If you’re living in a climate where golf courses have closed for the season, there are many indoor facilities that are affordable and fun.
Some are fairly basic with driving ranges inside of a dome or something similar not too dissimilar from outdoor ranges.
One of the main differences is it offers privacy. If you are new to golf, it can be intimidating to go to an outdoor driving range and feel like everyone is watching you. Whether swinging off a mat or on grass, it is easy to feel like everyone is watching you or be distracted or awed by experienced golfers with fluid, flawless swings.
You could feel the same way in an indoor facility built similar to outside ranges.
Many indoor facilities have separate bays that you can book that offer privacy.
If you want to have your swing analyzed indoors, you can book bays with software to analyze your swing, ball speed and direction of your ball. You can also program the technology to challenge yourself hitting from deep rough, elevation or wind or just about anything you can program.
I once went to an indoor facility with my daughter, who booked an instructor to analyze both of our swings. We used a bay with technology, and after every swing we could see where our balls landed. But what was really useful was having the instructor help with alignment, grip and swing. It really helped technically.
Hiring an instructor is worth the cost. Whether you are a novice or experienced, it’s never a bad idea to hire an instructor, either for an outdoor driving range or indoor facility. If you are self-conscious having an instructor helping you at an outdoor range, using one for inside offers privacy, even more so at a private bay.
Many of the newer facilities are equipped with software that replicate some of the most famous courses such as Pebble Beach in California or the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland, or a compilation of holes from various courses. If you don’t have the financial wherewithal to travel to some of these places, you can experience the courses or holes inside.
Some of these indoor facilities have leagues to challenge yourself against others.
Some people have bought indoor golf simulators for their home or office. Obviously, it’s not inexpensive, but for serious golfers who have the budget it’s obviously worth it.
Many commercial indoor facilities include a bar and/or restaurant to further enhance the experience. Booking simulated golf venues for a party is a great for a group outing.
Simulated golf (also called SIM Golf) with high-profile pros has evolved since it was founded in 2022 by Tiger Woods (Bridgestone Tour B X), Rory McIlroy (TaylorMade TP5) and sports executive Mike McCarley in partnership with the PGA Tour. Taking place inside the custom-built So-Fi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, TGL is gaining traction for people watching on TV and/or in person.
Whereas it started out in 2025 exclusively with PGA Tour players, it has been augmented to include current and former LPGA players this year.
If nothing else, The Golf League is giving exposure to SIM Golf.
REF YOU SUCK: In a recent National Hockey League game between the Utah Mammoth and the Toronto Maple Leafs, a moment occurred in which the referees came under verbal attack.
Utah scored and the Leaf fans became incensed, feeling the referees should have disallowed the goal. One of the two referees was Garrett Rank, who plays competitively in the offseason. He is ranked 380th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. He has been as high at 212th. Earlier this year, he won the Canadian Men’s Amateur.
I’m not sure how many hockey fans know what Rank does in the off-season. I’m also relatively sure golf fans don’t know Rank is an NHL referee.
I’m quite sure that no matter how poorly Rank plays in competitive golf he will never be subjected to any booing.
LIV AND LET DIE: With the news the company that was backing LIV has pulled out, all that remains now is what the elite players will do and whether they will be welcomed back to the PGA Tour?
Jon Rahm (Callaway Chrome Tour X) had officially left LIV Golf long before it officially died and joined the DP World Tour. He won the Abu Dhabi Championship by two strokes over Tyrrell Hatton (Titleist Pro V1x), who is also a free agent after playing in LIV Golf. McIlroy was third.
The DP World Tour Championship is this week in Dubai. It will include several PGA Tour players and ex-LIV players such as Rahm and Hatton.
The DP World Tour is clearly an option for LIV players, who will likely not be granted easy access to the PGA Tour.
TIGER’S COMING BACK: Woods has revealed he will be at the Hero World Challenge, which he annually hosts in December, and alluded he may play for the first time in three years. Beyond that, he may play in the TGL season opener December 27.
Woods also suggested he may join his son Charlie (TaylorMade TP5x) in a PGA event next year.
Stay tuned. It’s always newsworthy with Tiger.
