An industry expert sounds off on the do’s and don’ts of installing a high-tech golf entertainment room.
By Trevor Faust, President of Ace Indoor Golf and Gimme Simulators
Through my career working in the golf simulator and launch monitors space, I feel like I’ve seen this part of the industry grow from infancy to full maturity right in front of me. Not so long ago, only the highest-end golf businesses, academies, entertainment spaces and personal residences used this technology, but in recent years, we’ve seen the tipping point and golfers are now accustomed and comfortable hitting into simulator screens any chance they get and they now trust launch monitor data for both fun and serious work on their games.
I read recently that 90 percent of club fittings now happen with launch monitor feedback. Meanwhile, venues like Five Iron Golf, X-Golf, Topgolf and a host of others have made off-course golf a viable and entertaining way to keep avid golfers connected to the game while attracting new and aspirational players.
As the rise of this technology’s popularity continues, an unprecedented number of private, semi-private, resort and daily-fee golf clubs are weighing the benefits of having a simulator space in the clubhouse as a member amenity. While golf academy spaces are a natural place to find simulators and launch monitors, since game improvement is one of the most natural applications for the technology, it’s no longer uncommon to find simulators in the heart of the clubhouse, where a variety of members have use of the space.
From renovating old boardroom spaces, to empty offices or multi-function areas prime for a refresh, club operators everywhere are purpose-building creative simulator spaces to bring their members cutting edge indoor golf entertainment. All things considered, your club taking the Indoor Golf Plunge might be easier than you’ve imagined. The industry has more scalable solutions than ever and customizations abound.
Once you’ve selected a location, measured the space and defined your general budget, you’ll want to consult with experts who have done hundreds of installations similar to what you’re envisioning. The right company will help you imagine all the possibilities and customizations in your space while optimizing the design for functionality, safety and maximum fun.
So much of the design and function of a simulator space is dictated by the size and dimensions of the space allocated. That doesn’t mean you’ll be sold short on features and technology, though. While larger spaces and ample budgets can achieve larger viewable areas by mounting the video projector (and even the launch monitor) into the ceiling, smaller spaces can still be built out with high-tech, floor-based camera-based or radar-based solutions. An expert consultation will help you design a functional space that takes full advantage of width, height and depth of the area you’ve chosen to give your club a 21st Century makeover.
With enough space and high enough ceilings, overhead technologies (projector and launch monitor mounted up high) will allow you some thrilling and useful advantages. The simulator can then be used for multiple purposes like tying in theater capabilities – imagine a kids’ movie venue in the same space where they take lessons or play virtual golf courses from around the world. By installing your critical hardware overhead, you can also tie in other workout equipment, maybe a hunting simulator or a multisport simulator. The software and level of multisport gaming has improved dramatically in recent years. The ability to practice golf, soccer, passing and pitching skills for right and left handers brings more than just recreation. You can see genuine skill refinement in your simulator space.
Planning for your longtime usage and goals is part of a good consultation with an expert installer. With a smart design, you can have a plug-and play-environment that is calibrated at a time of installation, and you can just come in and turn on a projector and a computer to open up the fun. To be honest, room design is probably one of the biggest pitfalls consumers face when planning out their simulator space. For example, if you plan to hit 60-degree wedge shots into your simulator, not only do you need high ceilings; you’ll also need to be sure the parts of the wall (or ceiling) that accept those shots are designed to safely absorb and deflect those kinds of shots. An experienced designer/installer will help you with that as well as optimizing your lighting and the features surrounding the simulator. They’ll know if you need a retractable screen or a retractable curtain system to make your space more functional or how to build the space to accept shots from every skill level of player.
An experienced company can also walk you through the options and costs associated with the technology that will make your simulator so fun and useful. Data collection, for example, is one piece that varies from system to system. Maybe one system measures every data point imaginable and another just measures ball and club data and one will do just club data. The data collection piece is something that we usually like to help clients clarify and understand. The same goes with the software. We want you to understand the number of courses featured within the software and any ongoing support fees or license fees that either occur on a yearly basis with one-time fee. We want you to get everything you want within your overall budget and goals.
Even if you think your space might be too small, have an expert take a look at the space. I typically tell people to take a driver within the space and let me know if you can swing. If you can swing a golf club, then we can discuss potential options. Maybe we get creative with curtains or screens that make the space safe and functional. As a rule of thumb, we usually target around 20 feet of depth, 10 feet of height and a width of 12 to 15 feet, if possible. From there, we can let our experience and creativity drive the project.
Finally, I’m often asked about the future of simulator and launch monitor technology and where these products are headed in the future. I’m confident things are going to get more interactive. You’re going to have the option to play simulator games simultaneously with people from all over the world. Imagine playing interclub matches from your club’s simulator room! Artificial intelligence is going to shape the future of sim golf in some way, too. Instruction and game improvement will benefit from AI in this environment. Anything that can be done online will find its way into the simulator space and that probably will include online gaming and gambling at some point.
While having a simulator in your clubhouse once seemed counter to country club culture, it’s a great way to bring members of all ages together and could prove to be one of the wisest investments your club makes. As your club’s staff looks for ways to attract new members and provide families with activities they can do together, a simulator room can become the kind of magnetic focal point you never knew your membership needed and once you have it, you might wonder how you ever went without it.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.