The Inside Takeaway
This story appeared in the Winter 2024 Issue of New Jersey Golf. To read more from this issue click here.
Golf comes in all shapes and sizes. Public courses, private clubs, pitch and putts and full-length par-threes, driving ranges, indoor simulators – you name it. With the recent spike in golf participation, indoor golf facilities have also become desired location for golfers to get their fix during the winter months and beyond.
Though the weather is becoming chillier and that third layer still may not cut it, there’s no need to clear a corner of the basement for the golf bag anymore. Chances to tee it up are plentiful at indoor facilities spread across the state. Some indoor facilities double as entertainment venue, where you can eat, drink while satisfying that desire to swing the club. Others focus on the player development aspect, catering to the mind and body. These spots might offer lessons from professionals, physical therapy, recovery and more.
The golf landscape has evolved since the 2020 golf surge, as new and innovative ways for men and women to be introduced into the game have come online. The non-traditional golf community is expanding. The off-course golfer has become almost as prevalent as the on-course individual.
“When we opened a couple of years ago, I was having a lot of people coming in here that had just started golf because of COVID,” said Tom Brewer, owner and general manager of Tee2Green in West Long Branch. “They've never had a lesson, club fitting, or other golf experiences before – it was a lot of beginners. To see someone who comes in for their first lesson and they're shooting 130 to two years later and that same person's coming in saying, ‘Hey, I broke 90 for the first time’ – that gives me as an owner, a GM and a golf professional, a lot of work satisfaction.”
According to a report from the National Golf Foundation, an estimated 6.2 million Americans hit golf balls in golf simulators in 2023, a total that’s surged by 73% compared to pre-pandemic levels. In 2019 and years prior, simulator participation had hovered just under 4 million.
The dramatic growth is thanks in part to improved technology (in terms of both software and hardware) and lower startup costs for simulator entrepreneurs. With over 50 indoor golf facilities in New Jersey to choose from (see table), Garden State golfers have the ability to banish winter entirely.
Non-traditional golf is becoming so popular that Tiger Woods is introducing Tomorrow’s Golf League or TGL – a new indoor golf league, combining advanced technology with teams of top players from the PGA TOUR for two-hour weekly competitions in prime time starting in January 2025.
Top PGA TOUR players will be competing at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida over several months to give the golf world an uncommon competitive glimpse into the sport.
“I think we're at the beginning of this movement,” Brewer commented.
“It's taking off compared to where it was a couple years ago. With the TGL being televised this January, I think that's going to be another huge kick starter for the entire industry. People seeing Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy hitting into screens and off of mats, seeing the technology, seeing the spin rates and understand that everyone on tour has one of these machines in their homes. When they're not hitting balls or it's rainy or it's cold, they're on these machines and they're using them to get better, too.”
We’ve seen these avenues become more mainstream. With golf in an exciting spot, it’s growing faster than ever with people from diverse groups getting introduced to the sport.
“It gives you access to hit golf balls in a climate-controlled setting,” added Brewer. “If you're looking to play golf, one person can play a round of golf in about 45 minutes. It's very time saving. A regular round can take up to five hours out of your day, whereas indoor, you can be in and out in an hour, get the same amount of swings in, and sort of get the feel of playing golf as opposed to hitting ball after ball after ball at a range.”
Top of the line technology is often available at an affordable price. Instead of a hefty greens fee, golfers can spend significantly less, while still being afforded the opportunity to potentially play Pebble Beach – just virtual.
With mortgage rates and housing costs are climbing, for many, financial room for rounds has become slim. The category of young adults (18-34 year olds) is the sport's biggest customer age segment – and 5 .8 million are off-course only participants.
Like many private clubs and courses, there are indoor golf facilities that offer leagues. Again, options are ample when it comes to what game you’re playing and with whom.
Whether you’re going out with some friends for drinks and to knock a few around, or a 16-handicapper looking to shave a few strokes before the start of next season, there’s a place for everyone at indoor golf facilities.
MORRIS COUNTY
GolfCave – Randolph
The Golf Zone – Flanders
19th Hole Wine & Whiskey Bar – Flanders
1776 by David Burke – Morristown
All Seasons Golf & Social Club – Cedar Knolls
Florham Park Golf Club – Florham Park
Chatham Indoor Golf Club – Chatham
X-Golf – Denville
The Back Nine Golf – Pompton Plains
The Eagle Club – Chester
OCEAN COUNTY
Adventure Golf & Entertainment – Jackson
The Dome – Jackson
Golf Kings NJ – Brick, Wall, Toms River
Manchester Family Golf Center – Manchester
3G Golf – Point Pleasant
ESSEX COUNTY
Greens Indoor Golf – Maplewood
Paradise Golf Club – Verona
The Clubhouse – Fairfield
Montclair Indoor Golf Club – Montclair
OnX Golf/Essex Golf Center – Roseland
Millburn Indoor Golf Club – Millburn
MERCER COUNTY
Endless 18 Indoor Golf Simulator – Lawrenceville
UNION COUNTY
GolfCave – Clark, New Providence
Chip and Birdie’s - Mountainside
Cranford Golf Studio – Cranford
MONMOUTH COUNTY
GolfCave – Eatontown
The Golf Den – Red Bank
Swing Loose Indoor Golf – Holmdel
Coast Golf – Manasquan
The 10th Hole – Ocean Township
Tee2Green – West Long Branch
Baseline Social – Oceanport
Golf Republic - Matawan
SOMERSET COUNTY
GolfCave – Green Brook
Par2Play – Franklin Township
BURLINGTON COUNTY
GolfCave – Marlton
Social Lounge 365 – Mount Laurel
All In One Golf Academy – Mount Holly
Dogleg Golf – Cinnaminson
HUDSON COUNTY
Hudson Golf – Hoboken
Play! Hoboken – Hoboken
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Raritan Ridge Golf – Middlesex
BERGEN COUNTY
Golfzon Range by Leadbetter – Little Ferry
Go Low Indoor Golf – Paramus
The Players Club – Paramus
RTG Ready to Golf – River Edge
Rodeo Plaza Screen Golf – Palisades Park
21 Golf Range Powered by Toptracer – Palisades Park
West End Golf Club – Rutherford
Edge Golf – Edgewater
Under Par – Northvale
9 Degree Golf – Fort Lee
IDG Club Golf & Cafe – Lodi
SUSSEX COUNTY
Tee Performance – Sandyston
The Green 973 – Sparta
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