New to the space. Information overload

[Questor]

So I have the idea to build a golf simulator and am considering building a space. I have pored through lots of information and am now overwhelmed with information and perhaps unbiased opinions. I have seem "Simulator in a Box" solutions and individual pieces. So here is where I am.

I am able to build most anything as far as structures, jigs and supports.
I can build computers and am not afraid of "hooking" electronics together.
I live in Canada an have a 6 month golf season which is about 5 1/2 months too short.
I am a golf addict. (Duh. I'm here. Right?)
I am committed to building a space 16' x 22' with a 10' ceiling
I want to be able to play golf with a few friends and to be able to do some game improvement training.

I have looked at too much information on systems and know enough that I don't know enough and should ask for advice from those who have gone before me.

If I was willing to spend $15,000 CAD (about $12,000 USD) would I be able to get what I'm looking for? If not. What is a realistic target? This would include all of the pieces, but I can source much of it at reasonable prices.

There are many different launch monitors and 99 percent of the information/feedback is sponsored so difficult to be sure of. For those who have bought/used different types and aren't affiliated with one company or another, what do you recommend (For my needs) and why?

I realize I'm asking a lot with a pretty broad stroke but I'm guessing there are some here who have a ton of knowledge on the topic.

Input will be appreciated.

Thanks

[COgolfengineer]

Welcome to the golf sim world! It's a lot of fun!

You've pretty much laid out a blank canvas and your space is very good. At 16' wide, you should be able to hit from center even if you have righties and lefyies which is great.

For your budget and wanting game improvement, I'd recommend the Uneekor QED ($7k usd) or Foresight GC2 ($6.5k usd) launch monitor.

The QED is ceiling mount so out of the way and don't have to move for righties/lefties. It does offer more such as club data and ability to interface to swing cameras, which I think is extremely valuable in improving your game. Uneekor sells swing cams or you can also use your own webcams as a cheaper alternative and there's a decent thread on that in the Uneekor section. Uneekor also interfaces with most of the sim golf softwares.

The GC2 has a great reuptation for accuracy but only provides ball data. To get club data, you have to add the HMT ($5k usd I think) or upgrade to the GC Quad ($15k with club data). This unit sits on the floor next to the ball so you'd have to move it for righties/lefties. It doesn't interface to as many sim golf softwares.

The Mevo+ ($2k usd) is another option, radar based so can sit in the same spot for righties/lefties. It gives some measured club data but not as much as the QED.

For the rest of the pieces, you can get a decent setup for $5k usd which wouls include the PC, screen, projector, hitting mat, turf, and sidewall protection. This is where there's a ton of options, so you can go down as low as roughly 2k or up to 20k or even more depending on how nice you want it to look. Also have to consider any possible heating/colling in your space.

I'm sure you'll get a lot of comments and advice! Enjoy!

[Questor]

Some great input here. This should help get things narrowed down.

[Dax]

Might want to see if you can get a certified preowned GC2 if you go that route. Check out Par2Pro in Edmonton as they sell all of the units listed above (great summary for you to follow by the way).

can’t recall if you mentioned a projector, but there has been a lot written in the last month on projectors and a lot of good information to look through. Some of the posts also suggest some good projectors.

[Questor]

I'll certainly take a look on the projector stuff. Thanks

[walkities]

Welcome aboard! I read this and felt eerily similar as Im ust now in the planning stages of building a sim in my garage in AB. Part of the reason was because similar to you it never seems like golf season is long enough and even then getting out in the summer months isn't as easy with work and the swarm of mosquitoes lol. Definitely keeping an eye on this thread, I think from my research it's hard not to choose the Uneekor as a launch monitor simply because of the number of righties and lefties in my group of golfers (I'm a lefty, my wife is a righty).

[Golfgodz]

If your doing a garage set up, keep in mind that you will probably want to bring the computer and launch monitor inside when not in use. It would be difficult to do that with a ceiling mount unit.

[COgolfengineer]

I can think of some reasons, but what are your reasons for wanting to bring in the launch monitor and PC in from the garage when not in use?