Golf Simulators Expand Enjoyment of the Game  

Indoor golf simulators are a great attraction at golf shows around the country, and used quite frequently on the Golf Channel. There are several reasons for their popularity, including practicing golf during the winter months, and experiencing a world-famous course that you probably never will get the chance to visit.

Over the last few decades, golf simulators have become highly sophisticated with the ability to closely imitate the experience of playing the world's most famous courses. Simulators do for golfers what treadmills did for runners: let them enjoy their sport all year long.

In Asian countries where land is a premium, golf simulators are more plentiful than golf course. South Korea, which is about the size of Minnesota, has 25,000 golf simulators.

Foresight Sports GC2

Foresight Sports aims to provide not only stunning graphics and entertainment, but unprecedented ball data accuracy and performance enhancing features. According to their website, "For the first time ever, the unprecedented level of accuracy generated by the GC2 has made simulation-based practice, instruction and club-fitting not only possible, but the fastest-growing method for generating reliable, true-to-life results by top players, instructors, fitters, and equipment makers everywhere."

The Foresight Sport Performance Simulation is powered by the revolutionary technology of the CG2 Smart Camera System, and allows golfers to play over 65 worldwide courses. Trusted by some of the leading players in the golf industry, including TaylorMade, Titleist, Ping and Cleveland Golf, Foresight Sports is quickly establishing itself as a major force in the golf simulator space.

aboutGolf

The golf simulator used on the Golf Channel is produced by the company aboutGolf. The company also supplies golf simulators for the PGA Tour Superstores throughout the country, where more than 28,000 lessons are given on simulators annually. Though the cost of an aboutGolf simulator is not cheap – various models sell for $50,000 to $68,000 – they continually expand worldwide.

The current world number one golfer, Luke Donald, had an aboutGolf 3Trak-powered PGA Tour simulator installed in his home in the summer of 2009. No one knows for sure whether he spent time indoors preparing for the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship and PGA Championship on his simulator, but his recent ascent to the top of the golf world cannot be disputed.

The Full Swing Tour

At Full Swing Golf, you can participate in online golf tournaments. The Full Swing Tour, for example, is a quarterly indoor golf event that runs weekly tournaments and awards points for participation as well as distributing a purse among the 100 best golfers. The FSG tour is also the only multiple tournament indoor gaming experience with real time leader boards.

A Fast Growing Industry

In addition to the previously mentioned companies, several others produce golf simulators, including ForeGolf, Full Swing, Holiday Golf, High Definition, Multi-Sport, and Trugolf.

For home and office use, there’s the $400 OptiShot Infrared Golf Simulator. This is a plug-and-go golf simulator that you plug into your computer, load the software, and you’re in business.

Where to Find a Golf Simulator in Your Neighborhood

Indoorgolf.com is a good web site that offers lots of information about indoor golf simulators and where to find one in your area. Though not a comprehensive list, you can still find a golf simulator closest to your location. The list is periodically updated, and they rely on input from the public to help update their listing. They will also provide assistance if you are planning on purchasing an indoor golf simulator.

Golf simulators are popping up at places you wouldn’t imagine. At the swanky Hotel 1000 in Seattle, Wash., visitors can play more than 50 of the world’s best courses at the hotel’s Golf Club. Tee it up at Pebble Beach, Pinehurst No. 2, or the Old Course at St. Andrews. You can play a few holes or an entire round as the course comes to life with realistic panoramic fairways, crosscut greens, galleries of fans, water hazards, and wildlife. There’s also the option of adding incentives like closest to the pin and longest drive. At many facilities, the options are plentiful.

So, this winter, when it’s snowing, or raining, or zero degrees outside, check out the nearest indoor golf simulator and fine tune your game. Now, you have no excuses for a golf hiatus during the winter months.