Dan “Angus” Sinnott. Engineer, father of two wonderful daughters, a Michigan Eta Sigep (pin 624, 2000 grad), and now: an entrepreneur. Angus is anything but typical. He’s a charismatic, big fella with a heart as big as his smile. Known for wearing kilts when competing, Angus has completed a staggering 7 marathons and four half Ironman’s, posting videos on his Angus on the Run Facebook page.
Dan held the grand opening of his sports complex, The Sports Gardens, located in Monroe, Michigan just across from the WM.C. Sterling state park on Memorial Day this year, after 2 years of planning and building. I virtually sat down with Angus to talk with him about his new business, and to find out how and why he chose this path after spending 20 years as an engineer.
What did you study at Michigan Tech and your career path?
Dan: I attended Michigan Tech from 1994 until 2000 when I graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering majoring in Power and Machinery. It was at Tech where I met my future wife, Lisa Bressler (DZ), during my sophomore year while repeating creative problem-solving.
What was your life like after graduation?
Dan: In 2001 Lisa and were married and had one of the most exciting weddings I have ever been to. Lightning struck the church and shocked the priest through his mic pack, a fight at the reception, and my Sigep brothers that attended took over a local dive bar when there was literally no one in the bar. Nate Jones was the bartender for over an hour. In 2009, Lisa and I had our first daughter, Emma. Two years later, we had our second daughter, Ava. I started my engineering career at Detroit Edison, where I spent 7 years as a distribution planning engineer. I worked in 3 of the 4 regions during my time there. In 2007, I took the leap and headed down to Toledo for a new opportunity. I spent 14 years at First Energy – Toledo Edison as a senior Distribution Planning Engineer. I was responsible for the greater Toledo metro area distribution grid and was responsible for the Toledo Downtown Mesh Network.
And so you decided to start your own family attraction called The Sports Gardens. How and why did you do this?
Dan: It all started with my mother. In 2019, my mom suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at the age of 63. She worked up to the day she had a stroke. She did not enjoy being a school bus driver for the last several years of her 30-year career and it got me thinking about life. My own career was becoming very stressful, and I was not enjoying work very much anymore. Could I do this for another 20 years? This got me thinking; Life is too short to be unhappy. I started working on ideas for different engineering jobs closer to my family and anything else I could come up with. Then Covid hit. It was then that I realized I was not a good match for the work-from-home program. I was not the most productive engineer anymore. At that point, I knew I had to figure something out. It was then that I remembered everyone saying, “Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” I love playing pinball and spending time at family fun centers with my family when we are camping. Monroe, MI had one of the busiest state parks in Michigan and it didn’t have a lot for entertainment. When I saw the for-sale sign on the 4 acres across the street for the entrance, it was at that moment the idea for The Sports Gardens was planted into my head. During covid, I spent many nights working on jigsaw puzzles like I used to with my mom back when I was a kid. I thought of my mom a lot. My mom was an avid gardener and I thought it would be a great tribute to honor my mom. The sports aspect speaks for itself. I was planning miniature golf, batting cages, an arcade, and a café. 3 days after my 45th birthday, I retired from engineering and became a full-time entrepreneur.
How would you describe The Sports Gardens?
Dan: The Sports Gardens is a Family Entertainment Center with a world-class, natural-looking miniature golf course acting as the anchor with other attractions which include a 4-bay batting cage, birthday party space, an arcade, and a cafe with the best soft-serve ice cream in Monroe County. The Sports Gardens’ hallmark will be a large, natural-looking waterfall with several small ponds connected by waterfalls and water features flowing through the golf course all surrounded by flowers all season long. Along with a 17-foot lighthouse with a special memorial bell to be rung for those that have been lost. And Rona’s Flower Shop was handmade by me as a tribute to my late mom.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Dan: My biggest challenge has probably been myself and my lack of knowledge of what it would take to complete this project. I originally underestimated how much it would cost to complete when I started the project. I self-funded the start of the project with my 401k through the ROBS process before having a final estimate on the project. I had a small business loan lined up for what I originally estimated. When that loan doubled the bank backed out and I had to start shopping for a new loan. I was unprepared for what it would take to get a start-up, SBA business loan.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you have done differently?
Dan: If I could do it all over again, I would have had a feasibility study completed on day one. The bank required it for the loan. The time I spent engineering a business plan could have been essentially eliminated and my wife could have had peace of mind for so much longer than she did.
The second thing I would do differently is to channel my inner civil engineer and realize that the putt-putt course elevation should have been raised up by one foot. Learned the hard way that we get some standing water after a big rainstorm. The greatest thing that I remember learning from Sigma Phi Epsilon was when I started pledging (Fall 95, Gamma Psi) and it was stressed that time management is our greatest asset.
Can you think of anything you learned as a Sigep that helped you move forward with this endeavor?
Dan: I think it was more of the brothers I met at Tech and the inspiration they have given me throughout the years I have known them. Throughout college, I was always amazed at how motivated, driven, and self-assured the Sig Eps around me were. They always inspired me to work harder. After college, they were no different. I watched many of my brothers follow their dreams, take chances, and strive for the best. I have been inspired many times by the brothers in my life, from running marathons to leaving the engineering world to follow my dream.
What’s the biggest takeaway you’d like our readers to walk away with?
Dan: What I would like the readers to take away from this is to believe in yourself, develop a good plan (amending as needed along the journey), and surround yourself with great people that support you and help you. I had a great team on the worksite and an even better team behind me at home.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Dan: Yes! I want to share a small word of encouragement that I got at the beginning of this wild ride. And it came from the most unlikely place. A Chinese fortune cookie. I have kept it taped to the back of my phone for the last 3 years. It reads “Don’t give up, the beginning is always the hardest.” I’m still waiting for it to not be the beginning.
Make sure to visit Dan’s brand new establishment, The Sports Gardens, situated in Monroe, Michigan, right across from the WM.C. Sterling State Park. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Dan yet, when there simply keep an eye out for the gentleman sporting the widest grin and the most booming voice. Guaranteed you’ll have no problems finding him.