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When you own a home, you have the luxury of designing your interior exactly as you see fit. You can pick out the colors of the walls, give it a feel that you like and create an atmosphere you’re excited to come home to at the end of every day. You even have the option of turning whole areas of your home into specific areas designated for activities or ambiances.
One way you can customize your home is to create a man cave — a classic staple of American architecture that emphasizes all the great things about being a guy. Beer fridges, theatre seats, a mahogany bar and whiskey glasses sitting patiently behind glass. The best thing about a man cave is that there are no limits to how far you can go — your imagination (and your budget, of course) is the only limit.
If you’re a golf lover, you can make this space into a golfer’s dream, adding everything that replicates a day out on the course. When the weather turns cold, you can head to your cave and work on your game, even if there’s a blizzard going on outside. Today, it can actually feel like you’re out on the course. Golf simulators make this experience as real and as effective as possible, allowing you to step into the game and play from the convenience of your home.
Looking for a way to bring your dream golf simulator man cave into reality? We’ve got you covered. Here are the ten steps to designing the ultimate golf simulator man cave.
1. Choose Your Location
The first thing you’ll want to do is figure out where you’re going to be installing your man cave. The basement is a great area for it, especially if you already have a refinished space that has some of the features you need — couches, love seats, a bar, etc. Then all you need to look for is the simulator and maybe some other add-ons to make it truly feel like a golf man cave. Other places to consider are your garage or even an outdoor/indoor area in an addition on your home.
Just be sure to designate an area so you can start imagining how it’s going to look in the future.
2. Make a Budget
Making a budget will help you stay organized and put some parameters around your project. It can be easy to start seeing those dollar signs start to multiply as you go in on designing your ultimate golf simulator man cave. Be sure to think about everything you’ll need, write it down, and then check out some of the prices online to see the ballpark you’re in. From there, you can prioritize the items you want to spend big bucks on. You may be more willing to get a really high-quality golf simulator, for instance, while you could be looking to save on furniture.
3. Measure Your Space
Take time to accurately measure the space you’re intending to put your golf simulator man cave. If you can, try to draw out a blueprint for how you want the area to look and get exact measurements so that you’ll know what to shop for.
4. Identify What You Want
This may be one of the hardest parts of the process — figuring out exactly what you want in your golf man cave. You can always add on once you get the fundamentals in. Here are the likely staples you need to build the ultimate golf simulator man cave:
- Golf Simulator
- Furniture
- Turf
- Bar
- Lighting
Again, this is just a starter list — your list will look much different depending on the image you have for your design and how much you’re money willing to put into it. Just make sure you have a good visual of what you’re looking for as you start the design process.
5. Pick a Theme
Though it’s not mandatory, it can be really helpful to pick an overall theme for your golf simulator man cave. Obviously, golf can be the theme, but how do you want it to feel when you want to walk into this room? Is it dimmer, cool and revered like a round at the Old Course at St. Andrews? Or is bright and sunny like a day out on Pebble Beach? The more detail you’re able to put into this, the more you’ll be able to create something really awesome that you can show off to friends and family.
6. Find the Right Simulator
Once you’ve got your overall layout picked out, it’s time to start getting down to the details. You’ll want to focus a lot of your time on the main focus of your man cave — the golf simulator. Golf simulator prices can vary widely based on the quality of the simulator and the type you get. Here are some options to be aware of as you start shopping.
Budget Simulators
Budget golf simulators are those that you’ll find under $5,000. Though you won’t be getting top-of-the-line products, you can still find some very good simulators here that can be perfect for your golf man cave. The OptiShot 2 Golf Simulator is a great bargain simulator that lets you hit off a turf mat and then track your ball on a compatible device. It’s one of the most affordable ways to play golf from the comfort of your own home. Just be sure to invest in a net so you’re not putting any holes in the wall.
Mid-Level Simulators
To take your golf man cave to the next level, consider opting for pricier simulators — these will range between $5,000 to $10,000. Here, you’ll be able to find simulators with theatre-like screens that track your ball live after you hit it. You’ll be able to watch it fly through the air and bounce as if you’re playing on a real course.
High-Quality Golf Simulators
If you’re looking to go all out, then don’t waste any time — jump right to the top of the heap and check out the coolest and sleekest golf simulators on the market. At this level, we’re talking commercial-level golf simulators that offer a beautiful display and a variety of different ball tracking technologies that can give you stats like ball spin and swing speed. Every year golf simulators get better, so at this high-end tier, you’ll be able to find something that truly impresses.
7. Add a Putting Green
Why stop at a golf simulator? Invest in an indoor putting green so that when you’re buddy is busy on the simulator, you can practice your putting stroke. You’ll be able to find all different types of indoor putting greens on the market, from simple sets to legitimate putting greens that you can walk over. Take a look around to see what would fit your personal golf simulator man cave.
8. Put In a Bar
A golf simulator man cave just wouldn’t be complete without a bar to match. Invest in an elegant, climate controlled bar to store all your beverages for when you have people over. You can go as neat as you want or find a rich, mahogany bar that really suits your man cave. Then find some whiskey glasses and have them ready for when you have your big opening party. Few things are better in life than a few good drinks and a night spent on the golf simulator.
9. Furnish
You can’t forget the furniture. Be sure to find some nice couches, chairs and barstools so people can relax and watch you tee off.
10. Think About Lighting
You’ll also want to consider the lighting of your man cave. As was mentioned earlier, it’s important to go for a certain feel in this area, whether it’s the sunny shores of Pebble Beach or the shadowy coast of St. Andrews. Lighting can have a huge effect on the overall feel of your man cave. Think about adding in dimmers, hanging lights or even various colors so that you can craft the perfect atmosphere.
Designing a Golf Simulator Man Cave: The Bottom Line
Enjoy the experience of designing your very own golf simulator man cave. While actually having one is one thing, the process of designing it is very exciting. Just be sure to take your time throughout the process and invest in quality products so that you can be happy with the finished look.