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I started my build in April 2018 after months of planning and scouring this forum. It took 6 months until I was playing and then another 6 months to iron out a number of key issues. I’ve now been using the sim for a year, fine tuning some items, and I wanted to share my learnings in the hope that I can give back for some of the help all the other forum members gave (and continue to give) me.
There are a few photos attached to this post. For anyone interested, there are more photos showing the construction, finished room and some close-ups here: https://app.box.com/s/b81xr65qr6loa1qnoi85u5om01suteqq
My build is a full room build inside my workshop and is primarily used as a golf sim room and gym, with the additional options of media room and racing sim.
Build Summary:
1) Space
The more space the better! I am very lucky to have such a large custom built space and I still wish I had more room. If in doubt, go bigger!
2) SubFloor
After research on the forum, I built my subfloor with three key things in mind: insulation (to reduce hydro bills and sound), depth to install putting cups, and being able to have a sunken area (4’ x 8’) for both stance and hitting mats, which then enables me to install solutions with different heights and lower or raise them to ensure that both my original install and future customizations are all at the same final height
3) Hitting Mat
I have a combination of a Divot Action (purchased) and Fiberbuilt panels. Neither causes issues with my elbow. I find the Divot Action is better for higher calibre players and players who “pick” the ball, whilst the Fiberbuilt panels are great for higher handicappers and “diggers”. I feel it can be a bit too "forgiving" for real practice. My plan is to build a custom divot action using gel pad, to try and minimize the variation between the hitting mat and the surrounding surface which happens after a few “heavier” shots.
4) Lighting
I have my overhead lighting in three “banks”. One bank in the gym area, one above the hitting area and one near the screen. All are on dimmer switches, which means I can adjust all the room lighting depending on use.
5) Hardware
I LOVE my GC2. My regular playing partner is the assistant pro at my local course and he is very impressed with the accuracy of it (it's well documented how good players trust it). One day I may investigate Uneekor a bit further, with the primary benefits of club data and optional left handed play, but for the time being I am very happy with the GC2.
6) Software
I have both TGC2019 and FSX2020. It is widely recorded on this forum, but in my opinion FSX is an awesome tool for practice and club fitting, whilst TGC is superior in terms of game play (both in terms of graphics, but also some key aspects of multi player, putting and other elements of game play). Having both is an ideal combo.
7) Putting Surface
I am very pleased with my NP50 putting surface from STI. You will see from the photos, that it is also my stance area. It may be difficult to see, but after 18 months of use it is starting to show signs of wear in the stance area. I had expected this, and with the variable height sub floor build, when this finally becomes too worn, I will have the option to replace it with a new 4x4 section of NP50, or another, harder wearing stance mat.
8) Windows OS
My computer came with Windows 10 installed.
I had an endless stream of connectivity issues and thought I had found a series of solutions, which I posted here: https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...ting-solutions
Despite this giving me a working system, I still had connectivity issues until I finally took the advice of mthunt and “downgraded” to Windows 8.1 and turned off ALL windows updates. Since that change, I have had ZERO issues (knock on wood) . IMHO I am 100% confident that the issues that people report and complain about being TGC / Protee server issues, are all related to Windows updates and issues which can be solved by getting away from Windows 10.
9) Cabinet
The cabinet is an IKEA hack. I bought IKEA Besta cabinets and then customized them with two doors built with speaker cloth, to house the sub woofer and the computer (for ventilation). I also installed an AC infinity airplane T7 to help with cooling. The drawer is customized for the keyboard and mouse.
10) Golf #1
If you are a keen golfer, don’t spend too much time or $’s investing in other toys unless you have a stack of time on your hands. I built the sim racer with the idea that I would want to have options…. But practicing and playing golf fills up all of my spare time and the sim racer tends to sit there getting dusty (although it is awesome when it does occasionally get used)!
THANKS
There are many people I would like to thank for their help in me getting this build done.
There are a few photos attached to this post. For anyone interested, there are more photos showing the construction, finished room and some close-ups here: https://app.box.com/s/b81xr65qr6loa1qnoi85u5om01suteqq
My build is a full room build inside my workshop and is primarily used as a golf sim room and gym, with the additional options of media room and racing sim.
Build Summary:
- Interior Dimensions: 15’ x 26’ (15’ wide. Length: 18” behind screen, 13.5’ of usable putting surface plus 11’ of gym flooring)
- Screen: Par2Pro Custom SQ Screen 8’ 9” high and 14’ wide. Plus custom built padded surround. Additional DirectFromTheMill backup screen mounted behind the main screen plus memory foam mattress in hitting area to reduce bounce back.
- Putting surface: NP50 from STI
- Hitting Mats: Divot Action. Plus 2 x Fiberbuilt Interlocking Fairway Mats
- Projector: Panasonic PT-VZ580
- Audio: Pioneer VSX-831 receiver with Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 surround sound speakers
- Computer Hardware: Dell XPS 8930 with i7-8700 6-Core Processor and NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070
- Computer OS: Windows 8.1 (see notes below)
- Sim Software: FSX2020 (upgraded from 2018) and TGC 2019 (Upgraded from TGC)
- Keyboard Solutions: Air Keyboard iPad solution for both FSX and TGC
- Sim Hardware: CPO GC2a
- Video: 2 x 1080p Full HD 120fps High Speed OV2710 CMOS Mini Box USB Web Camera 2.1mm Lens
- Construction Cost (materials, fasteners, electrical, lighting, etc): $11,000
- Labour (Framing, Electrical, Drywall Tape & Mud, Painting, Pair Of Hands!): $3,700
- Simulator Cost (GC2 (CPO), shield, software (FSX &TGC), hitting mats, impact screens (x2), projector, screen trim, computer, putting turf, hole cups, cabinet): $20,000
- Audio Cost: $900
- Racing Sim Cost: $600
- Total: $36,200
- All $’s in CAD$
1) Space
The more space the better! I am very lucky to have such a large custom built space and I still wish I had more room. If in doubt, go bigger!
2) SubFloor
After research on the forum, I built my subfloor with three key things in mind: insulation (to reduce hydro bills and sound), depth to install putting cups, and being able to have a sunken area (4’ x 8’) for both stance and hitting mats, which then enables me to install solutions with different heights and lower or raise them to ensure that both my original install and future customizations are all at the same final height
3) Hitting Mat
I have a combination of a Divot Action (purchased) and Fiberbuilt panels. Neither causes issues with my elbow. I find the Divot Action is better for higher calibre players and players who “pick” the ball, whilst the Fiberbuilt panels are great for higher handicappers and “diggers”. I feel it can be a bit too "forgiving" for real practice. My plan is to build a custom divot action using gel pad, to try and minimize the variation between the hitting mat and the surrounding surface which happens after a few “heavier” shots.
4) Lighting
I have my overhead lighting in three “banks”. One bank in the gym area, one above the hitting area and one near the screen. All are on dimmer switches, which means I can adjust all the room lighting depending on use.
5) Hardware
I LOVE my GC2. My regular playing partner is the assistant pro at my local course and he is very impressed with the accuracy of it (it's well documented how good players trust it). One day I may investigate Uneekor a bit further, with the primary benefits of club data and optional left handed play, but for the time being I am very happy with the GC2.
6) Software
I have both TGC2019 and FSX2020. It is widely recorded on this forum, but in my opinion FSX is an awesome tool for practice and club fitting, whilst TGC is superior in terms of game play (both in terms of graphics, but also some key aspects of multi player, putting and other elements of game play). Having both is an ideal combo.
7) Putting Surface
I am very pleased with my NP50 putting surface from STI. You will see from the photos, that it is also my stance area. It may be difficult to see, but after 18 months of use it is starting to show signs of wear in the stance area. I had expected this, and with the variable height sub floor build, when this finally becomes too worn, I will have the option to replace it with a new 4x4 section of NP50, or another, harder wearing stance mat.
8) Windows OS
My computer came with Windows 10 installed.
I had an endless stream of connectivity issues and thought I had found a series of solutions, which I posted here: https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...ting-solutions
Despite this giving me a working system, I still had connectivity issues until I finally took the advice of mthunt and “downgraded” to Windows 8.1 and turned off ALL windows updates. Since that change, I have had ZERO issues (knock on wood) . IMHO I am 100% confident that the issues that people report and complain about being TGC / Protee server issues, are all related to Windows updates and issues which can be solved by getting away from Windows 10.
9) Cabinet
The cabinet is an IKEA hack. I bought IKEA Besta cabinets and then customized them with two doors built with speaker cloth, to house the sub woofer and the computer (for ventilation). I also installed an AC infinity airplane T7 to help with cooling. The drawer is customized for the keyboard and mouse.
10) Golf #1
If you are a keen golfer, don’t spend too much time or $’s investing in other toys unless you have a stack of time on your hands. I built the sim racer with the idea that I would want to have options…. But practicing and playing golf fills up all of my spare time and the sim racer tends to sit there getting dusty (although it is awesome when it does occasionally get used)!
THANKS
There are many people I would like to thank for their help in me getting this build done.
- Everyone who contributes to this forum for a start.
- @Par2Pro for their fantastic customer service and help
- @BWJones and aja for their help with speakers and surround sound
- @wbond gnomike and cspin for all their help with the putting surface information
- @dbgolf72 for his work on the direct from the mill screen
- @mthunt for all his input throughout the forum and for the carpet tiles idea
- @snaphook and @birdie4me for their feedback and recommendations on the Panasonic PT-VZ 580 projector
- @friendBOMBER and mthunt and all the other designers who have created courses for us to enjoy
- Plus my wife for allowing me to build this and Brent, the assistant pro, who helped with ideas and suggestions throughout the build.
- Plus a couple of friends who worked at “mates rates” to help me with the construction and electrical.
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