How Big is Big Enough? Room Planning...

[Xynie]

Good morning Simmers - I have been playing at commercial indoor simulators on and off since the late 90s. I have always had a wish in the back of my mind to build a simulator at home, now that we are building our own new custom home I have that opportunity. I am sure you get these questions beat to death - but while my architect is working on plans I want to make sure I give him the information I need for a room that can meet my future plans. Right now based on available space he is planning on a 2nd floor 15'x20' multi-purpose room with no windows to be used as the theater/golf sim hybrid room. Unfortunately with the needs of the rest of the house, there just isn't much room elsewhere... and I don't have much more space (it was a challenge just to get the 15x20 for myself!) The ceiling height is 9'4" base, but he can make the ceiling a tray ceiling, adding some additional space to swing the club in the center-ish area of the room, so I think I am good on height..

I've been reading a lot here and looking at pre-plans like Protee, they recommend 14'x19' just for what looks like the simulator - what about seating? Seems like the whole space is for golf, not much left over... I see pictures of rooms that don't appear that big with seating - how do they make it work? I was hoping to do something with some seats in the back both for sitting around during matches, but also to watch movies in a more comfortable arrangement. I also had seen some "concept" pictures while looking around where people did some movable seating... but not sure how reasonable that is.

Wanted to get your thoughts - unfortunately making the room any longer is not an option... Is this a hopeless dream or can I make this room work? (something like this - http://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/47a13b3500...me-theater.jpg)

Anyone aware of any companies or contractors in the Northern NJ area who can assist with a build out?

Appreciate your time!
Anthony

[mthunt]

You'll be tight to have seating at the back. Work the numbers. Screen to wall is 1-2 feet. Screen to hitting area should be 10 feet. Hitting area clearance behind is 7 feet. That leaves 1 foot at the back.

[Xynie]

You'll be tight to have seating at the back. Work the numbers. Screen to wall is 1-2 feet. Screen to hitting area should be 10 feet. Hitting area clearance behind is 7 feet. That leaves 1 foot at the back.

So the numbers of pretty on-point for ProTee... Alright - I will need to ask my architect to work some magic... maybe a bump in the back or something. Thank you!

[wbond]

You can hit closer to the screen than 10', but i don't know if you'll gain enough room for the seating.

[Jaxon]

I have a room slightly smaller and was hoping to build a sim / home theatre room. will watch this thread with interest.

Has anyone built a similar sized room. What have the results been like?

[ryanoneill1]

I think you have plenty of room to golf, might need to move things around for seating. Only thing to think about, which I didn't realize until after I bought everything is the width of your room and ball alignment with a projector.

So if you have a room that is 20 fee wide and you are right handed and only care about a right hander. Your projector will put the ball in the center of your screen. So the ball is 10 feet from the wall. So if you want to align your mat directly behind the ball you only have 10 feet to work with. 6 feet for the mat + 4 feet for your backswing. Any smaller room you will need to move your mat further right of where the projector puts the ball on the screen. For me this is causing an unnatural out to in swing. I see the ball on my screen 4 inches to the left of my real ball.

[Rippin3wIndoors]

My room is 10'w x 13'h x 18'L .... It's cozy the width is biggest constraint, I built a folding seating on rear wall to accommodate guests / acts as an on-deck circle / movie seats. Made the best with what I had...your not chasing a hopeless dream. I'm out of NY could point you in the direction of an excellent contractor..

[Gordoca]

I just added on to the room that we already had, with a temporary portable shelter. In his garage, he had a wood burning stove that put out LOT'S of heat. So I built a Mylar enclosure outside his garage door (about 1 foot away). We used temporary plywood partition's to seal the one foot gap from rain, wind and snow. We have a Optishot, so the Mylar was great for blocking out light. We all sat inside the garage, and had the 10' x 12' sim booth to golf in. I used duct tape and grommet's from Canadian Tire...lol...on the outside, it looked like a grow-op. We had a police helicopter circle it twice, but nobody knocked on our door, so I guess we were ok.
It was sooo cool to sit and have a beer with your friend's and then say, "do you want to do some golfing", and see the look on their face when the garage door opened and they saw what was inside the grow-op...lol...priceless!

[goodmatt78]

I'm building one in 14x14x9. Will hit from 7-8ft. If not used to it, it will feel cramped, but there is plenty of room. I had a rukket set up previously and that takes more room.