Owner Andrew Scott demonstrates how to hit the ball into the oversized impact screens that absorb shots and then provide statistics.
By Kathryn Stocks
There’s a new game in town and it looks like it’s a lot of fun! It’s called Gamer Golf and it’s located in the former Beer Store in Centennial Plaza. Gamer Golf is a family-friendly golf simulator facility owned and run by Andrew Scott, who grew up and went to school in our area. His parents still live in the community.
After university, Andrew became an accountant and was employed in that field for 11 years. But he said he “always loved golf” and when his two kids were really young and they went to bed at night, he’d go out to play golf at a simulator he found in the west end.
More than four years ago he opened his first simulator facility on O’Connor Dive in East York. It’s done quite well, so he recently opened his second Gamer Golf in our community. Andrew started working on it in January, and he and a staff member did most of the inside construction themselves. “It was a huge construction job,” he said.
The facility opened this summer and it’s ideal for anyone who wants to hit golf balls on a range or play a full round on a virtual course. You can also join a league or take lessons from a pro. Children are welcome as long as they’re accompanied by an adult.
There are nine simulator bays with enormous screens that portray a fairway. Golfers hit off mats that replicate fairways into oversized impact screens that absorb shots. When your ball hits the screen, a box on the side shows the distance of the hit, your club speed, ball speed and other useful statistics. Up to four people can play at each bay.
Eight of those bays have the same software, while the ninth bay has an upgraded version called TrackMan iO that is best for lessons and serious practice. “If you’ve got your numbers, you know what’s going on,” said Stephen Buehler who practices there every day. He said it’s a great workout and it has dramatically improved his game.
TrackMan is popular with kids under 10 because it has games on it. “Once they can hit the ball,” Andrew said, “they’re better off on the other bays because the courses are easier to navigate.” There are more than 100 courses on eight of the bays and 300 courses on the TrackMan.
With his other location, Andrew has found that business picks up when courses close for the winter. He expects things will pick up in November. “We’re waiting for a liquor licence,” Andrew said, “which we hope will be in place for the start of the busy season.”
Prices range from $17 an hour to $25 an hour plus HST and they will increase slightly in November. For more information on this cool new facility, see gamergolf.ca. And drop by when you’re in the plaza just to see how Andrew has transformed the former Beer Store. You won’t recognize it!