Golf course simulators and the future of golf

[Michael Morandi]

Apparently more golf is played on simulators and venues like Top Golf than on actual golf courses. Watching TGL, I see enthusiastic youth support in the audience. Perhaps this is how they identify with the sport and how they will play it? Takes less time and lets them engage in technology. While there seem to be a record number of new courses being built today, will the future generations support real golf played outside and what are the ramifications if they don’t?

[Jason Thurman]

Interesting that you were watching again after deciding in the previous thread that it wasn't for you, Michael.


I wouldn't extrapolate too much from the presence of a few youths in the audience. I've played a lot of simulator golf in the last 14 months. I think I've seen one person under the age of 25 in that time. It's not exactly rivaling TikTok in the minds of the children.


It is a time-efficient and non-daylight/weather-dependent way to interface with the game. It has its benefits. It might even provide an entry point to golf for some kids who otherwise wouldn't be able to access a course as easily. If so, it won't be the first time that a youngster engaged with a facsimile of an activity on the way to getting a taste of the clearly-superior real deal.

[Thomas Dai]

It is a time-efficient and non-daylight/weather-dependent way to interface with the game.

Nicely described.


Bit surprised that they aren’t available in containerised form (maybe they are?).
Truck arrives. Containerised simulator room combined with a Trackman like system is unloaded, set-up, plugged-in and available for use. A simplified description but I’m sure folks get the drift.


Question …. would posters herein prefer to use an outdoor driving range or an indoor simulator during hot summer conditions and/or cold winter conditions?


Atb

[Mark Pearce]

A few years ago a local squash club went out of business and the premises were acquired by a golf business.  The two courts were converted into simulators, the bar was upgraded and a gym built.  I had (have) lessons there in the winter.  The business didn't really catch on.  And, as Jason notes, whenever I was there, any groups using the simulator as a social event, rather than for practice/teaching were not "youth".  Sadly, the footfall didn't justify the bar, etc., and whilst the simulators remain there (and I still get lessons there in winter), I think it's fair to say that it hasn't succeeded.

[Cal Seifert]

One issue I noticed while watching last night is that the players gave off the impression that the simulators were not accurate enough. Tiger’s wedge that went 30 yards long in the beginning had him looking confused. Also, maybe it was the lighting in the building but it seemed like the players had a hard time reading the green.

[Michael Morandi]

Interesting that you were watching again after deciding in the previous thread that it wasn't for you, Michael.


I wouldn't extrapolate too much from the presence of a few youths in the audience. I've played a lot of simulator golf in the last 14 months. I think I've seen one person under the age of 25 in that time. It's not exactly rivaling TikTok in the minds of the children.


It is a time-efficient and non-daylight/weather-dependent way to interface with the game. It has its benefits. It might even provide an entry point to golf for some kids who otherwise wouldn't be able to access a course as easily. If so, it won't be the first time that a youngster engaged with a facsimile of an activity on the way to getting a taste of the clearly-superior real deal.

I tuned in for 15 minutes to see if they made improvements from the first episode. Seeing none, I turned it off but before I did I saw kids having fun watching it, hence my post, which asks about the long term future of the game if this the golf a good segment of today’s  youth experience.

[Wayne_Kozun]

One issue I noticed while watching last night is that the players gave off the impression that the simulators were not accurate enough. Tiger’s wedge that went 30 yards long in the beginning had him looking confused. Also, maybe it was the lighting in the building but it seemed like the players had a hard time reading the green.

This appeared to be a BIG issue last night.  The players were dumbfounded several times when they went way over the green or the simulator said that they hooked the ball when they didn't.  But they didn't want to be criticizing the tech on TV.

[Mark Pearce]

The biggest problem for me is that televised sport isn't entertaining if the participants don't care about the outcome.  In TGL, from the two matches so far, there has been no indication that any of the players are evenly remotely invested in the outcome.  If they aren't, I can't be.  After that, what's left is their "bantz".  Which is a positive turn off, not just for me, I suspect, but also for their intend market.  These guys might be good at golf but comedians they aren't.

[Kyle Harris]

Golf is ultimately a tactile sport. As with anything, simulators can scratch an itch.

I think the concern with this as an introduction is the milquetoast presentation to some of the (increasingly so, according to social media) unsavory elements of golf as a sport. There are no "bad breaks" in simulators - just bad programming.

I wrote about it here: https://kylewharris.com/2023/05/23/your-data-is-not-my-problem-a-statement/

[Jim O’Kane]

I was excited to see TGL for the first time last night to see the technology and how it would translate into a viewing experience.
The telecast prior to the actual playing of sim-golf, was like Monster Truck or WWE nonsense.

After about 10 minutes of actual playing, I had seen enough.
Let me know when they pipe 30mph winds and sideways rain into the playing area.
Then I'll watch for 20 minutes.

[Peter Sayegh]

I think of a golf simulator the same way I did "hitting" against an 80's jugs machine.

[Charlie Ray]

I made the huge mistake of building a in-home simulator.  I imagined playing a quick 18 at Pebble or Riviera or The Old Course in the evenings.  I hit less than 100 shots before I disassembled and sold it online.  My favorite things about playing golf: being outside, walking/exercise, and watching my ball roll along the ground (not to mention the architecture) don't occur in simulation golf.  But the biggest disappointment was the noise.  I cringed every time I hit a metalwood (I even tried earplugs) 

[cary lichtenstein]

I watched both the first and second TGL and was hoping it would be successful. Both times I couldn't even force myself to continue watching it, I did not like the announcer sounding like it was a boxing match, what I perceived was non serious golf, lack of competion and them making a joke of this.

[Kalen Braley]

I hung in there for the entire 2 hours last night as I wanted to like it, but it was a struggle as the format quickly became redundant.  Outside of Kisner's shanked shot, even the crowd struggled to show much life.

To boot as Mark noted, it just wasn't competitive and by comparison it made silly season events feel like compelling golf in terms of intensity and desire to win.  Probably doesn't help that the 1st two matches have been lopsided affairs, but I've lost interest.

[Craig Sweet]

Yeah, the blow outs have made the matches less enjoyable.  Here's another thing, real golf has some "wow" moments when the shot making is mind blowing good. Hitting a ball into a screen is meh.

[Charlie Goerges]

I made the huge mistake of building a in-home simulator.  I imagined playing a quick 18 at Pebble or Riviera or The Old Course in the evenings.  I hit less than 100 shots before I disassembled and sold it online.  My favorite things about playing golf: being outside, walking/exercise, and watching my ball roll along the ground (not to mention the architecture) don't occur in simulation golf.  But the biggest disappointment was the noise.  I cringed every time I hit a metalwood (I even tried earplugs)

I appreciate you posting this. I probably wasn’t ever going to build one, but this perspective seals it. I doubt I’ll even try one at this point.