SPORTS

Golfers hone game on SentryWorld simulator

Scott A. Williams

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Caleb Enerson checks out his ball flight during a practice session this winter with the help of the Foresight Sports golf simulator installed in close proximity to the indoor practice range at SentryWorld.

STEVENS POINT - Mother Nature continues to play a cruel trick on central Wisconsin golfers.

Fortunately, folks longing to dust off the golf clubs have an option in Stevens Point while cold weather lingers — and even try their luck on virtual simulations of some of the most famous golf courses in the world.

Last summer, SentryWorld purchased a Foresight Sports GC2 golf simulator and installed the video technology adjacent to its indoor range for the winter. Instead of pining away during the never-ending winter, golfers can now spend an afternoon working on their swing without losing a single ball.

On the simulator, individuals can check out their shot on the video screen in front of them. Golfers hit off an artificial turf mat and then get to see the flight of their ball. That means getting to see the extent of the slice, fade, hook or draw, as avid golfer Caleb Enerson observed earlier this winter.

"Everyone that comes and hits (on the simulator) really enjoys it and a lot of them keep coming back," SentryWorld activities manager Joshua Zubke said. "We’ve been getting quite a few return customers. The feedback has been really great.

"Our (indoor) range is awesome. There is really nothing like it around, but you only get 40 yards of ball flight. This gives you the entire ball flight. This is the top simulator on the market. Nothing beats it for swing analysis."

Originally purchased as a teaching and club fitting tool for SentryWorld golf professionals Brian Dumler and Katie Kreuser, the simulator offers programs from 18 different courses from around the world, including a pair of course in the British Open rotation in Carnoustie and Royal Troon.

Want to try your luck at Oakmont (Pa.) CC ? Feel free. You can also see how you hold up on Congressional CC in Bethesda, Md.

The simulator has already established a following among local golfers.

"Last year I was coming to the indoor range because it’s nice to get loose throughout the winter," said Enerson, who works at Sentry Insurance and said he likes to head over to SentryWorld on his lunch hour to play a round. "When I heard they had the simulator, there was no reason not to come because that just adds to the experience.

"I can actually see where my ball is going and if I’m making decent contact. Sometimes it feels like you're making good contact on the (practice) range, but when you come to the simulator, it shows you exactly how poor that contact really is."

Caleb Enerson works on his golf game during a winter afternoon with the help of the Foresight Sports golf simulator installed in close proximity to the indoor practice range at SentryWorld.

The cost to use the simulator is $40 per hour. That can be split among however many people decide to play together. If you have a foursome, it would cost $10 per player. Zubke noted it takes about 45 minutes to an hour per player to play 18 holes on average.

Reservations are required. Folks can call the SentryWorld pro shop or fieldhouse to reserve time. But a word of warning — weekends are usually extremely busy, according to Zubke.

Once you check in at the fieldhouse, golfers using the simulator for the first time are walked back to the range by an attendant who explains the entire set up process. You'll be shown how to select courses and analyze your ball flight.

Enerson said he and his group made the mistake of attempting a round on Oakmont early in his experiences with the simulator.

"We were in the trees. We were in the sand. We were in the water," he said. "There are a few (course) options that are nice and open where you’re not going to end up in water every other shot."

Zubke expects the simulator to become more popular the more people get a chance to test their golf game. Interest also would see an uptick if the weather would warm up, too.

"Warm weather definitely gets people in here and gives them that (golfing) itch," Zubke said. "There is nothing (in central Wisconsin) like this, and we thought it would be a really good thing for our community to have to be able to play at a real course in winter time."

Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282, or by email at ssswilliam@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill

SentryWorld Golf Simulator Courses

Abu Dhabi GC

Carnoustie

Coeur D'Alene

Cog Hill

Congressional

Conway Farms

Dallas National

Emirates GC

Hazeltine National

Innisbrook Island

Interlachen

Kingsbarns

La Jolla Pines - South Course

Oakmont

Quail Hollow

Royal Troon

Schaumburg

Teton Pines