50 Words or Less
Golf VX provides the most immersive golf simulation that I’ve experienced. Very impressive technology. Upscale surroundings with extensive food and drink selection.
Introduction
Simulator golf is one of the hottest segments in the booming golf market. More and more players are discovering that indoor golf can deliver a great experience without many of the hassles of traditional golf – no slow players, no weather concerns, no bad course conditions.
Golf VX – a leader in golf simulation technology – has recently started opening their own locations, and one of the first is just a short drive from my house. I made the trip to see if this is the better way to enjoy golf.
Golf VX Golf Simulation
For the last several years, a huge swath of the PGA Show has been dedicated to golf simulation. I’ve walked these aisles many times, and it’s always seemed that Golf VX had a significant edge when it comes to providing an immersive experience. Having now experienced it for myself, I can say that my gut feeling was correct.
Golf VX’s T2 Golf Simulator is ceiling mounted, so you can move around the large hitting bay unencumbered. Each bay is set up to accommodate right and left handed players without making any adjustments.
One of the things I liked best about the Golf VX experience was the button pad at my feet. The eight large buttons allow the golfer to raise or lower the tee height, adjust their aim, call in the caddie, take a mulligan, and more without walking over to the touchscreen. Staying away from the touchscreen not only made the golf experience feel more natural, it improved pace of play.
Perhaps the biggest thing that makes Golf VX feel more like “real golf” is the trio of hitting surfaces. With most simulators, the penalty for hitting from the rough is simply calculated in the software. At Golf VX, there are three hitting surfaces – fairway, rough (above) and sand (below).
I was a bit skeptical about how much this would really impact my game, but I was pleasantly surprised by how penal both areas were. Hitting from the rough was much less predictable – just like real rough. I didn’t experience any jumpers, but I had some shots that traveled their full distance, others that fell short. This felt like a fair, realistic penalty for missing the fairway. The “sand” was even tougher to gauge because it’s very tall. It felt like playing out of a deep, powdery bunker where a small swing flaw could lead to another shot from nearly the same place.
In addition to the different hitting surfaces, the entire hitting platform tilts to match your lie. As you can see above, the left side of the platform is higher than the right, simulating the ball being below your feet. These tilts can range from subtle to extreme and go a long way toward adding more variety and realism to the game.
Finally, there’s putting, the Achilles heel of almost all golf simulation. As you can see above, Golf VX has a “bridge” that connects the hitting platform to the area in front of the screen, allowing you to roll the ball about ten feet. This putt is measured by the same T2 launch monitor and translated accurately into the game. There is a 3 foot “gimme” circle which goes a long way toward speeding up play and reducing frustration. Overall, I found the putting to be fun, accurate, and as good or better than any other simulation.
Food & Drink
Simulator golf can be hard work, so Golf VX offers a full food and drink menu to keep you fueled up. The food options are what you’d expect – sandwiches, flatbreads, wings, and appetizers. All the food we tried on our visit was above average quality and priced reasonably.
I also need to mention MAKR SHAKR, the robotic bartender. These two mechanical arms use the huge array of suspended bottles to mix up any kind of drink you can imagine, with robotic precision. It’s worth ordering something complicated just to watch this thing work.
Value
At the time of this writing, Golf VX has two locations – Arlington Heights (outside Chicago) and North Darmouth, Massachusetts (about 30 minutes from Providence, RI). I expect pricing does and will vary by location, but an hour of bay rental at the Arlington Heights location is $65 at full price with many ways to rent it for less. This is in line with pricing I’ve seen from other golf simulation franchises.
Comparing the cost of Golf VX to “real” golf, Golf VX is on par. Our foursome, which included one brand new golfer, played at a very relaxed pace and finished nine holes in two hours. That’s equivalent to a $65 18 hole green fee, which is less than you’d spend at most courses in this area. I expect a seasoned foursome could get through almost 18 holes in two hours, which would make this a great value.
Each bay can be shared by up to six players, and Golf VX does provide free rental clubs.
Conclusion
I came into this with high expectations, and Golf VX’s simulator technology met or exceeded all of them. This is definitely the best indoor golf experience I’ve ever had. Whether you’re looking to work on your game, hang out with friends, or scratch the golf itch when the weather won’t cooperate, Golf VX is a great choice.