Setting up a commercial golf venue requires careful consideration of the hardware that will power your facility. Whether your venue is focused on professional coaching, social play and entertainment, choosing the right equipment is crucial.
In this guide, we break down the essential hardware requirements for different venue types, spanning everything from launch monitors to enclosures.
Coaching-Focused Venues: Golf Academies & Teaching Studios
Venues dedicated to coaching and instruction demand accuracy, reliability, and detailed feedback from a tech setup. Your hardware should enable coaches to analyse every aspect of a golfer’s performance. Key components for a coaching-focused setup include:
Professional-Grade Launch Monitor: The launch monitor is the heart of a teaching studio. Opt for a unit known for tour-level accuracy and comprehensive data. Examples include the TrackMan 4 and Foresight Sports GCQuad, which provide detailed ball and club metrics. These high-end devices are trusted by PGA professionals for their precision. If your budget is more modest, mid-range options like the SkyTrak+ launch monitor also offer solid accuracy and can be suitable for lessons – but top-tier coaches will appreciate the extra data points and consistency of premium units.
Simulator Enclosure & Impact Screen: Even if your goal is instruction rather than entertainment, a high-quality impact screen and enclosure are essential for safety and professionalism. A fully enclosed hitting bay containing an impact screen allows students to hit real balls and see simulated ball flight. Look for a commercial-grade screen with high durability and clarity, such as the GolfBays Pro+ Impact Screen. Pair it with a sturdy enclosure like the SimBox Simulator Enclosure, which can withstand repeated impacts and keep players and surroundings safe.
Quality Hitting Mat: Coaches and serious players will be logging thousands of swings, so invest in a mat that provides a realistic feel and holds up to heavy use. We’ve got a range of Hitting Mats that mimic fairway turf to protect wrists and clubs while offering durability for regular practice. A good mat also ensures more accurate launch monitor readings by providing a consistent hitting surface.
Video and Swing Analysis Tools (Optional): Many coaching venues augment their launch monitors with high-speed cameras or swing analysis systems. While not strictly necessary to get started, tools like swing cameras (for multi-angle video replay) or even force plates (to measure weight shift, e.g. GolfBays offers Smart2Move force plates) can elevate your instruction. If budget allows, consider integrating a camera system or software that synchronises video with launch monitor data.
Computing & Display Equipment: Don’t overlook the supporting hardware. A powerful gaming PC (meeting the requirements of your simulator software) and a high-resolution projector or large monitor are needed to run the simulation and display data. For a coaching bay, you might set up a touch-screen monitor or TV facing the student, so they can see their swing data and ball flight replay after each shot. Make sure your projector is bright enough for well-lit indoor spaces (bearing in mind that commercial venues often have plenty of ambient light).
A coaching-centric venue should mirror a tour pro’s training bay. Invest in the best launch monitor you can afford, surround it with a safe enclosure and premium screen, and add a top-notch mat. This setup will enable detailed swing analysis and help your students see tangible improvement. Quality hardware not only lends credibility to your academy but also ensures the data coaches rely on is precise and trustworthy.
Social Play Venues (Entertainment & Simulator Lounges)
Venues geared toward social play – such as indoor golf bars, entertainment centres, or multi-sport simulators – should be all about fun, immersion, and ease of use. The hardware choices here prioritise durability and an engaging experience for casual players who just want to have a good time. Key hardware considerations for entertainment-focused setups include:
User-Friendly Launch Monitors / Simulators: In a social setting, the launch monitor needs to be robust and friendly for all skill levels. Accuracy is still important, but it’s less critical to capture every data point perfectly – the emphasis is on reliable play and quick readings for games. Many commercial simulator bars opt for integrated systems or camera-based overhead units that accommodate left- and right-handed players seamlessly. For example, the TrackMan Range/iO and Golfzon systems are popular in premium simulator lounges for their slick interfaces and all-in-one design.
Ceiling-mounted options free up floor space and allow anyone to walk up and play. Another approach is to use mid-tier portable launch monitors with good simulation software – the FlightScope Mevo+ or Garmin Approach R10 are examples of affordable radar units capable of powering fun simulator games. These won’t match the ultra-high-end units on data precision, but they provide plenty of realism and are much more budget-friendly if you need to outfit multiple bays.
A quick tip: Look for systems that come with built-in game modes or entertainment software. Devices like SkyTrak and Mevo+ can run software such as E6 Connect, TGC2019 or Awesome Golf – offering mini-games, closest-to-pin contests, skill challenges and multiple famous courses to keep your patrons engaged.
High-Impact Enclosure & Screen Setup: With many people rotating through, often with food and drinks nearby, a safe and immersive bay is a must. Use a full simulator enclosure that protects the surroundings from stray shots and gives players that golf booth feel. The enclosure should handle heavy use; for instance, the GolfBays SimBox enclosure is made from durable, easy-assembly framing and heavy-duty netting – perfect for commercial use and quick installation. Inside the enclosure, a large impact screen provides the visual wow-factor. Go for a screen that offers both durability and a crisp image for your projector. (Our Pro+ Impact Screen mentioned earlier is ideal.)
Projection & Audio: For social venues, the audiovisual setup can make or break the atmosphere. Use a high-lumen projector to display vibrant graphics on the impact screen even under ambient light. Many simulator bars install projectors with 4K capability and high brightness so that the courses look lifelike and the on-screen games pop. Surround sound speakers or a sound bar are also worthwhile – the thunder of a long drive or the applause from a virtual crowd adds excitement.
Multiple Bays & Setup Considerations: If your business model involves several simulator bays side by side (common in entertainment venues for hosting groups or leagues), plan your hardware accordingly. You might choose identical launch monitors for each bay to ensure a consistent experience for all players. In this case, a cost-effective but reliable unit is key – for example, setting up each bay with a SkyTrak+ or Mevo+ could balance performance and cost, allowing you to deploy more stations. Also factor in spacing: radar-based monitors like Mevo+ need about 8 feet behind the golfer and 8+ feet of ball flight, whereas camera systems (e.g. overhead units or photometric like SkyTrak) require less depth but need controlled lighting. Account for at least 10–15 feet width and 9–10 feet ceiling height per bay, so players can swing freely and socialise comfortably.
Durability & Maintenance: In a social play venue, equipment will see heavy foot traffic and possibly less “careful” use by the public. Choose hardware that’s proven in commercial settings. It’s also a good idea to have spare parts like replacement projector bulbs, extra tees, and screen repair kits on hand. Commercial venues succeed when downtime is minimised, so robust gear and backups keep the fun going without interruption.
For entertainment venues, focus on creating an inviting, hassle-free golf experience. The hardware should be easy for newcomers to use, visually impressive, and built to withstand continuous play. While you might sacrifice a touch of the precision a teaching pro demands, you gain an immersive setup that keeps the beer-and-golf crowd happy. From leagues and corporate events to casual date-night golfers, your simulators should deliver excitement and reliability above all.
Hybrid Venues (Coaching + Entertainment Combination)
Many indoor golf centres strive to offer the best of both worlds – professional instruction by day and social play or leagues in the evenings. Equipping a hybrid venue means balancing the high-performance tools needed for coaching with the user-friendly features for recreational play. Here’s how to approach hardware in a combination setup…
Versatile Launch Monitors: You’ll want a launch monitor (or monitors) that can do it all. One strategy is to dedicate one bay with a premium launch monitor for instruction, and use more accessible units in other bays for casual play. For example, your academy bay could feature something like the Uneekor EYE XO2 overhead system – this gives the teaching pro detailed data (and overhead cameras for swing videos) during lessons, AND it stays mounted out of the way, which is great for later when that bay is opened up for general play
Uneekor’s system also supports fun simulator software like E6 or TGC2019, so it can entertain guests after training hours.
Meanwhile, your other bays might use mid-range monitors (e.g. SkyTrak+ or Full Swing KIT), which are accurate enough for friendly competition and can still provide useful data if a coach wants to do a quick lesson there.
If budget allows only one launch monitor for a hybrid space, choose a model known for balancing analytics and entertainment. The Foresight GC3/GCQuad is a strong contender – it offers pro-grade accuracy and comes with Foresight’s FSX software, which includes both practice modes and carnival-style games. Likewise, TrackMan 4 units are excellent for this scenario.
Flexibility is key. Ensure the hardware and its software ecosystem can cater to serious practice and casual play.
Adaptable Simulator Bays: In a hybrid facility, you might want to configure at least one bay as a full simulator lounge and another as a more instructional setup. Hardware-wise, both will need the basics (launch monitor, enclosure, screen, projector, mat), but you might choose different specs.
For example, the instruction bay might benefit from a short-throw 4K projector to render ultra-clear shot traces and allow side-by-side video analysis on the screen. The entertainment bay might prioritise a wider screen or even a multi-sport hitting screen to accommodate various games. In all cases, use commercial-grade impact screens and mats given the varied usage – one moment you might have a student hitting 300 balls in a practice drill, later you’ll have a group of 4 playing 18 holes with drinks in hand. The hardware must handle both intense repetitive use and the occasional mishap.
Additional Training Tech: Since you are catering to serious golfers as well, you might want to incorporate extra training hardware in your facility. A putting simulation setup could be a differentiator for interactive putting practice). Some hybrid venues also include club-fitting equipment and fitness or swing speed training gear to broaden their coaching services. While these go beyond the simulator itself, it’s worth planning space and budget if you want to truly be a one-stop shop for game improvement and fun.
A hybrid venue should invest in high-quality hardware that can satisfy the demanding golfer and still give the casual player a good time. Expect to allocate a bit more budget here, as you’ll essentially equip to cover all bases. The payoff is a facility that can generate multiple revenue streams. One hour you might be fitting a low-handicap player for new clubs using the most advanced launch monitor data, and the next hour, that same setup is hosting a birthday party nearest-to-the-pin contest. By choosing flexible, top-tier hardware and configuring your space smartly, you can seamlessly transition between serious and social, maximising the usage of your simulators around the clock.
Choosing the Right Hardware for Your Commercial Golf Venue
Choosing the right hardware for your commercial golf venue is a major step toward success. By tailoring your equipment to your venue’s primary purpose – be it coaching, entertainment, or a mix of both – you’ll create a better experience for your customers and get the most out of your investment. Remember that quality and durability are paramount: commercial settings put heavy demands on hardware, so invest in proven products that can handle the load. A high-end launch monitor or a robust impact screen may have a higher upfront cost, but it pays off in accuracy, longevity and customer satisfaction.
At the same time, be mindful of the user experience. Coaches need advanced tools to do their job effectively, while casual players need intuitive, fast-paced, exciting setups to have fun. Many venues find that blending equipment – perhaps a flagship simulator for serious use and a few standard bays for casual use – covers all the bases.
Got more questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the GolfBays team for help designing a setup that meets all your requirements.
