How Much Is a Golf Simulator?
These days, how much you spend on a home golf setup is really up to you. You can spend as much as you possibly can, or a surprisingly little amount. Read on for the details.
Only a few years ago, if someone asked how much is a golf simulator, the answer was pretty simple: A lot!
Price was a major deterrent for most golfers.
But now? How much is a golf simulator?
The answer is, it depends.
Things have evolved rapidly to the point that we’ve gone from cost prohibitive to affordable option overload. Now, if you want to build a golf simulator studio, you can pretty much spend as much or close to as little as you want. You’ve got choices. Many, in fact.
Let’s review a handful of your best options.
How Much Is a Home Golf Simulator?
First, to get to the bottom of how much is a good golf simulator, we’ve got to establish a clear understanding of what constitutes a golf simulator.
It’s simple, really. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Golf launch monitor. This is the main component of a golf simulator. It’s the device that reads the golf shots and interfaces with golf simulator software to create the realistic golf experience.
- A computer or mobile device. This is what runs the golf simulator software. Some simulator software requires a robust gaming computer. With others, you don’t need anything more than a smartphone.
- Golf simulator screen or net. You’ve got to have something into which you’ll hit your golf shots. The most common options are an impact screen that can also allow you to project an image of your simulator experience onto it, or a net that will collect the golf balls.
- Golf simulator enclosure. This isn’t mandatory, but it’s likely a good idea. Something that surrounds the screen or net so that golf balls don’t ricochet around and damage your surroundings.
- Golf simulator projector. Another optional component but one that you’ll definitely want for a really cool golf simulator setup. Think of the realism of hitting golf shots and watching them fly right in front of you. A golf simulator projector combined with an impact screen is what makes indoor golf realistic.
- Golf hitting mat. Obviously, you need a surface from which to hit your golf shots. For the best and most realistic, check out Fiberbuilt.
The question is, do you feel like sourcing or building all of that yourself? Or would you rather the luxury and time-savings of buying everything you need in one shot?
How Much Is a Golf Simulator Setup? DIY vs Turnkey
If you’re handy, and you’ve got time on your hands, you can build a DIY golf simulator. You’ll have to buy the golf launch monitor, of course. Same for the computer or mobile device. And you’re probably best off not making your own golf mat or impact screen. But you can totally build some of these components, or at least source them individually.
Our buddy Jock at GolfBusters has some great tips on how to build your own golf simulator enclosure.
But another one of our friends, Gabe at Let’s Play Thru, cautions against cheaping out on a DIY enclosure.
Personally, I’m not sure it’s worth it to go the DIY route. Not when buying a pre-packaged, turnkey setup is so simple, affordable and high quality.
PlayBetter.com sells sim studio packages that give you everything but the computer or mobile device. You pick the golf launch monitor, and they’ll put the package together for you. You’ll get a shipment that includes:
- The golf launch monitor of your choosing
- A simulator enclosure of one of the following dimensions:
- 10’ W x 8’6” H x 5’4” D
- 12’ W x 8’6” H x 5’4” D
- An impact screen to fit the enclosure size you choose
- Side barriers
- Ball tray
- An Optoma GT2000HDR 3500 lumens projector with projector mount
- A 5’ x 5’ hitting mat and putting mat
Prices on these turnkey sim studio solutions range from $4,599.98 to $26,598.99 depending on which golf launch monitor you choose and what size enclosure you pick.
As far as setup goes, it’s a breeze. Check out this video from our friends at Golficity. They show you how easy it is to set up a garage golf space using a PlayBetter SimStudio package.
And if you want to go even simpler and more affordable, you can buy a turnkey package with a hitting net instead of an impact screen, enclosure, and projector. You can get everything you need for as little as $1,044.99!
Now that we’ve got some idea of the range of prices for a golf simulator setup, let’s look at a few of our favorite options.
How Much Is a SkyTrak Golf Simulator?
The SkyTrak+ is an easy recommendation for anyone interested in building a simulator studio because the golf simulator software is so much fun to use.
And in June 2024, it got even better. SkyTrak improved on what was already one of the most popular golf simulator solutions by adding their own Course Play golf simulator software that rivals the best sim software available with any launch monitor.
We’re talking amazing sim golf courses, a ton of game-improvement challenges, and multiple virtual driving ranges. It’s a blast!
You can own the SkyTrak+, a SimStudio10 enclosure (10’ W x 8’6” H x 5’4” D), the impact screen, the projector, the hitting mat, the side barriers, and the ball tray for $7,343.99. Or take it up to the SimStudio 12 option for just $100 more!
How Much Is a Foresight Golf Simulator?
One of the great things about Foresight Sports—beyond the unmatched accuracy, ease of use, and stellar reputation—is that you’ve got golf simulator choices.
The Foresight GC3 is the perfect blend between professional-level accuracy and home-level affordability. It’s a three-camera photometric unit that is accurate enough to be trusted by teaching pros and competitive players.
You can get a turnkey GC3 simulator bundle with a hitting net for as little as $6,494.00. Or, step it up to the full-blown 12-foot enclosure, impact screen, projector, etc. for $10,598.99.
The Foresight GCQuad is a four-camera unit that is even more accurate and includes even more data! So much so that it’s trusted by many of the best PGA Tour pros.
If you want to take your sim studio setup to the big-time level, get a SimStudio12 GCQuad turnkey package for $20,598.99.
Then there’s the biggest-time option: The Foresight QuadMAX. Brand new in January 2024, the QuadMAX takes everything amazing about the GCQuad but adds to it on-device shot storage, speed training, an interactive touchscreen display, and even more data points! And if you really want to take it next-level, you can add putting data to go along with the ball and club data.
This is the absolute top of the line. If you want the very best, you want the QuadMAX SimStudio 12 package with putting data for $26,598.99.
How Much Is a Full Swing Golf Simulator?
Wouldn’t it be cool to play on the same golf simulator that Tiger Woods uses?
Well, now you can!
The Tiger-endorsed Full Swing KIT is now revamped after some initial accuracy issues. The new version is now a real contender in the mid-to-upper best golf launch monitor category. The accuracy issues are solved.
You can get a Full Swing KIT total golf simulator package for $9,498.99. If it’s good enough for Tiger, maybe just maybe, it’s good enough for you too.
How Much Is a Golf Simulator? It’s Up To YOU!
As I said at the outset, you can spend as much or close to as little as you want on a golf simulator. It all comes down to what you want.
We identified options here that range in price from $1,044.99 for a less-expensive golf launch monitor and hitting net all the way up to $26,598.99 for the creme-de-la-creme Foresight QuadMAX with a 12-foot wide enclosure and impact screen.
That’s a lot of room for a wide range of budgets. And it’s totally rewritten the answer to the question of how much is a golf simulator? The answer now is, it costs whatever you can afford.
About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen
Marc "Shef" Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he's not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.