Greetings Forum members,

I have a project in the works involving the construction of a pole barn (aka large detached garage) on my property that will be about 30 x 40 feet. 20' x 30' of that will consist of a social/bar area and a golf simulator. I live in Michigan, so the plan is to be able to play Pebble Beach (simulated) in the middle of a Michigan winter. On to my questions:

1. Has anyone purchased a golf simulator package that they can recommend?

2. For a pole barn that will be insulated and will have a pellet stove for warmth in winter, do I need to worry about the projector or other electronic components in extreme temperature changes? No A/C in summer. It won't be heated constantly in winter. I'll only turn the heat on when I'm out there.

What say ye, oh wise Forum sages?

I don't have any answers for your questions but I am jealous, I really wish I had the room to have one of those. I hope to see pics of it when you get done, good luck.

If you don't get much here, you can try GolfWrx, their forum has a section for Simulators and launch monitors.

Can't help you with the other stuff, but if you ever get the chance to play Pebble Beach, do it. It is well worth the insane greens fees. Just bring an extra sleeve or two of balls as you'll likely lose a couple over the cliffs.

quote:

Originally posted by wingfoot:
I don't have any answers for your questions but I am jealous, I really wish I had the room to have one of those. I hope to see pics of it when you get done, good luck.

If you don't get much here, you can try GolfWrx, their forum has a section for Simulators and launch monitors.

I'll check that out, thanks.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: G-Man,

I'm glad you started this G-Man. I've been looking and thought about asking as well. Do you have a budget?

The simulators they use in many stores are 5-10k.

If you aren't worried about exact numbers the Garmin R10 seems like it might be nice for $600 (sales coming next week).

I don't have much space or a lot to spend, so I may get a Spornia SPG-7 net and the Garmin.

Here is a link with some information on the different simulator packages you can buy:
https://golfstead.com/best-golf-simulators

Guy on Youtube who tests simulators

https://www.youtube.com/c/GolfSimulatorVideos

A DIY Setup he made this year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOIDM_bzDck&t=1040s

quote:

Originally posted by Ackks:
I'm glad you started this G-Man. I've been looking and thought about asking as well. Do you have a budget?

The simulators they use in many stores are 5-10k.

If you aren't worried about exact numbers the Garmin R10 seems like it might be nice for $600 (sales coming next week).

I don't have much space or a lot to spend, so I may get a Spornia SPG-7 net and the Garmin.

Here is a link with some information on the different simulator packages you can buy:
https://golfstead.com/best-golf-simulators

Guy on Youtube who tests simulators

https://www.youtube.com/c/GolfSimulatorVideos

A DIY Setup he made this year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOIDM_bzDck&t=1040s

Thanks Ackks! My budget for the pole barn includes a decent simulator package so I have some flexibility there.

quote:

Originally posted by G-Man:
1. Has anyone purchased a golf simulator package that they can recommend?

I would suggest you'd best be served by heading on over to the Hackers Paradise to ask about simulators. I think you're much more likely to find much more feedback on them over there. There be serious golf gear fanatics in their forums

quote:

Originally posted by G-Man:
2. For a pole barn that will be insulated and will have a pellet stove for warmth in winter, do I need to worry about the projector or other electronic components in extreme temperature changes?

I would assume so. Beside the extreme temperature changes, themselves, will come the potential for condensation problems. I wouldn't be much worried about the summer temps--at least if you don't plan to try to use the electronics in those temps, but letting that stuff get down to Michigan winter temps, be warmed-up, let get extremely cold again, warmed-up, cold again, ...

I'm pretty sure that anything you go with, if you check the specs and ask the manufacturers, you'll find they aren't designed for that kind of abuse.

Then there's that screen you'll be hitting into. I doubt those are meant to be hit with golf balls at the speeds they hit when very cold.

I would hazard a guess you really don't want to let any of that stuff get down to less than about 40°F.

All just guesses, mind you.

quote:

Originally posted by Ackks:
If you aren't worried about exact numbers the Garmin R10 seems like it might be nice for $600 (sales coming next week).

That's not a simulator, but a launch monitor. Entirely different animal.

quote:

That's not a simulator, but a launch monitor. Entirely different animal.

Sure, but you can make it part of one. You can link it to your TV or laptop and play rounds of golf on local courses inside your house as well as hitting balls to see how you do. It's going to be part of my "poor man" simulator with a Spornia net. If people have room they can use it with a projector and screen as well.

"Garmin R10 Insane Home Golf Simulator Setup"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAucOzGXz10

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Can't help you with the other stuff, but if you ever get the chance to play Pebble Beach, do it. It is well worth the insane greens fees. Just bring an extra sleeve or two of balls as you'll likely lose a couple over the cliffs.

It's on my bucket list for sure!

Ensigmatic, thanks for those comments and suggestions!

Mevo Plus is the one I am getting albeit the use for me will be mostly swing analysis but it has a very nice simulator element as well.
(leaving heavy Christmas hints for the wife)

I would list get a list of launch monitors with simulators then go over to YouTube to see some reviews to determine what works for you.
There may be pure simulator units out there but I don't know.

I spoke to a friend yesterday who put a simulator in his office/storage building. He told me he went to the PGA superstore in Palm Beach and was talking to them about simulators. He finally asked the guy if money was no object, what would he buy? The response was instant and the guy said TRAC MAN.
I've seen it and it is awesome.
No idea what it cost but money is not an issue for my friend.

Yeah, TrackMan is pretty much the name in simulators and launch monitors.

My LGS (Local Golf Store in this context) has TrackMan simulators and launch monitors. They have the entire driving range covered with TrackMan launch monitors and they're free to use. Load an app onto you phone, connect to their WiFi network, enter your bay number, and you're all set. Pretty neat.

Trackman runs about $22k. Flightscope, which I own, around $13k. I have worked with both and while Trackman is better, it is not 9 grand better. The Trackman interface is better but both are excellent at delivering metrics. There are less expensive options, but those two are the best.

quote:

Originally posted by dave7378:
Trackman runs about $22k. Flightscope, which I own, around $13k. I have worked with both and while Trackman is better, it is not 9 grand better. The Trackman interface is better but both are excellent at delivering metrics. There are less expensive options, but those two are the best.

I've heard good things about Flightscope.

Update: the barn will be completed in about a week! I am dividing it into two 20' x 30' sections. One for storage and one for the simulator room. Here is the current status:




It will be insulated and drywalled and will have a/c and heat.

For the golf simulator, I am leaning toward the Uneekor Eye XO



photo upload

Has anyone had experience with this simulator?

Veeery nice!

Just poking fun at you golfers...
but I was in a 2 day Church Safety seminar a few years back and the guy speaking on day two made the comment that a golf course is a waste of a good rifle range..... his point being instead of playing golf you guys should be out practicing your shooting...

so, how about a good shooting simulation bay in the barn or even a real one?

quote:

Uneekor Eye XO

Before buying any hardware as expensive as that (~$10K not including required PC, installation, etc.!) and putting it into

quote:

a pole barn that will be insulated and will have a pellet stove for warmth in winter, do I need to worry about the projector or other electronic components in extreme temperature changes? No A/C in summer. It won't be heated constantly in winter

yes, you need to worry. Electronics have both operating and non-operating temperature and humidity ranges.

I grew up in Michigan, albeit the least-frigid section thereof, and even there in the heart of the Fruit Belt, it got pretty cold in the winter and hot and muggy in the summer, as when I grew up we did not have AC.

Electronic hardware (both the golf equipment and the associated PC) will have environmental specs, both for operating and non-operating conditions.

I urge you to look into the hardware specs for operating environment because the Uneekor warranty policy exclusions page says that the warranty does not cover

quote:

(e) your failure to prepare or maintain the site or provide power requirements or operating environmental conditions in compliance with any applicable instructions or recommendations of Uneekor;

Now, it would be nice if Uneekor then provided those environmental conditions somewhere. Unfortunately I didn't see anything specific in their website, other than that reference in the warranty page noted above.

But their website does have a Contact Us page and it might be a good idea to contact them for explicit information about the operating and non-operating environmental requirements, both temperature and humidity, to keep their warranty valid.

Your last entry says you did put AC in. You may need to keep that on, during the summer, at some high temp setting even when not using the simulator, to keep the pole barn under their non-operating temp/humidity spec (the risk most likely there being humidity).

Depending on which part of the Great Lake State you live in (the Yoop?) and what Uneekor's lower temperature limit is, winter might also be a challenge requiring some heating during cold snaps.

Joel, VERY good advice! Much appreciated!

I live near Grand Rapids, so maybe slightly less harsh winters than the UP but a concern nonetheless.