Hintze: Community ‘genuinely impressed’ with new Iron Tee

Shortly after the new Iron Tee Golf entertainment facility opened in mid-May, Ryan Hintze had a chance to take a look around at the new sports building. As he took in the view, he also listened to what the customers were saying. “They love the atmosphere here. … Some of the things they are saying […]

Shortly after the new Iron Tee Golf entertainment facility opened in mid-May, Ryan Hintze had a chance to take a look around at the new sports building. As he took in the view, he also listened to what the customers were saying. “They love the atmosphere here. … Some of the things they are saying is that once they get inside, it’s a lot bigger than they first thought. That’s the shock factor many people see about the place,” said Mr. Hintze, who is CEO of Iron Tee Golf and president of the nearby TBK Bank Sports Complex. The Iron Tee –  the new $35 million, 61,000-square-foot golf and entertainment facility – is the latest sports entertainment business to open in The Plex area in north Bettendorf around the sports complex. More facilities are in the works including a new 113,000-square-foot indoor sports facility, he also will own, that is currently being built next to Iron Tee. Mr. Hintze recently answered a series of questions for the QCBJ about Iron Tee and other new developments including: 

Tell us about how that idea for Iron Tee started. “The original idea started out of seeing a smaller golf entertainment venue similar to what Iron Tee is today. I thought, ‘Why couldn’t we have one of these here in the Quad Cities?’ And that is where the journey began. The proximity to the TBK Bank Sports Complex seemed logical given the sports tourism and local demographic access.”   Now Iron Tee is open, do you have any changes in mind? “We have a few small tweaks here and there we are making. Our management and staff have a lot of ideas flowing, such as a summer concert series, wing eating contests, dueling pianos, and various arcade specials. Our goal is to keep the community engaged and excited.” Tell us about the new indoor sports facility taking shape next to the Iron Tee.  “The upcoming 113,000-square-foot indoor sports facility will feature a full-sized 11V11 soccer field, adaptable for two 9V9 or four 7V7 games. It’s also designed to accommodate indoor baseball tournaments, with additional line markings for lacrosse and flag football. Scheduled to open in December 2024, it’s tailored to support the growing sports needs of the Quad Cities. We are still actively looking for naming rights for the building.” What customer comments have you been hearing? “We have received a lot of praise for our food and beverage offerings as well as the layout of the venue. When we set out to build our menu, we wanted to keep it simple and under 25 items. We wanted to be good at the simple things. Additionally, many are surprised by the spaciousness of our facility once inside. The community seems genuinely impressed to have such a high-quality venue here in the Quad Cities.” The area around TBK Bank Sports Complex continues to grow and thrive. What do you think it will look like in five years? “With the proactive and supportive approach of the City of Bettendorf, I believe this area will see significant growth. The completion of the pedestrian bridge and highway on/off ramps will make the northside of Interstate 80 an attractive spot for new developments. It’s an exciting future. We joke that The Plex might need a new area code soon.” What advice do you have for somebody starting a new business? “At times, it's a mental grind, you find yourself waking up at 2 a.m. remembering things you forgot to write down, or waking up at 4:30 a.m. getting to work just to play catchup before the emails and calls start coming in. Early in my startup, I took a lot of inspiration from Jim Rohn. If you are working a 9-5 job you want to get out of, Google Jim, he will change your mindset.” When it comes to starting a business, how do you deal with fear and doubt? “Fear and doubt come naturally when you are in the heat of battle of starting a business. You just need to consistently show up and know when to put in the extra hours. Everyone must choose one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” What is your favorite part of being a business leader? “At times, I find myself asking ‘Wow, how did I get here?’ I’ve found how you do anything in life is how you do everything. Maintaining enthusiasm, a level head, and treating people like people has been crucial to building a reputation for reliability.” If you could go back in time, what would you change about your business journey? “It’s hard to say I would change anything at this point. Every decision has led to this point where I have a supportive team and trustful partners. It’s been a fulfilling path, and I’m grateful for where it has led.” When you are not busy at the Iron Tee and other business duties, what do you enjoy doing?  I love to play golf by myself, at my own pace, or driving my kids to the driving range and watching them play golf. I also enjoy fishing and listening to Iowa games on a solar radio catching bass and crappie.”