The SimBook blog
Notes from running an indoor golf venue.
What I’ve learned opening and running a golf simulator venue: pricing bay time, selling memberships, filling quiet nights and choosing the software behind the front desk. Written by Jason Law, owner-operator and founder of Indoor Golf Management.
Start here · Booking & pricing
Golf Simulator Booking Software: What to Look For
How to choose golf simulator booking software: the features that matter for bays, questions to ask every vendor, and the pricing traps to avoid.
Read the guide · 9 min →
Starting a venue
Starting a venue · 7 min read
How to Start an Indoor Golf Simulator Business: Lessons Learned
How to start an indoor golf simulator business, from an owner who did it: location, lease, simulators, booking software, and a soft launch that works.
Starting a venue · 6 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Open an Indoor Golf Facility?
How much does it cost to open an indoor golf facility? An owner breaks down every budget bucket, from lease and simulators to software and working capital.
Starting a venue · 6 min read
Commercial Golf Simulator Space Requirements: Bay Size Guide
Commercial golf simulator space requirements explained: ceiling height, bay width and depth, left-handed hitters, lounge space, sound, lighting, and HVAC.
Booking & pricing
Booking & pricing · 7 min read
How Much to Charge for Golf Simulator Time: A Pricing Guide
How much to charge for golf simulator time: per-hour vs per-person, peak and off-peak rates, premium bays, member pricing and how to test your numbers.
Booking & pricing · 6 min read
How to Reduce No-Shows at Your Golf Simulator Venue
How to reduce no-shows at a golf simulator venue: reminder timing, easy cancellations, a fair no-show policy and tracking the numbers that matter.
Booking & pricing · 7 min read
Switching Golf Simulator Booking Software Without the Chaos
How to switch booking software at a golf simulator venue: what to export, when to migrate, moving member billing and a step-by-step switch checklist.
Memberships
Memberships · 7 min read
Golf Simulator Membership Ideas: How to Structure Your Tiers
Golf simulator membership ideas that work: how to build off-peak, standard and premium tiers from real perks, price them fairly and protect public bay time.
Memberships · 6 min read
Golf Simulator Punch Pass vs Membership: Which to Offer
Golf simulator punch pass or membership? When prepaid hours make sense, which customers each fits, how they affect cash flow, and how to upgrade pass holders.
Leagues & events
Leagues & events · 6 min read
How to Run a Golf Simulator League: Formats, Scoring and Setup
How to run a golf simulator league: choose a format, set season length and handicaps, plan pace of play per bay, collect dues and keep a live leaderboard.
Leagues & events · 6 min read
Corporate Golf Simulator Events: How to Host and Price Them
How to host a corporate golf simulator event or party: event types, hourly vs buyout pricing, formats, food, staffing, waivers and turning guests into regulars.
Marketing
Marketing · 6 min read
Beating the Indoor Golf Summer Slump: An Off-Season Plan
How to beat the indoor golf summer slump: seasonal pricing, summer memberships, junior camps, leagues, and email campaigns for your golf simulator business.
Marketing · 6 min read
How to Fill Slow Nights at Your Golf Simulator Venue
How to fill slow nights at a golf simulator venue: find your empty hours in reports, then use off-peak pricing, promo codes, leagues, clinics and themed nights.
Marketing · 6 min read
Indoor Golf Marketing: How to Market a Golf Simulator Business
Indoor golf marketing that works: Google Business Profile, reviews, local SEO, a booking button on your site, email, referrals, partnerships and tracking results.
Operations
Operations · 6 min read
Hiring and Training Golf Simulator Venue Staff
How to hire and train golf simulator venue staff for the indoor golf front desk: who to hire, what a shift looks like, training checklists, and roles.
Operations · 6 min read
Running a Self-Serve or 24 Hour Golf Simulator Venue
Thinking about a 24 hour golf simulator or unstaffed hours? Learn the pros, cons, and what has to be in place before guests can play self-serve safely.
Operations · 6 min read
Golf Simulator Waivers: How to Set Up Online Waivers
A practical guide to golf simulator waivers: why you need one, signing online at booking, guests and minors, and keeping every signature on file.
Operations · 6 min read
Left-Handed Golf Simulator Bays: How to Seat Lefties Right
Why some golf simulator bays are right-hand-only, how to set up left-handed bays, and how to flag lefties at booking so your desk seats them right.
Operations · 6 min read
Golf Simulator Business Metrics: Occupancy and Bay Utilization
The golf simulator business metrics that matter: how to calculate occupancy and bay utilization, revenue per bay-hour, no-shows and retention, plus a weekly review.