Cheyenne Macleod practicing her swing.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Cheyenne Macleod
November 30, 2024 - 2:30 PM
A new indoor golf simulator is coming to Kamloops this weekend just in time to cure the winter blues and give adults something to do during the bleak months.
Cheyenne and Ian Macleod, owners of Kamloops Virtual Golf, moved to the city 10 years ago and discovered there wasn't a lot for adults to do in the winter.
“There's tonnes of things for kids like sports activities, like indoor facilities for children. I thought that there was a need for something more here,” Cheyenne said. “Golf is just a very popular sport around here, and we have tons of golf courses that surround Kamloops, and the golf community is really supportive as well. I thought that would be a good fit for sure.”
She said golfers will have a place to keep their skills up to par all winter long with their high tech simulator.
The golf simulator allows players see the angle they hit the ball using multiple cameras and provides statistics so they can improve their swing. The tech essentially determines where your ball will land and why.
“It's good for people who are good at golf and they kind of want to just improve over the winter, but none of that matters if you just want to come in and have fun,” Cheyenne said.
Kamloops Virtual Golf will also have league games for players to join. Groups of four can create a team and compete with each other over a five week period. The stats of game winners will be posted in the building during the tournament, and at the end, the winners will receive prizes and gift cards to local breweries or to the simulator, for their victories.
READ MORE: Lace up your skates for these rinks around Okanagan, Kamloops
The Macleods also eventually want to bring in professional golf players to offer lessons to individuals who want to learn more about the game and their technique.
“I've tried to decorate and make it feel like a really warm and inviting location, because if you're not a good golfer and you walk in somewhere and it feels intimidating you might not want to come back because golf isn't an easy sport,” Cheyenne said.
The most important thing to the couple is that people come into their business, feel welcome and have fun with their friends and family, all while learning and improving skills.
“I wanted it to feel like you can come in like your family, you can suck, it doesn't matter. Just come in, have fun, hang out. It doesn't have to be anything super serious if you don't want it to be,” she said.
There are four different bays to practice your golf swing. Each bay can be reserved for one hour minimum and up to five hours at a time. There are tables and chairs at each bay as well, so players can sit between rounds, have a drink or eat. They hope to have a liquor license by February.
Kamloops Virtual Golf, located at 141 Lorne Street, plans to open on Sunday, Dec. 1. Their regular hors will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. They charge $30 for 30 minutes of playing time with a one hour minimum.
You can book a virtual tee time on their website here.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Bailey Zimmer or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here.
News from © iNFOnews, 2024