Simulator Popularity Continues To Alter Definition Of Golf

Golfzon had the largest booth of any simulator brand at the PGA Merchandise Show last week in Orlando. Photo: Courtesy Golfzon

ORLANDO, FLORIDA | Last week’s PGA Show lacked many of its longtime participants. Titleist, Callaway, Ping and others were noticeably absent due to COVID-19 circumstances, so the energy at Orange County Convention Center was bound to funnel elsewhere.

Where were the crowds? You could find them consistently huddled around the ever-growing number of simulators present at the show.

It wasn’t a surprise. The off-course-only golf crowd reached 12.4 million in the U.S. last year – almost exactly the same as the on-course-only crowd, which is at 12.6 million. The primary reason for the increase is attributed to a growing popularity in simulators, especially of the at-home and commercial stand-alone business variety. The simulator game began in earnest when TrackMan was formed back in 2003, but the past two years have meant more to the ...