r/golfsimulatorbusiness

Hey folks, I'll try and keep this brief. I work at a 12 bay facility in Canada. We've been using Full Swing pro simulators (ion3 launch monitor/blue led infrared cameras/Full Swing golf software) since 2020. Long story short, we are in a position where we're either going to have to redo pretty much all the infrared cameras or change out our systems altogether. After doing research, if we were going to switch them out, going with the Protee VX and GSpro/E6 Connect seems like the move.

The VX seems almost too good to be true in terms of both pricing and reviews. A single launch monitor system seems considerably better then dealing with the multiple components of the Full Swing system. I feel like the Full Swing software has developed pretty slowly over the years and is still quite buggy, but I only have experience with a much older e6 system and none with GSPro.

Anyways, just looking for feedback/thoughts in the context of a business, especially from anyone who's used both systems. Now I see the VTtrack getting a lot of attention as well, is that worth looking at over the VX?

The “Unmanned Passive Income” Trap is Playing Out Again with Golf Simulators

The pitch is seductive: open a 24/7 unmanned golf simulator business, minimal staff, just collect bookings while you sleep. Early locations in my city were printing money at 30%+ utilization. Now the bay count has basically tripled in the last year with new places popping up everywhere.

The barrier to entry is ridiculously low. You don’t need to cook, manage inventory, or have any special skills. Just find industrial space, put up some drywall for private bays, drop in $XXX k worth of TrackMan setups (mostly debt), and market it. “Passive income” dreams do the rest everyone and their mom wants in.

We’ve seen this movie before with escape rooms, cannabis shops, ghost kitchens, boutique fitness, etc. Low barrier + attractive narrative = flood of copycats → oversupply → utilization drops → margins get squeezed until a bunch of owners are left grinding or underwater.

These golf sims are expensive to build and carry heavy debt. When the easy growth phase ends, a lot of these new locations are going to be stuck with high fixed costs and thinning returns. The “race to the bottom” is already underway.

Lets say you are having an event and you have the option to book a 3 bay golf sim that can be set up indoor or outdoor if site allows for 3 hours. Its delivered and set up in an hour and broken down and removed in an hour. Is this something you would book for an event? If so how what is the value to you?

I was looking to purchase an old driving range and create a driving range that would also have 2-3 golf simulator bays that would be 24/7 access, and then have a chipping and putting green for people to practice. I haven’t really seen anyone creating something like that.

Do you think that will set my simulator business apart from the rest I of the simulators, or would just adding that chipping and putting green create enough difference that I wouldn’t need the range aspect of the business.

Anyone doing this or want to in the Seattle area?

Basically the title is my question. I'm currently looking in a area by my house the rent is about 2800 to 3500 depending on my lease length. 101k is the average income within a 5mile radius with a lot of suburban family's. Its also located across the street from the local grocery store and Chick-fil-A.

I want to do a lounge area as well and was just curious if 1500sqft is big enough for 1 and a lounge with or is it possible to squeeze 2 private lounge rooms with the simulators. Im thinking of going fullswing pro for the simulator and having 24/7 access.

What has been your experience in placing a golf sim business in an office building (as opposed to placing one in a retail strip)? Are there any specific pros or cons you encountered?

Arggg stupid me. I didn't listen to the swing catalyst rep when they told me I need 10k lumens for their lynx camera to work.

All I'm getting is really dark pictures.

Anyone have any recommendations for a solid camera to work in a dark simulator bay?