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Technology
New Age Golf
The future is now
by MICHAEL J . STOTT
hile viewing the second Tomorrow ’ s
Golf League telecast , Ryder Cup and Boston Common captain Keegan Bradley commented , “ We ’ re inventing a brand-new game . In 15 years , it will be mainstream .”
Note to Keegan : It ’ s already here . In South Korea , simulator golf is booming . The country is home to 600 green-grass courses and two professional simulator leagues . GOLFZON , founded in 2000 and one of world ’ s largest simulator providers , operates 6,500 locations in South Korea alone . Globally , the company boasts more than 5.5 million registered members playing on more than 47,000 simulators at 9,449 sites across 41 countries — logging more than 90 million rounds per year .
GOLFZON Expands in the U . S .
U . S . GOLFZON operations began in 2016 , supplying entrepreneurs and homeowners with cutting-edge golf simulator technology . Its first company-owned location , zStrict at Chelsea Piers , opened in Stamford , Connecticut , in partnership with Troon , in November 2019 . Leading this expansion is CEO Sean Pyun , a 16-year LPGA operations veteran .
As of March , more than 200 businesses nationwide featured GOLFZON technology , including three in Virginia ( Centreville , Tysons and Leesburg ). Five more locations ( Reston , Salem , Washington , D . C ., and two more in the DMV area ) are expected to open by year ’ s end .
Already a mainstay in South Korea , simulator golf has found a footprint in the U . S . At right , Team Envy celebrates winning in inaugural GOLFZON Tour title .
Why Virginia ? When selecting a U . S . headquarters , former CEO Tommy Lim commissioned three location surveys . All three research firms recommended Minneapolis , but Lim dismissed it as “ too cold .” Instead , he chose Chantilly , Virginia , for its proximity to existing business in the Northeast and convenient transportation access across the U . S .
Building Out
“ Initially , people started to play simulator golf because outdoor golf wasn ’ t accessible ,” Pyun says , explaining that once players try it , they recognize its entertainment value and keep coming back . “ That ’ s what ’ s happened in Korea , Canada and now in the United States . The mindset toward simulators is changing . We see a lot of women and kids coming to our facility — it ’ s a very inclusive environment .
“ In short , the indoor golf industry is alive and well ,” he continues .
Simulator users typically fall into two categories — those focused on instruction and those seeking entertainment . GOLF- ZON caters to both with its Vision line
of simulators designed for gameplay and GDR simulators tailored for practice and instruction . Regarding the former , Stuart Lindsay of Edgehill Golf Advisors affirms , “ Simulators provide instant feedback and validation . That ’ s their beauty .”
The Full Monty
On a cold Monday in January , your faithful scribe visited suburban Centreville , home to the No . 1 Golf Lounge . In October of 2023 , the building was transformed from an educational center into a bar , restaurant and golf practice and entertainment venue . Inside , GOLFZON GDR Plus driving ranges and Vision Plus entertainment bays feature simulator software that lets users play golf online with others around the world . Both options utilize GOLFZON ’ s auto-tee and ball retrieval system , advanced high speed camera sensors , five practice modes and various game formats .
Upon entering , I was met by the sound of balls driven as men and women analyzed their stance , grip and footwork , all while reviewing flashing analytics for potential game improvements . What I witnessed
COURTESY GOLFZON
10 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / APRIL 2025 vsga . org