Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Smith.
Hi Jeremy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Putt Around KC was born in 2025 with one simple goal — to bring unforgettable, interactive entertainment directly to people instead of making them come to us.
We saw that parties, schools, churches, corporate events, and fundraisers all wanted something different than bounce houses and DJs. They wanted an experience. Something hands-on, something competitive, something people of all ages could enjoy together. That’s where mobile mini golf came in.
Starting in Kansas City, we launched Putt Around KC as a fully mobile mini golf experience that transforms any space — gyms, parking lots, fields, offices, or ballrooms — into a complete putt-putt course. We don’t just drop off obstacles; we build an environment. Every layout is custom-designed for each event, with professional-grade putting turf, creative obstacles, themed holes, and smooth ball flow that keeps lines moving and energy high.
But we didn’t stop at mini golf.
As the business grew, so did the experiences. Putt Around KC now offers:
• Mobile Mini Golf Courses
• Golf Simulators for indoor and outdoor events
• Custom-printed golf balls for events, giveaways, and branding
• Yard games and interactive challenges
• Golf cannons and long-drive style attractions for tournaments and festivals
Whether it’s a school fundraiser, church event, company picnic, birthday party, or full-scale tournament, we bring everything needed to create a high-end golf experience anywhere in Kansas City and beyond.
What makes Putt Around KC different is that we don’t run cookie-cutter setups. Every event is treated like its own course opening — designed for the space, the crowd, and the vibe. Kids, teens, adults, and even serious golfers all get something they enjoy, which is why we’ve become a go-to option for events that want something memorable.
From backyard parties to large-scale community events, Putt Around KC turns ordinary spaces into extraordinary golf experiences — one putt at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of our biggest challenges has been demand outgrowing our schedule.
When you’re mobile and popular, weekends fill up fast. We’ve had to navigate double and even triple booking requests for the same dates — schools, churches, tournaments, and private parties all wanting the same Saturdays. Learning how to prioritize, scale equipment, and sometimes say no has been a real growing pain.
Another major struggle was building a course from scratch — not buying one off a shelf.
We didn’t purchase a pre-made mini golf kit. We designed and built a fully commercial, mobile-friendly course that could handle high traffic, fast setup, and different environments. That meant testing turf, edges, ramps, ball returns, obstacles, storage systems, and trailer layouts — all while still running events.
Every change affected durability, speed of setup, and how smoothly guests could play. What looks simple on the outside took months of refining behind the scenes.
We also had to build a brand while building equipment.
While the course was being engineered, we were also creating:
• A recognizable Kansas City brand
• Logos and visuals
• Event packages and pricing
• Marketing, social content, and customer trust
Most businesses only do one of those at a time. We had to do all of it at once.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I spent nine years at Cerner as a Senior Principal Manager, building and leading teams in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. In 2025, I made the decision to step away from corporate life to focus full-time on building my own businesses — including Putt Around KC, vintage retail, and a growing portfolio of investments.
Even while working in corporate leadership, I was always building on the side. I’ve been a longtime eBay reseller and have run vintage clothing pop-ups at Kansas City’s River Market, where we’re especially known for our large collection of vintage Kansas City Chiefs apparel. Buying, selling, and creating experiences around products and events has always been part of who I am.
Entrepreneurship isn’t new to me — it’s something I’ve done my whole life.
2025 became a turning point. That year, I acquired two storage unit facilities in Kansas City, now operating with 103 occupied units, adding a stable, cash-flowing real estate foundation alongside my entertainment and retail ventures.
Together, these businesses reflect a long-term vision: combining hands-on entertainment, vintage retail, and smart investments into a diversified, Kansas City–rooted operation built to grow.
How do you think about luck?
For me, luck has played a role — but not in the way most people think.
Luck showed up because I was already in motion.
When I was at Cerner for nine years, I wasn’t waiting for some perfect moment to start something. I was already flipping on eBay, building inventory, testing what sold, and running River Market pop-ups with vintage Kansas City Chiefs gear. So when the right buyer walked by, or a rare piece showed up at the right price, it looked like luck — but it only mattered because I was prepared to act.
The same thing happened with Putt Around KC. Mobile mini golf didn’t explode because of one lucky break. It worked because the timing was right — people wanted experiences after years of the same old events — and we were willing to take the risk to build something from scratch. Being early in that demand curve in Kansas City was lucky. Being bold enough to move on it was a choice.
Even the storage facilities in 2025 had an element of luck. The deals showed up when interest rates, seller situations, and my own readiness aligned. But I only recognized them as opportunities because I had already spent years learning how to buy, sell, and value assets.
So luck has definitely touched my life — but it didn’t create anything on its own.
It just opened doors. The work, the side hustles, the long nights, and the willingness to bet on myself are what let me walk through them.
A huge part of that “luck” is my wife, Kayla. She has been there from day one — helping design courses, organize bookings, run events, talk with customers, and keep everything moving when things got hectic. When you’re navigating triple bookings, loading trailers, and running events back-to-back, having someone who believes in the vision and shows up every time is invaluable. A lot of what people call luck is really just having the right partner beside you.
Pricing:
- Mini Golf- Starting at $450+ depending on location and time
- Golf Simulator- Starting at $450+ depending on location and time
- Custom Golf Balls- Starting at $10
- Golf Cannon- Starting at $500+ depending on location and time
- Inflatables- Starting at $50+ depending on location and time
Contact Info:
- Website: https://puttaroundkc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puttaroundkc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575690762853
