Find the Best Golf Simulator for Your Home or Business – Here is What You Must Know Before Choosing!
Golf is an outdoor sport, and let’s be real. It is basically an expensive excuse to feel the breeze, walk around outside, and swear at a little white ball. No matter how fun it sounds, hitting the course every single day is impossible unless you are a retired millionaire. Still, with bad weather and your spouse’s beef at your ‘quick 18 holes’ lasting 6 hours, it is not happening. This is when you need to meet your new buddy, the Golf Simulator. Trust me, he will keep you busy every day, bringing out the golf pro who is secretly hidden inside you!
Why Having a Golf Simulator at Home is the Best Idea
Your golf game is not getting any better by wishing on divots. If you are serious about lowering your scores, a golf simulator is not a luxury, but a necessity! A simulator at home is like having a PGA coach, driving range, and therapist altogether at your service. With instant shot feedback and the ability to fix your slice in pajamas, you get to know your exact flaws.
You might be parents to a lazy kid who prefers not hitting the course as regularly as the coach prefers. Well, do not blame the kid anymore, he is saving your money from endless range balls/memberships for the long run! Once he is used to this, he will be unstoppable despite it is 3 am in the morning. Without any lost balls, bad weather and slow-play headaches, this is undoubtedly the best way to play golf more often.
Are you convinced enough to buy an indoor golf simulator? At least slightly?
Well, up next is what we think is the best for every budget, space, and occasion.
Let us check them out!
Best Golf Simulators Based on the Budget and Space
Based on the Budget
Whether you want the best home golf simulator or a cheap golf simulator for practice, options cover every budget. This is because the golf simulator industry continues to grow, better than ever!
You must make up your mind and express what you really want to the salesperson before you purchase. Everything comes at a cost, and you cannot expect pro-level accuracy and other game improvement features from budget friendly options.
- Budget-Friendly Options
Budget-friendly simulators are there in the market for USD 500 – USD 2000. They are great for beginners or casual golfers who are just looking for basic swing feedback and gamers seeking fun. One of the top choices includes the Optishot 2 golf simulator that tracks the club with infrared sensors. Other than that, Rapsodo MLM is also a decent option for outdoor/indoor use with video replay. The Garmin golf simulator (Garmin Approach R10) will be available for around USD 600. It carries a portable launch monitor with decent simulation via E6 Connect or Awesome Golf.
- Mid-range Options
These are best for the serious players’ home practice and club fitting. They present realistic gameplay with pro-level accuracy for around USD 2000 – USD 10000. Working with The Golf Club and WGT, SkyTrak golf simulator is the number one home simulator for ball flight data. Without any subscription, Foresight GC3 is used on a day-to-day basis fittings.
- High-end Options
Golf academies, luxury home setups, businesses owning simulators usually buy launch monitors with tour-level precision for USD 10000 – USD 70000+. Being the gold standard, the Trackman golf simulator (Trackman 4) is one of the best ones that uses Doppler radar. Tiger Woods uses the Full Swing golf simulator (Full Swing KIT) that comes with dual tracking technology (cameras + infrared). Foresight GCQuad is known to be the most accurate indoor launch monitor on the current market.
Based on the Space
- Home Golf Simulators
Golf Daddy Simulator, Optishot 2 Golf Simulator are budget friendly options to have at home. But for the ones looking for real golfing experience with accuracy and affordability, having the SkyTrak is the best option. For a premium dedicated simulator room (12ft x 15ft x 10ft), Foresight GC3 with an impact screen brings tour-level experience. For apartments, the Garmin R10 + iPad + net combo will work just fine!
- Garage Golf Simulators
Custom setups using SkyTrak or Garmin R10 with impact screens will work well for garages. We can consider options like the Optishot 2 or Mevo+ with a net and projector to be the cheaper alternative. When setting up by yourself, consider using a short-throw projector and foam tiles for flooring. Keep in mind, you will need at least 10ft distance and width and 9ft height to achieve the ideal setup.
- Golf Game Simulator PC (and Console)
Even though this will not deliver real golfing experiences, gamers can try playing EA Sports PGA Tour, WGT Golf, etc.
How to Make Money with the Golf Simulator You Own
You heard it right. You can easily make your beloved golf simulator sitting idly in your house sometimes into your sneakiest side hustle! Why not charge your friends for lessons when they complain to you about their unimpressive slice?!
You can charge USD 25−50 per hour for pay-per-play sessions in bars or entertainment venues. Try selling memberships for winter warriors craving indoor swings, offering high-tech coaching sessions using your launch data if they want.
A USD 15,000 simulator can pay for itself in just 6-12 months by booking 10-15 hours a week. List your sweet home set up on Peerspace to let local golfers pay you to use it.
Again, turning one’s passion into a profit is never a bad idea!
Now let us check the answers to our few of the most frequently asked questions. Feel free to do your own research!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Why is golf simulator so expensive?
The best golf simulators with high-end systems use radar, infrared, and high-speed cameras for precision. Additionally, software licensing, projectors, and enclosures also add costs.
- What is a golf simulator called?
It is called by several terms, including golf launch monitor, golf simulator bay, and virtual golf system.
- Can I put a golf simulator in my house?
Yes of course! Players place their home golf simulator in their garage, basement, living room or a spare room.
- Are indoor golf simulators worth it?
If you are not just a casual golf player, honestly this deserves your attention. Not only you will get the opportunity to practice daily but also get to figure out your mistakes with proof.
Other than that, this is one of the safest ways to relieve your stress without breaking bones or having sleepless nights!
- Do golf simulators make money?
Yes, they do! As I told you earlier, businesses use them for memberships, events and activities like pay-per-play. Some home users make money by renting out their setups.
- What is the best golf simulator game?
Well, according to the reviewers, The Golf Club 2019 (TGC 2019) game is the most realistic one. EA Sports PGA Tour is also well known for having the best graphics.
Other than that, Awesome Golf is famous for being fun for families!
Final Thoughts
If you are not able to afford a decent golf simulator, there is no need to beat yourself up. Search Google with keywords like golf simulators near me, indoor golf simulator near me, to find locations that rent simulators. You can buy golf simulators via retailers like Foresight Sports, SkyTrak, Amazon, commercial simulator venues like X-golf, and local dealers. Before making up your mind, make sure to request and try demo sessions to avoid any inconveniences.
Happy convenient golfing!
