Indoor simulator golf has quickly gone from a niche training tool for pro golfers to a mainstream way of practicing and playing year round. From entertainment venues and simulator lounges to fully built home setups, golfers now have more options than ever to tee it up indoors.
When comparing costs, though, we quickly found that, depending on how and where you play, the cost of simulator golf varies widely.
Cost comparisons for indoor simulator golf
If it seems there’s a new indoor simulator golf in every town, it’s because there is. It’s hard denying how popular this indoor activity has become, especially when you consider it’s almost a $2-billion annual market in the U.S. alone.
What it costs
Hourly rates for indoor golf simulator sessions vary widely depending on the type of facility, location and time of day but most venues across the U.S. charge between $20 and $80 per hour for a simulator bay. Entertainment-focused venues in major cities trend toward the higher end of that range while smaller membership-style facilities may offer lower off-peak rates.
Most venues charge per simulator bay rather than per golfer, meaning groups of two or more players can split the cost.
Nearly all simulator venues offer monthly memberships or discounted packages, giving frequent players more affordable access to practice and play throughout the year. We found costs ranging from $100 to $500 and higher for memberships.
Costs with building your own indoor golf simulator
While many golfers enjoy the social experience simulator venues offer, others may prefer their own setup at home.
The cost of a home golf simulator varies dramatically depending on the technology used, available space and installation quality. There are options ranging from $1,000 up to $20,000 or more. You can DIY an indoor golf simulator setup or go the professional route but also comes down to the price of the components.
A launch monitor is the most expensive component of an indoor golf simulator. As with so many other aspects of golf, there’s a wide range of costs for launch monitors from $500 to $5,000 and higher but let’s look at everything else you need for at-home indoor golf.
Budget home simulator
You can DIY a basic setup for $1,000 to $8,000. These can give you great information for swing feedback and a more structured in-home practice session. The basic components may include:
- Entry level launch monitor (such as OptiShot2 or SkyTrak)
- Hitting net
- Projector or TV display
- Hitting mat
Mid-range home simulator
If you’re looking for a more immersive setup at home, you can upgrade to a mid-range option which might include playing simulated rounds on many well-known courses. Of course, this will increase your costs to $8,000 or much higher. This type of setup may look like:
- Upgraded launch monitor like a Mevo+ or Garmin Approach R50
- Impact screen and enclosure
- Projector
- Simulator software
High-end simulator room
If you want the most premium setup, expect to pay $10,000 or more. These often include custom builds, full-room construction and commercial-grade simulators which means the price will soar as you add higher-end features such as:
- Professional-grade launch monitors, such as the Foresight GC3
- Custom enclosure and screen
- Premium projector
- Dedicated simulator room build-out
The bottom line
Indoor simulator golf can cost as little as splitting a $30 hourly bay rental with friends or as much as building a $20,000-plus simulator room in your home. The right option largely depends on how often you plan to play and whether you prefer a social environment or simply a private practice space.
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