wrong way all along?
On this episode of the Twin City Tales Podcast, Wymond Wong sits down with Thomas Jackson, co-founder of PAR365 Golf in Roseville, Minnesota, to talk about entrepreneurship, family, golf, and the unexpected experiences that can completely change the direction of your life.
Thomas grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the Chatham neighborhood, attended Whitney Young High School, and eventually earned a chemical engineering degree from the University of Michigan.
His professional career took him into the food industry, where he spent more than 20 years working with companies including Kraft, Land O'Lakes, and Target, contributing to products and brands that people encounter every day.
But golf wasn't part of the picture.
Growing up, Thomas never really saw golf as something meant for him. It wasn't a sport he was introduced to in the same way as others, and the traditional image of golf never particularly appealed to him.
Then came the pandemic.
What started as a way to get outside and spend time with friends became something much more meaningful.
Thomas discovered that golf could be music, laughter, friendly competition, trash talking, and a chance to reconnect with people. It wasn't necessarily about being good at the game. It was about the experience of playing it together.
During a family trip to Ohio, Thomas and his wife, Mercedes, visited an indoor golf simulator. On the long drive back to Minnesota, an idea started forming.
What if they could create a place that captured everything Thomas loved about golf while making the game feel welcoming to people who might never have considered playing?
That idea became PAR365.
Located in Roseville, PAR365 brings together indoor golf simulators, food, drinks, music, and a social atmosphere designed to make golf more approachable, accessible, and enjoyable.
Wymond and Thomas talk about the journey from Chicago to Minnesota, chemical engineering to food product development, and corporate America to building a business with his wife.
They explore the challenges of entrepreneurship, adapting when an original business plan needs to change, raising a family while building a company, and the lessons Thomas hopes his children learn from watching their parents take a chance on something they believe in.
The conversation also explores belonging, opportunity, and how discovering something later in life can sometimes allow you to see possibilities that others have overlooked.
From the South Side of Chicago to the University of Michigan, corporate America, and eventually PAR365 in Roseville, Thomas Jackson's story is about more than golf.
It's about creating opportunities, bringing people together, and refusing to let your past experiences define what you're capable of doing next.
CONNECT WITH THOMAS JACKSON & PAR365
PAR365 Golf:
2655 Patton Road
Roseville, MN 55113
ABOUT TWIN CITY TALES
Twin City Tales is hosted by Wymond Wong and features conversations with the people behind the stories.
From entrepreneurs and community leaders to athletes, creators, business owners, entertainers, and people who have simply lived an interesting life, Twin City Tales goes beyond what someone does to discover how they became who they are.
Remember, you can't go wrong with Wymond Wong on your Twin City Tales Podcast.
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