Golfzon Social To Open First Two Simulator Locations In New York Market In Early 2023

More than 5,000 golf simulator locations in South Korea use Golfzon technology, fueling a market in which more rounds of golf are being played away from courses than on them. And while Golfzon’s North America division has been making inroads in the U.S. market in recent years, the company is taking a different approach for additional growth than it has employed in South Korea.

Leaning into the popular golf entertainment movement, Golfzon has partnered with Troon, the world’s leading golf management company, to launch new state-of-the-art indoor golf entertainment venues called Golfzon Social. The first two locations will open in early 2023 just outside New York City. They will have Golfzon’s most technologically advanced simulators – in 16 and 22 bays, respectively – along with what the company says is a “new standard in social eatertainment” that attracts both non-golfers and avid golfers by combining socializing, dining and golf.

Golfzon Social aims to deliver an energetic sports bar-like atmosphere that features a chef-driven menu, hand-crafted cocktails, local craft beers and a curated wine list. There’s also league and tournament play that allows golfers from around the world to compete virtually, while the venues will have a resident PGA Professional available for guidance and lessons year-round.

“According to the National Golf Foundation, the number of players who enjoy the game at off-course venues is now nearly 25 million, and it is a trend that is especially popular among young professionals,” says Tommy Lim, the CEO of Golfzon North America. “Golfzon Social is the perfect vehicle to service this large and growing population.”

The first Golfzon Social location will open in January 2023 at the Palisades Center mall in West Nyack, New York. Built with a modern look and feel, the facility will feature 22 TwoVision simulator bays along with a full bar, food truck style dining and flat screen televisions throughout.

In March 2023, Golfzon Social is scheduled to open its second location in Scarsdale, New York, with 16 simulator bays surrounding a central bar and dining area.

Golfzon’s TwoVision simulator system, unveiled earlier this year, features high-speed sensors that capture club head and ball flight data for realistic performance feedback. A 24-way directional moving swing plate recreates true stand and lie conditions, while there’s also an auto-tee and ball retrieval system, a virtual caddie to give players advice, and multi-surface mats to imitate fairway, rough and bunkers. The system’s graphics are 130% crisper than previous generations, plus there’s an LED putting guide to read greens.

In addition to the combination of Golfzon’s cutting-edge simulator technology and a higher-end food and beverage experience, the partnership with Troon is key differentiator within the commercial indoor simulator space. Troon, a leader in both the golf management and F&B space, announced the strategic partnership with Golfzon just over a year ago. Over the coming years, more Golfzon Social locations will be rolled out in multiple cities across North America.

“The marriage of a best-in-class food and beverage experience with Golfzon’s state-of-the-art technology will ensure the creation of a special place where people can come together to play, compete, socialize, and most importantly, have fun,” said Troon President and CEO Tim Schantz. “These two new gathering spots are unlike anything else in the region. We look forward to bringing Golfzon Social to many other cities in the near future.”

Troon is managing all aspects of the new venues, including pre-opening development work and project management, guest service and golf instruction, and food & beverage operations. Golfzon, which currently has its simulator technology in about 75 commercial locations in the U.S., will provide and service the latest golf simulators. The company had more than 76 million rounds of simulated golf played in 2021 at more than 6,200 sites in 62 countries worldwide.