Indoor Golf is in FULL SWING By David Weiss

For all those of you who were born in the ence today. Indoor Golf has certainly come businesses and consumers worldwide. The 21st century, this may be very difficult to a long way. diverse line of simulators and performance believe: There was a time, not so long ago, products can be customized to fit the needs when smartphones, laptops, and high-tech It was just 27 years ago that Floyd Arnold, of various clientele, including golf profes- video games did not exist. founder of Full Swing Golf, had a vision. sionals, retail businesses, residential com- Little did he know that he would leave his munities, luxury resorts, teaching facilities, Many of us born in the previous century mark, an ever-lasting impression as a true golf centers and homeowners. remember a time when golf was strictly an revolutionary, leading the way in indoor outdoor sport. If you wanted to play or golf technology. The goal of Full Swing Golf simulators is practice, you had a choice of a golf course to provide the best combination of real- or a driving range. Some of us would set up Floyd and his associates developed what ism, game-improvement, competition and those hard-to-assemble net contraptions in the experts call a “true ball-flight measuring entertainment – whether you’re practicing our backyards … and – when the weather device,” the infrared tracking system that to lower your handicap, or playing 18 holes was uncooperative – a few of us were even lies at the heart of the unit. The first of its at Pebble Beach with your friends. There desperate enough to attempt swinging our kind, this unique technology does not infer are a number of simulators to choose from with a variety of options, as well as golf course packages that include 80 champi- onship courses. Among them – Pebble FULL SWing goLF Beach, Oakmont, and The Old Course at

clubs in our living rooms or basements – ball flight statistics from the measurement St. Andrews. There is attention paid to with a trail of broken lamps to prove it. of the club, the swing, or the golfer… every detail, with each tree, bunker, and it measures the ball in flight alone. patch of grass painstakingly placed bring- Sure, golf simulators have been around ing out the nuances that make each legend- for a while – but before the turn of the Applied to each and every Full Swing Golf ary course so unique. century, these simulators could only do so simulator, this remarkable technology much. The graphics were, by today’s stan- could not be matched by anyone and Full As already mentioned, the graphics are dards, flat and two-dimensional. It wasn’t Swing Golf quickly became a revolutionary superb. Full Swing Golf ’s all-new E6 live easy to recognize the holes of champion- contributor and instigator of indoor golf ’s motion software package is the most com- ship courses projected on the screen. The ever-growing popularity and acceptance prehensive and realistic motion graphics flight of the ball was difficult to see, and throughout the golf industry. innovation in the golf simulation industry. the empirical data received by the golfer on Real-time ball flight data is derived from his/her swing was confined to the distance Full Swing Golf is located in San Diego, ball measurements to give the golfer com- of the shot, and not much more than that. California and manufactures and mar- plete control over every shot. Ball flight Compare all of that to what we can experi- kets the leading indoor golf simulator to trajectory, weather and course conditions 12 Golfing Magazine • Long Island / Metro NY Edition FEATURE are all factors we face in the ‘real world,’ high-speed camera measures ball spin golf studio in my new home in Orlando, and each of these elements are precisely characteristics such as back spin, side spin, which I thought I’d only use when it rains, replicated by the Full Swing system. Cad- and spin axis. The camera also captures or at night, or when I’m short on time. My die and elevation views provide all of the extensive club head data such as club speed, simulator is so good and so convenient that I actually practice more INDOORS than I thought I would, regardless of what’s going on outside.”

Whether it be for your business or your home, golf is now truly 24/7 as a new age has dawned in golf simulation. Full Swing Golf simulators has transformed and ener- gized the game for players of all skill levels. Eagle Golf Bay Shore’s Bob Schlageter on Full Swing Golf simulators

“Not being a golfer as I started this venture, I asked several local golf pros who went to the PGA Golf Shows to evaluate and assess the different simulators and equipment for me. I was already leaning toward Full Swing Golf after playing their simulators and information needed, including distance- club path, and club face angle. those from other companies. to-pin, layup yardages, elevation changes, Among the latest innovations: The new wind speed and direction. In terms of Swinguru Pro training system, which “The pros told me Full Swing was the ‘top of the industry.’ I don’t like starting game improvement and feedback, it may combines full-body 3D visualization with new ventures with anything but the actually be BETTER than playing outside simple and interactive feedback for golf best – and so, the choice was clear to on an actual golf course. swing analysis. Swinguru Pro operates us- go with Full Swing Golf simulators. ing a single 3D depth-sensing camera. Among the multitude of options: The “I’ve been very happy with them in Interactive Practice Facility, dedicated You can find Full Swing Golf simulators terms of the choices I had, and the solely to practice, featuring driving, ap- in the private residences of Donald Trump service and support has been tremen- proach shots, uphill, downhill, bump and and Wally Uihlein (CEO of the Acushnet dous. All those who have visited Eagle Golf Bay Shore are thrilled with the run, lob, over trouble, and many more. golf company), in the halls of such distinc- simulators and the many options they The Visual-Feedback system can precisely tive institutions as Princeton University, have to enjoy golf on so many levels.” pinpoint your weaknesses and strengths. Lambeau Field and the Queen Mary 2. Even the President of Kazakhstan, The Contest Capabilities. Each Full Swing King of Saudi Arabia, the Moscow City Golf simulator is equipped with pro- Golf Club, and Caesar’s Palace employ the prietary closest-to-the-pin software and Full Swing Golf simulator. In our neck of Long Drive capabilities. Players can set up the woods, you can find Full Swing Golf individual contests or add these features to simulators at Chelsea Piers in New York a golf scramble or tournament, complete City, and at Eagle Golf in Bay Shore (see with leaderboards. The simulator offers 36 accompanying article on Eagle Golf ). different modes of play, including skins, al- ternate shot, Ryder Cup formats, and more. PGA Tour Champion Ian Poulter is one of many pros who has made the Full Swing As for the technology involved, Full Swing Golf simulator a part of his game. “Life is Golf ’s infrared tracking system actually busy,” says Ian. “It’s tough to juggle a multi- measures the golf ball’s speed, launch angle faceted career with a family and still find and direction instantly. The dedicated time to practice golf. That’s why I built a www.GolfingMagLI.com 13