A Beginners Guide to Golf I first started playing golf when I was 9 years old. I attended a camp near my home in south Florida. It was pretty simple, they took us to a range, gave us clubs and the pro gave us pointers from time to time. I was lucky to be introduced to the game before I had any preconceived notions about golf. Not everyone is so lucky so I wanted to share some thoughts on how to get started in golf.
When you first start playing golf, don’t expect it to be as easy as the pro’s make it look. I’ve learned to expect to encounter a variety of challenges and obstacles to the game. Golf requires a combination of physical skill, mental focus, and strategic thinking. As a beginner, you should expect to spend a lot of time learning and practicing the basic skills of the game, such as gripping the club correctly, aligning your body properly, and developing a basic swing. In addition to learning the basics of the golf swing, I would advise that you also expect to spend a lot of time on the course. You’ll want to learn how to navigate the layout and play the different shots that you’ll encounter in a typical round. It will be a trial and error process where you make mistakes and adjust as you learn from those mistakes. It is important to keep an open mind and be willing to learn and improve, as this will be key to your success on the course. Along the way, try to keep it fun. At the end of the day, you are playing for enjoyment and shouldn’t let the challenges get you down. Golf can be a rewarding and enjoyable sport, and the more you play and learn, the more you will begin to appreciate the beauty and challenge of the game. Even if you struggle at times, try to remember that golf is a game and is meant to be enjoyed. If you are interested in learning how to play golf, there are a few key steps that you can follow to get started.
I know that getting started in golf can seem intimidating to many folks, but with the right approach and a little bit of patience, you can quickly develop the skills and confidence you need to enjoy the game. By following these basic steps, you can learn how to play golf and start experiencing all that this great sport has to offer. Keep in mind that learning how to play golf is a process that takes time and practice. How long depends on a number of factors, such as your natural athletic ability, your dedication to practicing and learning, and your overall goals as a golfer. For many beginner golfers, it can take several months to a year to develop a basic level of proficiency and begin to see improvement in their scores. I’ve found that for most beginners taking lessons, practicing regularly, and playing frequently can help you improve more quickly. As you continue to play and practice, you will likely see your skills and knowledge of the game improve over time. Some golfers may be able to reach a more advanced level of proficiency within a few years, while others may take longer. Overall, the key to learning how to play golf is to be patient and persistent, and to be willing to put in the time and effort required to improve. By consistently practicing and playing, and by seeking out guidance and instruction when needed, you can learn how to play golf and become much better than when you just started playing.
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Decking Out Your Golf Simulator Man CaveThis article will give you all the information you need to build a golf simulator man cave in your house. While you will need a golf simulator, there are many other items you'll need for your golf simulator man cave. We'll start with a few of the components you'll need to customize your man cave, whether it is in your basement, garage or a shed. Your golf simulator hitting bay can be a ready made kit or something you DIY yourself to get the ultimate setup for your golf simulator man cave. Before this becomes your favorite room in your house, your next step will be to design, purchase, and install all the features and accessories you need to go along with the simulator technology. I'll start by talking about protection for the hitting bay and the residential golf simulator room. You will likely want padding to protect your room from golf balls hitting softer items. You'll want ceiling protection for your golf simulator, along with side panels / wall padding and even padding for the hitting bay itself. An alternative to the wall padding can be either heavy curtains or a hitting net to protect the walls and prevent golf ball ricochets.
With the protective frame planned, it is time to start looking at the items that will make the golf simulator man cave start to function as a golf simulator for home use. Starting from the ground up you'll need a golf hitting mat and you'll likely want golf simulator turf for a landing pad for golf balls. The golf simulator turf may also double as a putting green for the golf simulator. You will want a good quality screen to hit golf balls into and a good projector to project images onto the screen. You'll also need somewhere to put your computer and an easy to use golf simulator control box. Last but not least, is the heart of your man cave, the golf simulator and the golf simulator software.
You may also want to consider ways to heat or cool your man cave, particularly if you are building it out in your garage, basement, or in a shed. Man Cave Golf Simulator Design IdeasThese are just a few of the ways you can turn that extra space into a golf simulator man cave. Whether your man cave is in a shed, a garage, or the basement, there are lots of ways to set it up for fun.
Now it's your turn. What did we miss? Comment below. Home Golf Simulator Price Breakdown
Home golf simulator installations are on the rise. We've done research on component prices and wanted to share them in a fun an interesting way. Our first chart shows a breakdown of required components versus optional ones and how they contribute to the price of your home golf simulator.
We also thought it would be interesting to visualize each component cost as a share of the total using a tree map. Because the total setup cost and components can vary, we did three versions: an affordable golf simulator setup, a mid-tier one, and a premium golf simulator installation.
Let me know what you think. Do you want to see more of these types of visualizations?
18 Statistics on the Top Golf Simulators
I recently ran a survey in my forum of over 8,000 golf simulator enthusiasts to understand what golf simulator they owned and how they rate it. I asked them to share information on what they paid, what metrics it tracks, their satisfaction with its accuracy, if they’d buy it again, and what golf course software they use with the golf simulator.
I wanted to share a quick article of golf simulator statistics based on the buyer survey. Below is a summary of their responses starting with the most popular golf simulator in the survey, the SkyTrack Launch Monitor. I hope you find this informative. SkyTrack Launch Monitor
This was the most popular simulator in the survey based on the number of responses. I suspect it has to do with the affordable price point and wide range of compatible golf course software options.
SkyTrack Pro’s:
SkyTrack Con's:
Garmin R10 Launch Monitor and Golf Simulator
The Garmin was the second most popular simulator in the survey based on the number of responses. It is a relatively new offering from a well known brand. Along with being from a well known brand, folks were excited as it tracks many more metrics than simulators that are much more expensive.
Garmin R10 Pro’s:
Garmin R10 Con’s:
Flightscope Mevo Plus
Owners reports indicate that the Flightscope Mevo plus outperforms the less expensive simulators in every way and comes in at a much lower price point than many of the high end options. Owners reported it was easy to set up and worked well right out of the box.
Flightscope Mevo Plus Pro’s:
Flightscope Mevo Plus Con’s:
Uneekor EYE XO
The Uneekor EYE XO is a premium overhead launch monitor and golf simulator. It's super-speed cameras provide instant shot feedback and some of the most accurate, in-depth data on the market. Owners give it very high marks for accuracy. It is a residential golf simulator that is considered pro level and is often found in commercial settings.
Uneekor EYE XO Pro’s:
Uneekor EYE XO Con’s:
Bushnell Launch Pro
Bushnell acquired Foresight Sports in the Summer of 2021, and the first big product to be released came in the form of the Bushnell Launch Pro launch monitor. It is a bit bigger and heavier than other portable models in the review and folks tend to think of it as professional grade.
Bushnell Launch Pro’s:
Bushnell Launch Con’s:
I hope you found these top 5 golf simulator reviews helpful. There are many great reasons to get a golf simulator and there is surely one that will fit your needs. A great setup will allow you to play or practice at any time of day, in any sort of weather.
There are a few things every golf simulator needs in order to provide a quality experience, namely a launch monitor or tracking system that records your shot data, a net or hitting screen & projector, and good software that simulates your shots. Now it is your turn. Please let me know what you think in the comments. What simulators should I add to this list? What do you think of your simulator? If you liked this article, please use the buttons up top and share it - thanks in advance for your help!
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We get this question a lot. Let’s start by examining the most crucial element, golf simulators.
What does a golf simulator cost?
The price ranges also vary by brand. That said, you don't have to spend $100k to get a great setup. See sometailored golf simulator packages that can bring your startup costs down. Cost ranges by commercial golf simulator brand:
Get all the information you need to start and grow a profitable indoor golf business with our Ultimate Startup Plan:
Starting an indoor golf business
Yardstick Golf has done extensive research on what it cost to open indoor golf centers. There is a wide range of startup costs for the indoor golf bars we studied. Four of the biggest factors driving the range in costs are:
Small Indoor Golf Centers Small golf centers we studied cost between $50,000 and $250,000 to open. They had between 2 and 4 simulators and were between 1,500 and 3,200 square feet. Simulator choices were on the lower end of the commercial range. Medium Sized Indoor Golf Centers Medium sized golf centers we studied cost between $350,000 and $650,000 to open. They had anywhere from 6 to 8 simulators and were between 5,500 and 10,000 square feet. Simulator choices were generally mid to high end of the commercial range. Beverage services were much more common that food service. Large Indoor Golf Businesses The largest golf centers we studied cost between $750,000 and $900,000 to open. 7 to 10 simulators were the norm for this group and the facilities were between 6,800 and 12,000 square feet. Simulator choices were typically high end, but a few went more in the mid-commercial range. Beverage services were also much more common that food service. What do you think? (Subscribe for more great content) Now I’d like to hear from you: Did you have a different experience opening your center, or are there other cost questions you’d like to know? Comment and share your experience or question. Golf Lessons From AnywhereI recently met Eric Eppic, the Founder and CEO of Swizzy Golf. Eric's company is bringing golf lessons to everyone via their app. Since simulators are a great learning tool and because his app focuses on video, I see the to be very natural companions. Given this opportunity to get more out of your simulator, I asked Eric to share more about Swizzy - his thoughts are below. Getting the most out of your simulator, with Swizzy Golf Hi everyone, we’re Swizzy Golf – a mobile platform for real-time, remote golf lessons between students and certified instructors. We’ve taken advanced swing analysis tools and integrated them directly into our live lesson environment. While in a lesson, instructors can annotate on screen, record live swings, replay live swings, analyze videos from an existing media library, and more, as their students follow along – all in real-time.  Our mission is to democratize the sport; to make golf more welcoming than ever, giving everyone in (or aspiring to join) the golf community instant access to high quality lessons. With Swizzy Golf, the factors that have made golf inaccessible in the past are no longer barriers, and we think an even greater way to facilitate this is through golf simulators. Golf simulators provide the much-needed space that power a seamless and effective Swizzy Golf lesson. With that said, offering Swizzy Golf as an option in golf simulators is beneficial for the venue as well – we allow golf simulator venues to promote instruction or lessons without having an actual Professional on-site.
In 2018, the National Golf Foundation conducted research on “Simulated Golf” where PGA Superstore CEO Dick Sullivan claimed they conducted over 50,000 golf lessons in their in-house simulators. In addition, he said, “You don’t see Amazon giving lessons or putting grips on. We’re unique that way. We don’t just sell product, we provide a different level of service.” Swizzy Golf empowers golf simulator operators via the option to provide their customers with this different level of service. The additional service of providing golf instruction will draw more patrons to the simulators and increase the amount of money they are likely to spend there. Dedicated support to enable your success Offering Swizzy Golf as an option would require minimal effort. To optimize your space for virtual lessons, we recommend setting up a simple phone-stand / tripod in the simulator area for customers to use with their device. Furthermore, we can provide material on how the students can easily get setup and into a virtual lesson within minutes. There are a number of ways that we can support your efforts for providing remote instruction. Because we’re still a relatively new and growing company, we’re able to dedicate time and effort to each of our partners to find the best solution for their space. In addition to providing the platform and assisting in optimizing the simulator for virtual lessons, we can dedicate Pro’s on our platform to be available at given times, manage the lesson booking requests from your customers, and facilitate the entire lesson transaction process from beginning to end. We're even working with golf simulator manufacturers on software integrations, which would allow users to access Swizzy Golf lessons directly through the simulator without an external device. More about Swizzy Golf The idea and technology behind Swizzy Golf surfaced in late 2018, when a pair of passionate golfers realized two voids in the industry: 1) insufficient digital golf instruction, and 2) lack of access to quality, real-time golf instruction. Since then, the concept has been tested, the platform has been built, and the solution has gone live – now helping to connect Students and Instructors across the globe… whether you’re in the US, Europe, as far as Korea and Australia, or beyond. And here we are – powering the first golf technology platform to enable live, remote golf lessons. Find us at our website here, or in the iOS and Google Play Appstores. We can’t wait to join you on your journey to better golf – whether in your golf simulator or otherwise! Swing easy, The Swizzy Golf team Lower your score with a golf simulator
If you are looking to lower your scores, I’ve recently used a golf simulator to shave a few strokes off my typical score. I was able to take my handicap from a 7 to a 4 by getting very precise information on how far I hit each and every one of my clubs. Below is a bit of a story on how and why I did it.
I recently got a new set of irons and wanted to see how far I hit each one. I decided to do a couple different sessions on a golf simulator and track the results. Over a few different sessions I hit each one of my irons 10 to 12 times and tracked the distance of each shot in a spreadsheet. When I analyzed my shot data, the results surprised me…
That last point seems to be fairly common. According to Shot Scope’s database that has tracked nearly 20 million shots, 80% of golfers are missing their greens on the short side.
After seeing the data, I did a few things:
Here is how I did it. First I made a sheet in Excel to track the distances of each club. I put room to track 12 good swings with each club. I quickly realized that hitting 12 shots per golf club plus warm up in a single session would probably not give me the best results. I decided to do two separate sessions of 6 shots with each club. If the shot was a huge outlier (say a massive chunk), I excluded it from my data. I recorded each reasonable (not perfect) shot in the spreadsheet and repeated the process through two different hitting sessions until I had 12 representative golf shots with each club. I also threw in some ½ and ¾ swing shots with my wedges and am super glad I did. I now have some great references for those in between yardages where you can really lower your score. Then I got nerdy. . . I took the golf simulator data from the 12 golf swings and created a table that showed the Long, Average, and Short distance for each golf club. The Long was an average of my 3 longest shots, and the Short was the average of my 3 shortest shots on the simulator. The average is across all 12. So now I know my average, short, and long distance with each club - including ½ and ¾ swings on all my wedges. 
Click the Image to Get The Distance Tool Free
This is where it gets really helpful. When picking a club I find my distance and go to the club with the closest average. I then look to see if the pin is in front, middle, or back position.
If the flag is in the back of the green, I make sure the “Long” distance with that club won’t get me in trouble. If it might, I look at the average distance of the next shorter club and see if the “Short” distance would get me in trouble. I am essentially looking at the two clubs to see which has less risk. Knowing my full range of tendencies has enabled me to avoid a blowup hole or two every other round or so. If the flag is in front, I go up one golf club and check for the same risks. If the pin is in the middle, I really just look to see if the short and long would stay on the green so I know if I should go after it, hit more of a stock shot or choke down on the club a tad. I hope this helps you find ways to use your golf simulator to improve. No it is your turn. What do you think? How else could I improve this process? How do you use your golf simulator to train?
I’ve been reading a lot lately and it’s been inspiring me to refocus my efforts on improving my business. I’ve learned new ways of thinking, creative approaches to managing my time, and I’ve gained confidence from the books I’ve read. It is so interesting to learn about the inner journey of others and see many parallels to things I am working to solve.
I thought I would take a moment to share some of my favorites along with a bit of information about why they resonated with me. I hope this provides some help to you as you look for ideas, support, and strategies to nurture your entrepreneurial dreams.
Happy reading.
What did I miss? I’d love some more great suggestions that you like so I can continue my reading journey. Comment with your favorite books. Bruin Capital Acquires Full Swing Simulators And Envisions Peloton-Like Platform For Golf It could be really interesting to see a Peloton-like model for indoor golf. I could see it changing both commercial and home business models for indoor golf. Whether it will be a positive change or not remains to be seen.
A Hopeful and Positive Take on the Full Swing Acquisition Getting into indoor golf today often requires a large up front cost for golf simulators, projectors, course software, hitting cages and turf mats. If the acquisition changes the model to a lower up front cost and long term subscription it could make indoor golf approachable for a lot more folks. Instead of paying tens of thousands on your home golf simulator setup, this might result in something that looks more like a down payment and ongoing monthly subscription. Perhaps comparable to getting a golf membership. Maybe the company retains ownership of the equipment and you can use it as long as you subscribe. All positives if you are looking to expand indoor golf ownership. A Pessimistic View Perhaps the acquisition goes the other way and because of the Peloton-like business model, not only do you pay a subscription, but you also pay a premium on hardware for Full Swing systems. Peloton charges $2,000+ for a bike when you can get comparable models from other manufacturers for a fraction of that price. Perhaps Bruin Capital sees the Peloton-like model as a way to charge a premium for Full Swing simulators. The Forbes article announcing the acquisition can be found here. Lets hear from you - how do you think this will impact the business model for both home and commercial indoor golf? What did I miss or get wrong? 
How to fund your indoor golf business
With your business plan in hand, it’s time to tap all your available resources to
find the best available financing at the lowest cost to you. As you enter this phase of your indoor golf startup, keep in mind that there are lenders, accountants and attorneys who specialize in small business financing. In some cases, they represent your best chance of a smooth, successful financing experience. Designing an affordable simulator package will also help you secure the financing you need. We recommend starting your financing investigations by weighing your ability and willingness to leverage your own assets and working your way from there to conventional and other potential lending sources. Home Equity: If you are a homeowner, you may be able to leverage your home equity through a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a home equity loan (HEL). The biggest advantage to this is that leveraging your own existing equity should be possible at a relatively low interest rate. The disadvantage is the inherent risk involved in putting your home up as collateral for your business. Always take care not to assume more risk than you could handle. Retirement Funds: You can leverage retirement funds for your business investment and avoid penalties by working with a company that specializes in helping investors take advantage of the Entrepreneur Rollover Stock Ownership Plan (ERSOP) or Rollovers as Business Startups plan (ROBS) to fund new businesses. In these scenarios, your retirement funds become an investor in your business instead of being invested in publicly traded equities or fixed- income investments. Using this kind of account is quite complicated, so make sure you work with a reputable investment professional to ensure your ERSOP or ROBS is set up and executed correctly. As with the use of home equity funds, use caution as you look at utilizing retirement dollars. Know the risks of putting this money ear-marked for long-term security on the line for a business venture. Family and Friends: Gifts, loans, and investments from family members can be a great source of capital for your business. If you do accept funds from people you have personal relationships with, make sure you have an agreement in writing, with the terms and conditions of the gift, investment or loan clearly outlined-- including investment terms, payback terms, interest, and what happens if you default. Having the details hammered out in an agreement may prevent a misunderstanding down the line. Traditional Loans: Another option is to leverage traditional business loans, or commercial loans. There are many types of commercial lending, including secured and unsecured loans, short- and long-term loans, equipment loans, and business lines of credit. Expect to put up at least 20% of your investment to be considered for these kinds of loans, and know that many traditional lenders may not understand startup business models and that there are lenders who specialize in this area. As with any financing source, it’s always in your best interest to shop around, so make sure you check out business loans at multiple financial institutions. U.S. Small Business Administration Loans: The SBA offers loans through participating banks and lenders, and since the SBA will guarantee up to 85% of the loan, there is less risk for the lender—which can translate to a lower interest rate for you. SBA financing is not really a government loan, but rather a private loan backed by government funds. There are multiple types of SBA loans you can investigate. Make sure you carefully evaluate the pros and cons associated with taking out an SBA versus a traditional loan, i.e. the cost to establish the loan, the length of the loan, and the interest rates of the loan. Also worth noting is the fact that individuals with high net worth may not qualify for this type of loan. Online Financing Centers are online companies that serve as clearinghouses for financing. These companies have multiple financial institutions in their systems to review your financial information and evaluate your request for financing. They host the equivalent of speed dating for the loan industry-- you provide all of your information, then lenders review it and decide if they’d like to initiate a relationship with you. We'd love to hear from you. Is there another source of financing we missed? Do you have advice on how to think about any of these? Leave us a comment and share. |
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