With two world-class golf courses and more to come, Promontory, a family-friendly, luxury second-home community, is just getting started. The 7,500-acre-property overlooking historic Park City, Utah, is about to install a state-of-the-art golf simulator that will let golfers play year-round.
“It is our mission to give our members the ultimate golf experience,” says Steve Hupe, director of golf at Promontory.
The simulator will allow golfers to “play” in any kind of weather and to choose one of 60 famous real courses from around the globe.
How does it work?
Set in an 18-foot bay with a 10-foot high screen, golfers use real clubs – woods, irons, wedges, and putters – and regular golf balls to simulate play at St. Andrews, the 600-year old course in Scotland; Pebble Beach in California, which Golf Digest ranked the number one course in America; or Pinehurst in North Carolina, the site of the 2014 U.S. Open—to name only a few of the 60 locations available. “You bring up the course you want to play, and you go hole-by-hole,” says Hupe. The system monitors the trajectory and speed of the ball as well as club head speed and face angle. By using a high-speed infrared sensor and a series of algorithms, the software system extrapolates all the information to show the golfer how far the ball has gone and its location relative to the hole. The display screen will show instantly what there is left.
“This technology is getting so sophisticated that you can even change the elevation to match the course you’re playing on,” says Hupe. The simulator gives the option to play in the morning or afternoon – and in turn will adjust the amount of light. It also gives the choice of mild or no wind and fast or slow greens.
What are the advantages?
According to Hupe, Promontory’s regular golf season begins in May and closes in October. The simulator allows play throughout the year. As in a real game, there is a choice of playing a single, twosome, or foursome. Generally, the simulated course takes about an hour-and-a-half to complete – certainly a lot quicker than actually walking 18 holes, which can take as long as four hours. Furthermore, the simulator provides Promontory the opportunity to offer golf lessons year-round – with the feeling of a course rather than a driving range or putting green. Promontory is one of the select few places that owns such an extensive system. While the cost of The Tru Golf system is substantial, it stands apart from its competitors with its range of courses and realistic images. Tru Golf is also the only company that offers an option to digitize a particular course. So, in the future, Promontory’s own world-class courses may be simulated and added to the play options. “It’s the new ‘in’ thing to do,” says Berniece Wiley, Tru Golf’s Director of Sales and Marketing.
In addition to the simulator, Promontory has also purchased a video analysis equipment. Set in a bay next to the simulator, this unit will allow members or a golf pro to break down the mechanics of their swing. Using a super-slow motion setting, the golfer can view his or her swing one inch at a time. The video analysis has its own bay, but the equipment may be used in conjunction with the simulator – another invaluable benefit of the new systems. It also has the ability to be customized to the club and to give lessons.