Inside Golf in the news

From today's Florida Times-Union :

The inside scoop on a cool round

New business brings golf to downtown area with simulators and air-conditioned comfort.

By GARRY SMITS, The Times-Union

Mary O'Donnell doesn't play golf, but she does know how
popular the sport is on the First Coast. She also was of the opinion
that activities in downtown Jacksonville were at a minimum, especially
during weekdays.

"Really, all there is to do is eat and drink,"
said the California native and former employee of the city planning
department. "The new library is certainly nice, but in most big cities,
there are a lot more things to do."

O'Donnell and Sean Steele, director of the American
Golf Tour of Jacksonville, have just added something to the downtown
mix. Last week, they launched Inside Golf, an indoor facility featuring
two computer simulators, two other netted hitting areas, an artificial
putting green and lounge area.

Inside Golf is located on the second floor of an office building at 140 W. Monroe St., near Hemming Plaza.

O'Donnell, the president of Inside Golf, and
Steele, the marketing director, are banking on the fact that more than
a few of the thousands of people who work downtown and play golf will
want to practice or play simulated games during their lunch hours or
just after getting off work. There will be beer, wine and soft drinks
available.

Future plans include merchandise such as golf
apparel and equipment and transportation offered to and from downtown
hotels and the convention center. It's possible to get in nine holes on
simulators within 30 minutes, and 18 holes within an hour. For now,
here's the price structure: $25 for a half-hour and $45 for an hour,
with membership packages available.

Inside Golf is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and by appointment on the weekend.

"We want people to think of this as a virtual
country club," O'Donnell said. "From the golf to the lounge, we offer
many of the same things. The big difference is that they can play golf
in the air conditioning instead of the 90-degree heat."

Inside Golf has been more than nine months in the
planning, since O'Donnell got the idea. Steele came on board earlier
this year with the expertise of running his amateur tour.

"I think I've got a pretty good handle on what
golfers in this area like," Steele said. "We're just trying to give
them what they like an in indoor setting, close to where they work."

The two simulators are likely to be the biggest
draw for the facility. They're among the most realistic currently
available, with one featuring a series of fictional, animated courses
in mountains, seashores and even Scottish layouts. The other simulator
has animated versions of actual courses, such as Pebble Beach.

Using clubs provided by Inside Golf (more equipment
is coming from Lauden Golf) players hit balls off mats, with the swing
path and ball flight measured by sensors in the floor. The balls are
then projected onto the screen, and go flying down plush fairways, or,
in the case of mishits, into rough, water, sand and high grass - just
as in real golf.

After the ball comes to rest following each hit,
players receive information on the screen about how far their carry and
total distance, their clubhead and ball speed, and yardage remaining to
the hole. The simulators also provide ambient sound such as birds
chirping, wind blowing and the sound of balls hitting the water.

The most difficult aspect of playing in the simulators is the short game.

"It can be a little frustrating at first, but it
doesn't take long to get the hang of it," said Terry Wilkins, who tried
his hand last week. "But this is very realistic."

Of course, players have other options. They can hit
balls into a net or putt. The lounge, with easy chairs and a TV, offers
a break.

And the entire facility offers something more to do downtown than wining and dining - such as driving and putting.