Indoor simulator comes to Butler’s Golf Course

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Avid golfers and novices alike will have the chance to golf on some of the top courses in the world without ever leaving Elizabeth Township.

Butler’s Golf Course is opening The Loft, a second-story clubhouse featuring three indoor golf and multi-sport simulators. The golf simulators feature state-of-the-art graphics developed from actual drone photography from 35 of the best golf courses in the world, including Pebble Beach, Augusta and St. Andrews.

“The image on the screen is an actual photo of the golf course it is simulating,” said Joe Goellner, general manager at Butler’s.

The facility is holding its soft opening this week, with the use of three simulators offered for free each day  through Friday from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. 

“Anyone can come and test out the simulators,” Goellner said.

After this week, the simulators will be rented by the hour, with an early bird special from 8 a.m. to noon each day and a discount for groups or individuals who commit to a weekly “tee time,” Goellner said.

Multiple video cameras in each simulator bay capture the action of the user, who uses real golf clubs and an actual golf ball. The cameras translate the action to the screen, showing how the ball would react on the course, while the padded screen and ceiling baffles absorb the energy, reducing the ricochet to a gentle roll back to the player.

“It’s a very realistic interpretation of what you’re doing,” Goellner said. “There are a lot of professional golfers who have this exact same simulator in their homes.”

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