"Is the Future of Golf in a Dimly Lit Basement?"

[Terry Lavin]

A slight threadjack, but is there anything cooler than a net by the first tee to hit three or four balls?
I never hit balls overseas before I play but I love these nets.

Royal County Down has one hidden away back and to the right, but my absolute favorite is the one at Northwest Golf Club behind #1 tee facing out into the bay


Isn't it ironic that many US clubs think that things like practice nets and pull carts "look bad"
The clutter police definitely take it too far in America-it's hard to even find a garbage can these days...


Simulator golf is not a bad thing for winter areas but it's no substitute(I guess it's getting closer with the flattening and tightening of fairways)-and putting is a joke.
I love playing St. Andrews on a simulator but a tree lined course is a recovery nightmare

Dunes Club has a net by the first tee, which is also the 10th tee, as it’s a 9 holer.

[Tom_Doak]

My Son and I played Kidnappers at our local simulator (high end public course set up in a banquet room) -- good setup with some trackman 'lite' capabilities and good graphics -- kind of like the shot tracker on PGA broadcasts. They have 2 'bays' and they have to have someone there the whole time --full bar which is nice. We do a one putt max and can play 18 holes in a 2 some in an hour @$35/hour. I have to imagine each bay is +$50K with all the electronics, mats, screen and with the labor $35/hr seems reasonable and beats Ice Fishing.

Anything beats falling through the ice and drowning!


I'm not sure of your numbers - I know someone who used to be in that industry, so I will ask - but I'll try to compare cost/benefit:


GOLF COURSE - $5m to build - 200 golfers / day is pretty much the max
SIMULATOR - $50k (1% of golf course cost to build) - has to average 2 golfers / day to keep up with the golf course


The golf course probably gets a lot more for a green fee than the simulator ... Cape Kidnappers charges a lot more than $35.  But it also costs a lot more to maintain, too, and the simulator wins on economy of scale [you don't have to buy that many simulators until there's demand].


So from a strictly economic standpoint, the simulator is going to win out long term.  But, as the MasterCard commercials used to say, being there = priceless !

[Jonathan Mallard]

I have been wondering about this for twenty years now.  I think it's inevitable.  The current generation of kids is now all about "screen time" ... and e-sports are now sports covered on TV.  [I didn't see that coming!]  I give it one or two more generations before most golf courses are seen as unsustainable, and more people play by VR than on the ground.

Related:


I was having a conversation with a friend today and he related that he doesn't watch many sporting events anymore due to the length of the games. Until baseball season when there is a service that condenses down an entire baseball game to the 18 or so minutes of action that happens.


Also related: Attendance numbers are down in many sports.

[Peter Gannon]

I've played tons of simulator golf (former member of Drive 495 and tons of NYC simulators), Track Man to Tru Golf. etc.   


It has been all out of desperation from Winter.   (I live in NYC).


There is no comparison to the real thing. 


I also firmly  believe in Meritocracy.  Once a person plays.....aka... gets "hooked", it is a lifestyle, or a pursuit, not an option.   We are lucky for that. 


Once the soul is aware, not much else will do.  And as cool as a simulator is, it ain't golf. 

[SB]

S,


  I know you have maybe 2 cold months in Hotlanta, but what about the Summer time?  AC simulator verse heat stroke Golf in July/Aug?  I think simulators in clubhouses would be great, get members drinking/eating and utilizing the clubhouse (aka money pit)

They will drink more if I make them play outside in the heat.