My son took up golf last summer, and has been itching to practice lately, but the frigid weather has been anything but cooperative. Lucky for us, The Arena recently got a new Golf Simulator, just like the pros use, and we were able to go try it out on Sunday!
When I heard “golf simulator” I was imagining something like a Wii game, with a fake golf club and no ball, just tracking your body’s movements on a screen for a “golf-like” experience. But the only thing simulated about The Arena’s golf center is the course – you use real golf clubs, real golf balls, and you swing and hit the ball just like you would at an outdoor course. The infrared cameras inside the simulator track the angle of your hit, and the speed and trajectory of the ball to accurately show exactly how your swing would have performed on a real course. It’s a perfect setup for practicing indoors! It even includes off-course games, like aiming at targets and breaking windows out of buildings.
Having no experience with the simulator, and not being golfers ourselves, my husband and I were grateful to have Coach Don on hand during our hour with the golf simulator. He was able to tailor the course and the setup to meet my son’s specific needs so that it was challenging but fun, and so that he learned a few things and saw improvement. Don told us that lots of golfers come in by themselves, or with a son or daughter, to get their off-season practice in. And it’s no wonder – the equipment The Arena invested in is the same simulator used by pro golfers!
You can also book time on the golf simulator and make it a social occasion with friends. Up to eight people can play, you can BYOB, and spread out in the upstairs room with TVs, mini fridge, table and chairs. The golf simulator is available for $30/hour Monday through Thursday or $35/hour Friday through Sunday.
Bring your clubs and give it a try! To reserve the golf simulator, call The Arena at 301-534-6889.
