Golf Shed Build - Newbie looking for input

[spyder84]

Hello, I'm new here but have been lurking a while to do research and get ideas. Long story short, the original plan was to get an addition on my home to serve a simulator room + home office. It was going to be turnkey in the sense that once complete, all I would have had to do was worry about the simulator components (enclosure, projector, launch monitor). That idea went out the window once we started getting contractor bids. With current pricing of lumber, materials and the fact that contractors are booked solid for 8+ months, I just could not justify the cost for the project.

That being said, my only option at this point is a shed. But that brings about a bunch of questions since now I have to worry about every aspect of the build from the foundation on up. I was hoping to get some input to as a sim build newbie. The shed will be a pre-fab, put together on site (TuffShed). My plan was to insulate it and drywall it to make it usable year round.

1. Foundation: I will have a concrete slab poured for the shed. Should I be asking contractors to add under-slab insulation? It it even worth it for such a small space or will the shed insulation be enough?
2. Size: I am limited on sizing; my max footprint can be 10' x 15'. Since I would be insulating and finishing the space that leaves me about 9' 4" x 14' 4" on the inside. I know it is tight, but I'm a short dude and I think I can make it work. Any have anything that works with similar dimensions?
3. Layout: My original thinking was to setup a mat and net (something like the Spornia or NetReturn) with GC3 and TV monitor on the wall. This would leave me with room to setup a putting station and a desk. This setup might not be the most efficient use of space though. Especially since these nets usually require a few feet behind the net as buffer.
   The other option is an impact screen, which only requires 12" of buffer space. Still leaves room for putting station and a desk. But with such a small space I wasn't sure if a projected sim build was even worth it. I'd be pretty severely offset to right. While an immersive experience is nice, my main goal is practice. Any input on either of these options or other alternatives? (See below pic)
4. Heating/Cooling: Based on my research, my two options are a mini-split or window a/c unit + electric heater. For such a small space is mini-split worth it? Anyone have any experience with both options that could point me in the right direction?
   
   
   
   

[PKR]

Speaking as to the heating/ac, I have a window ac unit set into the wall, a fan works better. I have a small electric heating baseboard panel on the floor. So I heat with a parabolic unit. My layout is similar to your bottom drawing and it works fine for me. It was a shed built to my specs and 'slid' into place in my barn. The reasons for that where similar to yours. The cost of using an already built, perfectly usable barn where a lot more than building a shed, digging out the floor and sliding it under the existing rafters... go figure.

[Brettster]

Welcome spyder84 ,

I do have a similar space, but a little wider than yours. My shed measures 16'x12' outside, which puts it at: 15'5"x11'5" inside. Other than that I started from a previous built barn/shed with a gambrel roof. It allowed for a perfect 10' height in the center 8' of the shed. Most of the newer built gambrel roofs seem to have more center width that goes to the higher 10' (which is at the collar ties for me, after I removed the ceiling joists). You can see full details of my entire built as I've been documenting it, and am nearly done, see all details here:

https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/golf-simulator-forum/simulator-builds/348365-golf-sim-shed-build-finally

I only have left the installation of 5.1 surround sound, and drop in the ProTee sensors into the floor, as well as a stance mat adjacent to the hitting area. I will also cut in a 2nd hitting mat, to locate another LM (Garmin Approach R10) next to the ProTee Sensor mat.

I would recommend a mini-split. That's been my biggest hurdle throughout the last 6 months - keeping the space heated/cooled to allow me to even place my equipment in, over the Winter it was impossible - even with 3 different heaters (2 panels, and 1 oil heater). With limited electrical amp draw, I need something else - which is the Mini-Split, this is the one I'll likely be ordering soon, the Della, as it has WiFI control, offers 1 ton of heat, and 20 SEER A/C:

https://tinyurl.com/Della-MiniSplit-20seer-1ton

Read my entire post to see all of the challenges you may come up against, it's not easy, but achievable. Let me know if you have any questions on my forum post...
-Brett

[spyder84]

Thanks. Lots of good info in your post. I think I'm leaning toward the mini-split option. For your build I see you laid a subfloor over concrete. Do you think this made a huge difference for regulating temps? Or did you this more "soften" your hitting area?

In either case, I'll be following your build as I'm interested in how your doing your audio. Since my space is even more limited then your I was planning on experimenting with placing speakers behind my impact screen.

[Brettster]

Hey spyder84 , I'm glad you found some good info in my post. For the subfloor, yes, it certainly helped to insulate the floor/building in general. I probably noticed the biggest temperature gain - insulation wise - after completing the floor. It certainly softens the entire floor, as you're now walking on 3/4" plywood through most of the floor - which doesn't move, even with my 215lb body. I did add 1 floor joist in a spot toward the front where I noticed the plywood in that area was not supported enough across the width - I was relying too much on the 16' lengthwise joists I laid (I have a full diagram, if you need it let me know), I think there are 5-6 16' lengthwise 2"x4" floor joists.

Now, regarding the audio, I just finished that install tonight... I'll have to take a pic, but there's not a lot to see - I set the front/left/right speaker (about 24" across sound bar) behind all of my canvas baffles up top, just above where the screen is held up by my wire. I tested the remote on it first behind the fabric, and after confirming it worked just fine, I installed it there sitting it on a natural shelf on the 'rim board' at about 7' height that was there because that side of the building originally had a garage door there, before I removed it (you can see that in the first page of pics).

I installed this Vizio 5.1 Surround bar:

https://tinyurl.com/Vizio51SurroundBar

I should shoot a video as the sound is amazing in the 12'x16' space. Besides the front (single bar - with 3 speakers in it), there is a wireless subwoofer I'm sitting on my floor next to my HCAM (horizontal camera) about 6" in front of my hitting sensor and against the left wall of the building. Also, there are 2 tiny (about 2"x4") satellite speakers that are wired in the rear and connect to the subwoofer. I mounted them at about ear level height while standing. I will update my post tomorrow, maybe record a video with audio content...