Are golf simulators good for the game?
Are golf simulators good for the game?
Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC. We conduct 1, 2, and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993. We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.
Golf Blog by the Mel Sole Golf School.
PGA Merchandise Show.
The recent PGA Merchandise Show in Florida featured a wider variety of golf simulators than I've seen before.
Are they expensive?
Formerly, these devices were available for use only commercially, in large sports complexes and a few sports bars. The price was too prohibitive for individuals to purchase one. They are still not inexpensive. A student of mine recently had a high-end one installed in his home for $25,000. But soon, you'll be able to purchase a lower-cost one for less than $2,000.
Why I like Simulators.
I like golf simulators because they allow someone who can't always take the time to play. Or maybe you can't afford the green fees to play virtual golf. In addition, users can replicate on-course play at almost 100 courses and receive a significant amount of swing data. I also value the practice one can get in with these devices, plus users can replicate the all-important feedback on the swing technique they provide.
Beginners?
For beginners, this is a no-brainer. They can hit shots and not search the trees or bushes to find their ball, a frustrating experience, but tee up another ball and try again. What do you think?
Adam Schupak of golfweek.com was also at the show, which is his take on this growing industry.
TruGolf, Inc.
It was only natural to assume the signing of Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth to endorsement deals with Full Swing Golf, the San Diego-based maker of high-definition golf simulators, would be tough news to swallow for competitor Chris Jones, CEO and founder of TruGolf, Inc.
Yet there was Jones at the PGA Merchandise Show, a sincere smile etched on his face when he spoke about it. “That’s great,” he said. “That will sell more simulators, which means they’ll sell more E6 software.”
As it turns out, TruGolf’s competitors are also their partners. E6 golf software is a physics-based engine. Developed by the Centerville, Utah-based virtual golf-maker that replicates the precise behavior of on-course play. It can be found in commercial and residential indoor golf simulators throughout the world.
“Four or five years ago we decided that what this industry needed was a core software that everybody works off of, so that we can develop a community to compete against each other,” Jones said.
Golf Simulators have come a long way.
For starters, users can play nearly 100 world-class courses and receive meaningful swing data. New realistic graphics have improved to the point that arcade-style games such as target practice and demolition driving range are in the pipeline as alternatives to playing 18 holes.
But golf simulators are expensive, ranging in price from $7,995 for portable units to $69,950 for permanent home fixtures. While the likes of Spieth and Bill Haas included the latest models of Full Swing Golf simulators in their new homes, Jones says the industry is trying to expand beyond those who can afford such a high-priced toy.
A new generation of lower-cost simulator devices.
As a new generation of lower-cost simulator devices become available – retailing for less than $2,000 – and combines with the advancements in the capabilities of cloud technology, virtual golf could become a viable solution for golf’s future and break down the traditional barriers of entry to the sport.
The addition of E6 Cloud, which TruGolf demonstrated at the PGA Merchandise Show, will enable anyone with an internet connection to practice and receive feedback on a golf swing as well as participate with others in contests and play competitively in events, all in real time for a low monthly subscription.
Technology is the Driving force.
These new advances open a new frontier for virtual golf. According to the HSBC “Golf in 2020” report, “technology will be the major driver in golf’s makeover.” For people under the age of 35, golf can be time consuming, difficult and expensive. Indoor golf on simulators, Jones said, can be quicker and more fun, and can help people embrace their desire to stay connected to the world at large while doing they play. Support from players such as Woods and Spieth will only heighten awareness and acceptance of indoor golf at this critical juncture. The question is Are golf simulators good for the game?
“We’re a niche within a niche,” Jones said. “You’ve got golf, then you’ve got indoor golf and then you have simulators. The big question is, can we create an industry that carries enough weight that people from the outside realize there are two distinct ways to play golf?”
Source: Golfweek.com Adam Schupak Mel Sole Golf School
Pictures: Townepost Network Shashi Bellamkonda
Thanks for reading - Are golf simulators good for the game? Maybe one day you'll own one!
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