Top 10 - Considerations for a Garage Setup

[richerod]

I was asked by a buddy what they need to consider if they were to do a Golf Sim setup in their garage. As I'm set up in my attached garage, thought I would take a crack at a Top 10.

Things to consider when doing garage setup:

1. Courage for the initial ask
2. Environmental controls (heat, ac)
3. Sloped floors
4. Garage door tracks
5. $$$
6. Rationale to family why nobody can park their car in the garage during a snowstorm
7. Rationale why the impact screen should be kept cleaner than Mom’s Sunday pristine table cloth
8. Rationale why the garage is kept cleaner than the kitchen
9. Theft if family members leave garage doors open
10. Spouse who parks their car on your putting surface

I'm sure this list could be improved. Additional thoughts are welcome.

[Jnc10]

sloped floors for me was not even on the list
Door tracks was number 1 but solved by putting a side door opener in
theft is still a concern of mine for the reasons you state

for me I wanted a sim and the garage was the only place it would fit. So glad I did

[3on3putt]

Ceiling height and space? Seems like the most obvious first consideration to me.

[Agolfman]

There's almost two lists of concerns: impact on household and one for the actual build out. Couple adds I found: need for a leaf blower and projector issues when you can't mount it on the center line. Surprised when it was worse hitting in the summer time than winter due to overheating (in New England).

[Cruisin1966]

. . . Door tracks was number 1 but solved by putting a side door opener in . . .

I wish this style of garage door was an option in Canada. Very few had even heard of them, and no one supplied/installed them

[JayJo13]

You can get one at Home Depot in Canada - https://www.homedepot.ca/product/cha...ner/1001387748

[Cruisin1966]

Had one installed (Liftmaster) already. Helps, but having the door slide to the side would have been preferable. 8'11" ceiling height, tracks 7" down from ceiling, 10' part. A very annoying setup.

[DavidU]

You can buy and install a jack shaft door opener yourself with basic skills. They are available for around 400 to 600 US dollars depending on how many bells and whistles you need. As far as garage usability, I installed the retractable screens from Par2Pro. I can go from full on golf to garage parking in about 5 minutes. This includes a snow/slush mat under the car. I live in Buffalo NY and we do get some snow. The snow mat is a must to keep the floor clean for golf.

[Fhacker]

DavidU what is a slush mat. I needed something like that when we recently had nine inches of snow

[DavidU]

Something like this. All the snow and salt melt off onto the mat and then you can just broom it out of the garage.

https://www.garageflooringllc.com/auto-containment-mat/

I then fold it a few times and move it off to the side. Roll out my artificial turf and my hitting mat and I'm ready to go on a nice clean floor.

[richerod]

Do you pad floor under turf? Or does your rollable turf have enough cushioning to minimize bounce?

[DavidU]

No pad under my artificial turf. I actually roll it up after I am done and then I bought a canoe hoist on Amazon and I hoist it up to the ceiling. Because the bottom of my screen hangs free the balls pretty much fall to the ground and the turf holds them well.
Out of the way and easy as can be...

[richerod]

Fantastic. Do you have images of the setup complete or a post to that effect? There is no doubt that breaking down the environment is top consideration for many.

[DavidU]

I haven't done a post yet of the completed set up. It is something that is on my to do list. I will soon. I will see what I can scratch up for you. I just completed my set up in early December and am loving it. My number one priority was the use of my garage for parking, especially in the winter. Although my wife would have been "okay" with not parking in garage, I would have been on car warm up and snow removal all winter long. I wanted her to be able to keep her vehicle inside. But I play at least three times a week in the garage so I needed a flexible system.

I have a three car garage and hit at the 16' door. The 16' screen rolls down right between the door rails. I also have the side screens and the ceiling panel. The side screens roll up as well. The celling panel is permanent.

Here is a split screen, this was before I had the bottom bungee so there is a little wave in the bottom corner but all in all it works great.

[DavidU]

Snow mat in action! This pic is from last winter. At that time I was hitting into the back right corner of the garage. If you look hard enough, you can see the net I was hitting into. Then I would look up at a tv monitor to see where the shot went. I was trying out the Skytrak and the whole indoor golf thing, prior to jumping into the screen set up.

[richerod]

I could use that snow mat right now. We are getting pummeled with snow at the moment. How ru heating the garage?

[DavidU]

I was using a stand up patio heater last season. Propane... This year I added a gas line and purchased a Mr Heater natural gas heater. My garage is partially insulated and I can get the temp up pretty quickly but I may insulate the part of the ceiling that has none, this year. I just think it will be more comfortable and I will use less gas that way. My garage doors do have r-9 value but I also have a wall and a half that I will not insulate since it is behind dry wall and brick. .



The Mr Heater is 30k btu. The patio heater is 44K btu. I mostly use the Mr. Heater but if I need a little boost, I kick on the patio heater for a bit.