Columbus, Ohio Bulid

[TDAlbright]

I wanted to show off my build out since I was a lurking on this site and wouldn't have been able to do it without this site. I had a little less than 500 square feet of unfinished space in a carriage house above my garage to create my simulator/man cave. I absolutely love it and spend a few days a week in the winter beating balls.

I bought a refurbished GC2 with The Golf Club software. I used a divot action mat. It's been a while but I'm pretty sure my screen is 10x9 from Carl's and I attached it to the wall with angle iron and bungees. I did use a net behind the screen as well. I used a bunch of acoustic tiles to pad the walls and ceiling. I mounted the projector above the golfer where the ceiling is elevated so its around 9 feet high and around 15-18ft from the screen. I used a Panasonic PT-VZ580 projector. It's capable of projecting in 4:3 but honestly as much as I agonized over 16:9 or 4:3, I've never cared enough to mess with it.

I have a full bath complete with a steam shower. The bar has a microwave a mini fridge and a beverage fridge. They put a pocket door in the bathroom to save space.

Overall I think it came out great. I have not had any left handed golfers in the room but I suspect it would be pretty cramped with the layout of the bar. I suppose if we slid the mat forward and away from the bar it would be doable but not ideal. I mounted the screen myself and did the acoustic tiles. I also went back and added some dimmer switches to the lights. Aside form that all the work was professionally done.

I also put down putting mat thats about 10x16 feet. I just ordered some 3/4" gym tiles and I'm going to place those under the putting mat. Currently with the holes that came with the putting mat the hole ends up being slightly above the plane of the mat. Every golfer wants the satisfaction of watching the ball falling into the hole.

Thanks to all those who contribute to this site, the info was vital to getting my simulator built! Happy to answer questions.

[wanabe]

Looks great. Shame that in the UK, we just do not have the space to create something like this, no basements and our garages and outbuildings are often very small. I am planning mine for my double garage and have to lift the ceiling joists, which are at 9’6” as I am determined to use driver, as it is the club I am in most need of practice and which I have had recent lessons around. I will be going widescreen however, likely to be a 160” x 90” screen. However, due to lockdown here, we can not order all the things we need or employ a carpenter and there is a lead time on SkyTrak. Gives more time to plan however, and a chance to look enviously at those completed simulations. Enjoy!

[pwade3]

My ceiling is 9’4” and we have never hit the ceiling with a driver. Your either tall or swing very upright.

[wanabe]

When I tried out my area with the head cover on I occasionally just brushed the rafter. I am 6’ and feel there is little wriggle room at present

[Lynchdpm]

Fantastic space. Thanks for sharing the pics. Enjoy

[Godfather]

Fantastic space. What kind of acoustic tiles are those? They look great.

[TDAlbright]

I just searched for acoustic tiles on Amazon until I found the style I liked. Mine are two inch but they come thinner. The only problem I had was I believe them came in packs of 24 (12x12) and ordered a bunch initially but underestimated how many I would need. After my first purchase the Amazon seller figured they were a hot item and jacked up the price so when I went back to get more the price had gone up. I was able to attach them with 3m adhesive spray. I also found some for the corners which do a good job hiding the angle iron.

[TDAlbright]

Oh and they best way to cut them is with a electric turkey carver, hot knife through butter!

[RicoSuave]

Ok good to know, thank you!
Are they holding up to ball hits ok?

[pwade3]

That’s amazing. I wished I knew about simulators when I designed and built out house 9 years ago. I would love a bar and washroom in the sim. I converted one of my 3 garage bays into a sim. Yours looks fantastic. Well done. Has anyone hit the door on the right? Lol.

[TDAlbright]

Thanks. Yes my girlfriend has managed that one. The door has to stay closed because my biggest fear is shanking one into the glass of the steam shower. Also my buddy topped a Driver the very first time we tried it and it hit the corner of the elevated ceiling. It's a sim room there's bound to before a few scratches and dents.

[dudley286]

That is an awesome build!!!!!

[Dax]

Great build and I like the work done to increase the ceiling height. I assume based on the pictures that this was done post build and that you had to get an engineer to design something to make it work given your engineered joists?

My sim is built out in a carriage house above my garage as well (already finished and so I had to live with what was there). I have got good space for my sim as well and love having it in a separate space with a kitchen and washroom. The bathroom of yours is an added bonus by the looks of things with the steam shower!

Again great space!

[TDAlbright]

Thank you. It was just framed out and unfinished. The contractor had an engineer/architect come look at it and redesign the support beams to raise the ceiling.

[Dax]

Looks like it worked out fantastic!