$5k Budget | Golf Simulator Room Challenge Series

Did you just lose a big bet to some friends on the golf course last week, leaving you broke but wanting to improve your golf game? Or maybe you’ve worked hard to save up thousands of dollars for a golf simulator room, but don’t want to spend all that hard-earned cash on a pricey setup.

No matter the budget, if you’re interested in a golf simulator setup, the Carl’s Place team has you covered.

We challenged several of our team members to build a golf simulator room with $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000. They had to pick a golf simulator enclosure, impact screen, a launch monitor, simulator software, projector and hitting mat. If they had any leftover money, they threw in some extra accessories for their room.

Below is what they came up with for a budget of $5,000.

Our team members agreed on a couple different products in this price range: the SkyTrak launch monitor and TrueStrike Static Golf Mat. The FlightScope Mevo+ launch monitor is also a great affordable option at nearly the same price as the SkyTrak, while the Garmin Approach R10 is an even more budget friendly option.

The Carl’s Place Hitting Mat is also an inexpensive option that could save you a few bucks to upgrade elsewhere. 

“Affordable, good battery life, no space requirements, good software integration available and I can use it with my iPhone,” Carl’s Place Customer Service Representative Ashley said about the SkyTrak.

Carl’s Place Product Specialist Tim said he believes the hitting mat is the most important part of the set up.

“If you get a cheap one, it’s possible that it will shift when you swing, cause you to have pain after you hit on it for a while, and provide an unrealistic experience,” Tim said. “The TrueStrike mats are high quality and I have not had any of these issues when using one. It is heavy enough that it won’t move when you swing. The gel hitting area gives the most realistic hitting experience out of any mat that I’ve tried, yet there is enough cushion there that it doesn’t cause wrist/elbow pain that you would experience with a cheaper mat.

Our team members were close to or went just slightly over the budget limit, but must have had some extra change in the piggy bank to cover the extra cost.

CARL'S TIP: On a serious budget? Carl's clearance page might have some of the equipment you're looking for at an even better price. 

Tim, Carl’s Place Product Specialist

• Carl’s Place DIY Enclosure 7.7×10 feet: It is a budget-friendly enclosure, but will still give you enough room to hit into. The 4:3 aspect ratio will help to maximize the height so you will feel more comfortable. See Pricing

• Carl’s Place Standard Impact Screen: The standard screen is the lowest priced option available. It won’t give you the best image quality, but will still be able to handle any shot that you can take. Over time you might want to consider saving up to replace it with a preferred or premium, but for this budget, standard is your best bet. Cost included with enclosure.

• SkyTrak Launch Monitor: It is a lower cost option than a lot of other launch monitors, but it provides some of the best feedback. It is portable so you can use it indoors or out on the range to help improve your game. See Pricing

• TGC 2019 Software: It is a one time purchase, so you don’t need to worry about renewing a subscription every year and has the best selection of courses of any of the software we’ve tried. The graphics are great. See Pricing

• Optoma GT2000HDR Projector: This is one of the most popular options for projectors in simulators, and with good reason. It is low cost and provides great image quality. It has a shorter throw distance so it is easier to fit into an area where you might be limited on space. See Pricing

• TrueStrike Static Hitting Mat: In my opinion, the hitting mat is the most important part of the set up. If you get a cheap one it’s possible that it will shift when you swing, cause you to have pain after you hit on it for a while, and provide an unrealistic experience. The TrueStrike mats are high quality and I have not had any of these issues when using one. It is heavy enough that it won’t move when you swing. The gel hitting area gives the most realistic hitting experience out of any mat that I’ve tried, yet there is enough cushion there that it doesn’t cause wrist/elbow pain that you would experience with a cheaper mat. See Pricing

• Accessories: none, unfortunately my budget is maxed out.

• Total cost: Just over $5,000

Ashley, Carl’s Place Customer Service Representative

• Carl’s Place DIY Enclosure 9x12x5 feet: I chose this so I can get more accessories. It’s a fairly common aspect ratio and provides more height to work with. See Pricing

• Carl’s Place Premium Impact Screen: Premium has the smoothest surface which results in a crisp projected image. Price included with enclosure.

• SkyTrak Launch Monitor: Affordable, good battery life, no space requirements, good software integration available (E6/TGC), and can use it with my iPhone. See Pricing

• SkyTrak Tee Off Software Package and Metal Case: Includes courses, challenges, skills assessments specifically for use with unit. See Pricing

• Optoma GT2000HDR Projector: It’s a short throw, has 3,800 lumens and 8.4ms response time to ensure blur-free visuals with no lag. See Pricing

• Country Club Elite 4x5 Mat: Perfect for one person. I will NOT be inviting any of my friends over. See Pricing

• Accessories: Projector mount. 

• Total cost: Just about $5,000

Jesse, Carl’s Place Product Designer

• Carl’s Place DIY 7.7×10×5 feet: A DIY enclosure tends to be a little more affordable and easier to assemble alone. It’s easy to move around and materials are a bit cheaper. See Pricing

• Carl’s Place Premium Impact Screen: I like that this triple layered material helps with sound. Price included with enclosure.

• SkyTrak Launch Monitor: Easy to set up, user friendly, and portable. You can take it with you the course if you want feedback on your swing. See Pricing

• SkyTrak software that comes with the launch monitor: I’d maybe look at an upgrade to TGC 2019 for $950. TGC has thousands of courses, even local courses added by users. 

• BenQ TH671ST Projector: a great projector with a clear image and vibrant colors. Doesn’t break the bank. See Pricing

• Carl's Place Hitting Mat (4'x5'): I'm going to be slightly over the $5,000 mark, so I'm going with a great, budget friendly hitting mat that is soft to take care of your joints and feels like you're hitting off of a real fairway. See Pricing

• Accessories: None. 
• Total cost: Just under $5,000

As you can see, there are a number of ways to build a nice golf simulator setup for around $5,000. Every aspect of a simulator setup has several high quality options with many different prices, allowing you to be flexible when choosing what you want in your simulator.

Need help designing and choosing the pieces to make up your simulator? Our Carl’s Place custom golf simulator design service can help!

Note: Prices might have changed since the publication of this article in 2021.