The Surge of Indoor Golf in Urban Landscapes #

Within walking distance from a Brooklyn apartment, two indoor golf simulators have sprung up. These facilities emulate famous golf courses and provide detailed metrics on every swing. Not far, Golfzon Social offers additional amenities like Tater Tots with bacon and sits beneath a luxury condominium, contrasting a nearby social services agency.

Indoor golf venues have proliferated over recent years, spurred by heightened interest in the sport during the pandemic. A record 3.4 million individuals tried golf for the first time on a course in 2023. In New York, post-pandemic vacancies in office and retail space created opportunities for innovative uses, with spaces formerly occupied by traditional businesses like the Mattress Firm now hosting golf simulators.

Despite local desires for stores like specialty food shops, economic realities have shifted neighborhood landscapes towards chains and med spas, as smaller-scale enterprises find it difficult to manage high rents. In Brooklyn Heights, instead of butcheries or fish stores, a private-equity-backed veterinary chain opened.

The simulation golf company, Five Iron, is expanding nationwide and has several locations throughout New York City. At an established outpost in Herald Square, mid-afternoon visitors crowd the venue, preferring short visits to spend hours on a traditional course. The venue accommodates various events, including team-building and social gatherings.

New York’s commercial landscape once dominated by bank branches and drugstore chains is transforming. The indoor golf model is capitalizing on this shift, poised to become increasingly popular. January’s debut of the Golf League, where professionals compete on simulators for TV audiences, marks another evolution as golf becomes more integrated into urban life.

One business owner recognized the unmet demand for outdoor-like golf experiences in cities. Offering membership opportunities, these spaces differ from chains by focusing less on social aspects and more on the sport itself. For some, playing simulated golf provides a remedy to deteriorating skills, all within easy reach of urban amenities, like a nearby Tesla showroom.