Feedback for a golf sim and home theater multiuse room

[ri3eboi]

Building a new multi-use room for golf simulator and home theater. The sim will be primarly used by my boys (in elementary school) and I. I am fairly average height at 5'11.
The room measures 19' long x 15'6" wide x 10' tall. (attached floor plans for the room)

Based on my research, a golf simulator requires a minimum length of 1' (impact screen) + 7' (tee) + 7' (behind), width of 12-15ft, height of 10’+. So the room would work for a sim.

Layout options:

1. Lengthwise, impact screen in front of movie screen. LCF + subwoofer behind the movie screen.
   1. Pros: sharing projector for golf and movie;
   2. Cons:
      1. Room isn't symmetrical for immersive audio experience. I can add a wall+door to the top entrance to try mitigate.
      2. Very tight on the length, when someone is on the golf sim, no one can sit on the sofa.
      3. Top entrance feels awkward with a 3' faux wall (for audio equipment).
      4. Takes time to convert from sim to movie.
2. Shared: sim lengthwise, movie widthwise with a TV.
   1. Pros:
      1. No setup required to use sim or movie.
      2. I prefer a larger TV for the theater experience. It is just simpler to setup and use than a projector.
      3. Flexible speaker setup and easy to change, no faux wall required.
   2. Cons:
      1. width is stretched (big concern), golfer would be worried about the swing hitting TV or audio equipment. I am willing to consider shrinking the bathroom by reducing it to a half bath only if I can get 2 more ft of space.

Thoughts on the layout?

Thanks in advance!

[Brettster]

Hey ri3eboi ,

I would do this option (Option 1):

Lengthwise, impact screen in front of movie screen. LCF + subwoofer behind the movie screen.

1. Pros: sharing projector for golf and movie;
2. Cons:
   1. Room isn't symmetrical for immersive audio experience. I can add a wall+door to the top entrance to try mitigate.
   2. Very tight on the length, when someone is on the golf sim, no one can sit on the sofa.
   3. Top entrance feels awkward with a 3' faux wall (for audio equipment).
   4. Takes time to convert from sim to movie.

You're option #2 I don't feel is wide enough to accommodate that couch... at 15' wide you would lose a lot of space to TV (behind the golfer) and couch (in front of golfer) and it would just not look right or be strange using it as a Sim.

I would place the couch at the wall 'down-the-line' to the golfer, or turn it when you are watching movies... It's not likely you will ever be doing both (theatre/golf sim) at the same time. Immersive Audio, is possible, you would be surprised at how much a small subwoofer, center sound bar, and 2 small back speakers (surround) add [see below]. Convert from one to other, not a big deal, and you might not do it as much as you think.

You can have a look at my Sim Shed Build where I did something similar - even installing Surround Sound Audio with Sound Bar behind my Impact Screen, Subwoofer on floor behind golfer so not in sight when swinging and very small, 2 small speakers on wall where Projector is, using this inexpensive Vizio Sound Bar:

https://tinyurl.com/Vizio51SurroundBar

If you have amps/wattage to burn, these other Sound bars may be a better choice:

https://tinyurl.com/Sonos-Soundbar-MoviesTVMusic

or:

https://tinyurl.com/Sonos-Soundbar-TVMoviesMusic

Note, the Vizio 5.1 Surround Bar does not have a lot of power/wattage and can only get 'so loud', but it's still 'loud enough' for a small 12'x16' room in my case. Also, I had a limitation on how much Amp Draw I could use, I'm on a 110V single circuit/fuse (15amps) for the entire Simulator. I also have a Mini-Split for heating/cooling, lighting, and computer equipment and hope to add a small treadmill in the space. Try one of the others if you want it loud!

Here's a link to my Sim Build thread post where I show the Sound Bar being installed:
https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...497#post367497

Good luck - let us know how it turns out, with pics
-Brett

[ri3eboi]

Thanks Brett! Really appreciate your feedback. Also went over your post, appreciate you sharing your DIY journey with strangers on the internet, hope you have been enjoying the finished product, would love to see photos of the finished setup!

On my setup, what if I removed the bathroom, which will give me 20' of width. Would Option 2 be a no brainer?

[ri3eboi]

Played around with the overall layout of the room, shrinked the bathroom by 2 ft and converted it to a half bath. Two options: 1) additional width to 13'9", which feels generous, thoughts? or 2) 2 ft of path behind the couch for convenience and also for rear surround speaker placement for more immersive audio experience. thoughts?

[Brettster]

2' of path you will find very minimal, not likely to give you enough room for a.) path behind couch, or b.) rear surround speaker... I still feel your best option is to use the room with the longest length as your setup, move the couch to the rear of the room - you can buy satellite surround speakers and mount them on pole stands behind the couch (with only 3" probably), or on shelves.. Look at my post again, mine mount directly to the back wall, so need no space back there...

Believe me 13'9" is still way too narrow for what you want to do... I'm at 11'5" and another 2' would not make much difference at all... only for others standing over there, if there was a stairwell landing, that's about it...

[Scottygolf]

Can you wrap the stairs so you can put a full bath in the upper right corner?

[ri3eboi]

Can you wrap the stairs so you can put a full bath in the upper right corner?

That's an interesting idea, however I am not sure how that's going to help with getting more usable space or having more symmetry. Can you elaborate a bit more?

[Scottygolf]

If you are able to wrap the stairs it leave room for a full bathroom vs just the toilet. I am thinking resale and practicality purposes if it was my home. Otherwise it seems like wasted space which could have been used. From the drawings it looks like you want one direction is golf, the other is movie? Why not use it one direction for both? Put the seating on the back side of the 13ft section and come up with a screen that works for both or drops down for movies. My 2 cents but that easy when it is someone else's budget! Does look like a fun project. Good luck

[Stetson]

Depending on where he is in the construction process that is likely not feasible. Moving those stairs changes the landing on the floor up above, moving load bearing walls, roof lines, etc. If he is at a stage he could move the stairs then he is also at a stage he could widen the room to 16', but it seems as though it is too late for either of those options.

[Scottygolf]

ah, good point.

[adilgolf]

Option 3 ? using same screen for both golf and home theatre ...