How Would you Like to Play St. Andrews Today, Pebble Beach on Wednesday, and the PGA National Course on Saturday? With Your Own In-Home Golf Simulator, You Can!
If you’re serious about your golf game, you can have a golf simulator added to your new custom home or an existing home, and you don’t have to be Rory McIlroy or Dustin Johnson to enjoy this technology. You can choose from various options that come with as many or few bells and whistles as you want. Most golf simulators are pricey. But for anyone really into the game, a simulator is worth the money; you’ll enjoy countless hours of practice and pleasure.
Creating the space or “studio” for your simulator and installing the gear is something with which our team has plenty of experience. Our team have worked with homeowners to build their dream homes and retrofit existing homes to achieve the same goal.
Due to increased interest and access, the market for home golf simulators is bigger than ever before, and golfers should be able to find an appropriate match at almost any budget, from $1,000 to $100,000+.
Overview
If possible, most golfers prefer to have a permanent dedicated space for their simulator set-up. Although some enjoy the flexibility, versatility, and lower costs associated with portable models. Space is the only essential that needs to be met before one begins choosing components. You will need a space that measures at least 12 feet long by 12 feet wide. The minimum ceiling height for most systems is 9 feet. A good rule of thumb is to grab your driver and take it to the room or space you’re considering using. Take a few slow backswings to see if your club hits the ceiling. If so, you’ll need to find a spot with more clearance. If not, you’re ready to research the options and start making decisions.
Your golf studio will need the following items: a golf simulator or a launch monitor with golf simulation, a computer or iPad to run your simulation software, a golf mat, a simulator screen, and a projector. Some people prefer to use a golf net rather than a screen and projector, which is a valid option. Some manufacturers offer kits that include all these items, making the buying and set-up almost effortless. The bottom line is that there is no cookie-cutter solution for choosing a simulator; yours can be custom built to suit your needs and meet your desires.
And rest assured, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get bored with or tired of the selection of courses you can play; most simulators offer more than enough famous courses to keep your interest, and several offer software updates that add new courses regularly. Some even allow you to create your courses, both from scratch and by mixing and matching holes from various courses.
Let’s take a quick look at the various elements that will make up your golf space:
Mats: Available at multiple price points, your hitting mat is something you should not cut corners on. More expensive to manufacture than you might expect, mats are truly essential to your experience. A top-quality, premium mat will last longer and help prevent injuries. Costs vary from $300 to over $1,000.
Projectors: With projectors, it’s important to recognize that you get what you pay for! Lower-priced options are likely to frustrate you with longevity, quality, and usability issues. The midtier to higher priced projectors will impress you with a bright image and vivid color.
Golf Simulator and/or Launch Monitor: So what exactly is the difference between these, and do you need just one or both? First of all, every simulator is also a launch monitor, but the reverse is not true. With a simulator, you hit a ball, and the simulator simulates how your shot plays out on a screen, projector, or laptop. The launch monitor, either built into the simulator or separately, determines the distance of your shot, virtual or otherwise. Some might opt for a launch monitor only for the sake of convenience; launch monitors are more portable and easier to pack and store. Launch monitors are quite accurate, with high-end versions expected to be accurate within about 5 yards. Mid-range models are accurate within approximately 10 yards. Simulators will deliver similar accuracy.
Screen: An impact screen or net is necessary to prevent damage to your walls from errant balls. You may even wish to put netting around your impact screen for the best possible coverage.
All-in-One Packages
As previously mentioned, many companies also make packages available that include all of the required elements. The absolute best of the best with a price that’s at the top of the range is the Golfzon Vision Premium, chosen by Golf Digest as Best Golf Simulator three years in a row. The Vision Premium includes the following benefits and features:
- Multi-surface hitting mats
- High definition projector
- Moving swing plate that tilts and adjusts based on the lie
- Smart auto tee-up
- Online community where you can connect with others, so you never have to “play” alone
- Swing replay
- 190 world-class course simulations with no-added-cost updates
- Live online festivals and events
- Junior tee-box (perfect for teaching your children the game)
- Up to six players at a time
- 72-hour maximum build-out time
Golfzon makes the bestselling golf simulators in the world. And according to Golf Digest, among the package’s biggest draws is that “While most simulators have a stationary, one-surface mat, Vision Premium boasts a moving platform, which provides uphill, sidehill, and downhill lies along with three hitting surfaces fairway, rough, sand.” It’s a luxury golf experience at home.
With a home golf simulator, you can play golf regardless of the weather, improve your game, and entertain friends and family. If you’re a lover of the game, don’t you deserve the most enjoyable simulated golf experience possible?
If you’d like to learn more or chat with someone who has experience constructing and installing in-home golf spaces, remember: our team has decades of experience working on projects like this. We would love the opportunity to share our knowledge with you and ensure that the choices you make for your golf simulator are the very best ones for you and your family.
For more information, call us or click here to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation consultation.
