Golf simulator Dublin

vapor trails

I was contemplating opening a golf simulator business in Dublin. I know metro golf went by the wayside but they started at a time when the Capital expenditure to get in was through the roof. I think their bays cost circa €50K each. Its a bit cheaper to get involved now. Also, they were gated access via a gym. This would be more off the street with greater visibility. The question I want to ask in here is do you think there is a demand for it and where is the optimal location.

PARlance

vapor trails wrote: »

I was contemplating opening a golf simulator business in Dublin. I know metro golf went by the wayside but they started at a time when the Capital expenditure to get in was through the roof. I think their bays cost circa €50K each. Its a bit cheaper to get involved now. Also, they were gated access via a gym. This would be more off the street with greater visibility. The question I want to ask in here is do you think there is a demand for it and where is the optimal location.

Well I'm not sure demand will have gone up in the meantime and while you will save on the set-up costs, you'll be paying way more in rent in theory.

I'm sure plenty of golfers would like the idea but relying on them to become repeat customers might be a different story.

the_syco

Perhaps if you did it as part of a Par-3 that the general public (as opposed to a members only golf course) had access to.

You could use their bar license.

Golfgraffix

Not sure the demand is there but another winter and spring like last year and it could become a good seasonal business.

The consumption of golf as a game is changing just look at the run away success that is Top Golf in the US.

Either way if you need some pointers on equipment let me know, we are connected with most of the big sim companies.

You could also talk to Simulated Sports here in Dublin.

J

billy3sheets

Golfgraffix wrote: »

Not sure the demand is there but another winter and spring like last year and it could become a good seasonal business.

The consumption of golf as a game is changing just look at the run away success that is Top Golf in the US.

Either way if you need some pointers on equipment let me know, we are connected with most of the big sim companies.

You could also talk to Simulated Sports here in Dublin.

J

Used to be a place in Airside Swords too. Had 3 bays at one point, then one. At least 10 years ago I think.

Golfgraffix

billy3sheets wrote: »

Used to be a place in Airside Swords too. Had 3 bays at one point, then one. At least 10 years ago I think.

Golf Vision

newindublin

Was sorry to see metro golf close before I even gave them a try. Their location was a bit ****, hard for me to get there during the day and I would imagine others had the same problem.

I would love to be able to duck out for some swings at lunch but I honestly have no idea how big the demand is over all. I think something like TopGolf could be successful in Dublin as well, but thats a whole different level of investment.

the_syco

A small two or three bay setup within 5 minutes walking distance of the IFSC, but in an area which you wouldn't be afraid of getting robbed of your golf clubs would grab a few who want to work on their game. Example, the upstairs section of here. Although you'll supply clubs for Joe Public, IMO getting people to bring their clubs will allow them to practice inside when it's cold, and on their lunch breaks.

In this scenario membership would come into play.

Pick a figure that you'd rent the one bay out; that's the membership price.

Add 30% or so to the price, round it up a bit, and use that as your non-member fee. The membership gives them a better rate, and gives you repeat customers. Allow them 15% off for friends, etc.

If a certain time gets busy, such as around the lunch hour, allow members to book 30 minute sets from 11am to 2pm so that they can come in and be guaranteed a bay to practice in.

=-=

There was a place once. It was south Dublin, had 7 bays, and a bar.

It was difficult getting to it, especially as the bar was targeting work nights out, but not easy to get to.

Try to target the professionals on their lunch break, or for people who want to play a quick 9-hole after work.

Bottle

Why not try it in a driving range where you should have a captive audience. It could be used to play simulated famous courses along with players using it to check their numbers using Trackman etc. I imagine it would be more popular during the winter when the courses aren't in good condition.

I tried Metro Golf once with work, I was looking forward to it, but didn't enjoy it. The technology seemed a bit dated and it was not easy to get to. The pints were nice though....

RoadRunner

Played metrogolf golf three times maybe. Loved it. Great craic. Nice to enjoy pint and pizza while playing. It was a little tricky for me to get to though. Despite this I was sad to see metro close. I'd love to be lucky enough to have a simulator setup close to me where I could go just to practice sometimes with my own clubs. And then other times go have a craic with pints.

spacecoyote

There was also a place near Ballyfermot. I think at the back of the Roller-Disco place.

Simulator is good, putting is a bit off though.

Not sure if its still there though.

Always thought that something like an indoor putting-green style place would be a good idea near the IFSC. Run with membership, and you could put little 1-club lockers in place so members could store their putter there during the week & pop in for some lunchtime practice. Would need a decent bit of floorspace though to support realistic numbers.

Seve OB

Top Golf is brilliant. I have played it in London. What a place and it was absolutely heaving, at 12 in the afternoon.
But unfortunately I am not sure it is a runner here. I do know of someone who apparently looked into setting it up here in Dublin and the cost etc is to much as there revenue won't be there. Maybe it will, maybe it won't but I guess the cost is to much to take the gamble. It is not somewhere you would be likely to go week in week out, but rather as a social event. And we just don't have a big enough population to keep the numbers up.
Having said that, I would think a top Golf venue here would be the ideal place to set up a simulator experience. I'm not sure a regular driving range would be though.

Seve OB

spacecoyote wrote: »

There was also a place near Ballyfermot. I think at the back of the Roller-Disco place.

Simulator is good, putting is a bit off though.

Not sure if its still there though.

Always thought that something like an indoor putting-green style place would be a good idea near the IFSC. Run with membership, and you could put little 1-club lockers in place so members could store their putter there during the week & pop in for some lunchtime practice. Would need a decent bit of floorspace though to support realistic numbers.

I was in Chicago a couple of years ago. Under Armour have a huge shop there and upstairs in it has this unreal putting green which at the touch of a button could move and shift to replicate famous greens from around the world. The also had a driving simulator. It was free to use, and there were competitions you could enter.

Seve OB

https://www.sporttechie.com/under-armour-golf-and-technology/

never took any pictures and can't find any online