Champions Gate Indoor Golf

It’s not every day you get the chance to play Pebble Beach without being in California — unless you pick up today’s feature: $10 for One Hour of Simulator Golf at Champions Gate Indoor Golf in Grand Rapids ($40 Value. Expires March 31, 2011.)

Champions Gate Indoor Golf is one of the most complete indoor facilities in West Michigan, with everything from a putting green and short game area to a pro shop with both new and used equipment. The staff can set you up with clubs to fit your game, and in the event that the club was not the problem, be sure to ask about the PGA-certified lessons available here all winter. They can also set you up with one of the weekly simulator leagues. And you don't have to worry about going hungry during your stay here — neighboring restaurants deliver daily to make sure you're ready for the tee without feeling famished.

We have all heard about the simulated golf experience. But you probably wonder, how realistic could it be? The only way to know for sure is to try it, and today is your lucky day. To put your mind at ease right away: Yes, it is the next best thing to actually being out on the course in person (and if you hate waiting for the slow group in front of you to line up their fourth putt, it may be even better). What does one hour on the simulator get you? Each voucher is good for 1 hour on the simulator. If you have four friends with four vouchers you will have four hours to play as many holes as you would like. Typically one player will play eighteen holes in an hour with four players taking about four hours depending on how much eating and drinking goes on between shots.

With the TruGolf golf simulator at Champions Gate Indoor Golf, your usual foursome can enjoy a round of golf regardless of how cold that Michigan weather gets. However, while you may be able to escape the weather outside, there will be no escaping those dreaded snap-hooks or push-slices because TruGolf is as close to real as it gets. Each simulator features the E6Golf software and comes with over 70 courses to choose including courses like Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. The club-head and ball-tracking technology will give an honest evaluation of your every shot, meaning you'll live both the highs and the lows. Speaking of lows, one consolation for your worst shots: No need to search for your golf ball in the woods, only to find it kicked out into the fairway 20 minutes later. The tracking software and launch monitors will quickly tell you your swing speed and all other critical information that makes your ball travel from point A to B. This information is crucial to player development and is something everybody should know, so why not learn it while you’re playing indoors?