Hitting the links ... indoors. Virtual golf explodes in Canton and Northeast Ohio

Zac Cochenour positioned his feet, tightened his grip on the golf club and let a swing rip, blasting the ball against a massive video screen.

A digital version of the ball sailed through the air, traveling more than 250 yards before landing in a bunker at the video re-creation of Turtle Bay golf course in Hawaii.

"Still a great shot," his golfing partner said.

Cochenour, 36, of North Canton, was practicing on an indoor golf simulator at X-Golf in Jackson Township, where there's also food, a full bar, shuffleboard and darts, before heading out to his league match at Arrowhead Golf Club. It's part of his routine during the season once or twice per week.

"I would come every day if I could," he said of virtual golf.

Virtual golf simulators — where poor weather never prevents a golfer from hitting the links — are gaining popularity across the country, especially in Northeast Ohio where they are exploding in Canton, Akron and Cleveland. Unlike golf that's played outdoors on the green grass, virtual golf takes place inside with a giant video screen and technology tracking your every shot.

It's open to newbies and country club pros alike, with golf clubs being provided if you choose. Golf simulators can help sharpen your game for the course. Or they can be a fun night out with drinks and food, and a creative way to host a birthday party or other special event.

Fees are typically around $40 per hour for weekdays and around $60 for peak times and weekends.

"I think indoor golf might be the future of golf," Cochenour said. "Especially with all the courses closing around here."

Straits Research: Virtual golf is a hot trend

Global research company Straits Research says indoor golf is a hot trend that could get hotter, valuing the golf simulator market at $1.3 billion in 2021, while projecting it will reach $3.3 billion by 2030.

There are millions of potential virtual golf customers. Statista reported that in 2022, the number of people participating in golf in the United States reached 25.6 million, representing the highest on-course participation in more than a decade.

But is this a fad or another form of modern digital entertainment here to stay? Simulated golf options are growing at the same time that multiple Stark County golf courses are closing, including The Sanctuary in Plain Township earlier this month.

In addition to X-Golf, Stark County is home to Topgolf Swing Suite, 1899 Indoor Golf and Tee It Up, with The 19th Hole and Hupp Golf scheduled to open in downtown Canton in November. And just up the road, there's The Corner Golf Club, Springside Athletic Club and BigShots Golf in the Akron area, and Five Iron Golf and West Bank Golf Club in Cleveland.

Simulators also have opened in hotels and at sprawling, state-of-the-art facilities across the country. They are for sale for home use, too.

"I think it is the way we're going to continue to consume and enjoy sports, especially in Ohio," said Anne Graffice, executive vice president of global marketing and public affairs for the Hall of Fame Village, where a Topgolf Swing Suite is located at The Brew Kettle.

"You don't have to know how to play golf," she said. "You don't have to have a certain handicap to get on the course − you just show up."

Why is indoor golf growing in popularity?

Founded in 2003, Trackman, a leading provider and designer of golf simulators with U.S. headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, has experienced a surge in commercial customers over the past five years, said Alex Yeazel, the company's director of sales for the East Coast.

Pivoting to indoor golf in 2017, Trackman's acquisition of the graphics company Perfect Parallel and advancements in software and realism of play have increased its simulator business and standing in the industry, he said.

"Indoor golf is becoming popular due to the environment that the sport is being played," Yeazel said. "There is no pressure from a group waiting on you to hit or from a bunch of eyeballs watching you. It's OK to not be great in a space like this so that you can learn the fundamentals of the game."

Improving your game: Tee It Up Canton welcomes golfers of all levels to new, indoor business

Not all golf simulators are the same

Local indoor golf venue operators hope these trends continue as they take a big swing at the virtual market.

And just as golfers vary in skill level, indoor sites aren't all the same, either.

Some simulators analyze golf swings and shots in extensive detail, including club head speed, ball direction, launch angle, back and side spin rates, and the peak vertical. Competing against other virtual players in leagues and contests for prizes is also possible. Memberships are sold. Even holes in one are posted on social media. Adding to the fun is playing on virtual versions of world-famous courses, depending on the simulator.

Serious golfers and professionals also use simulators and swing data for training and to improve their game.

Modern golf amid bygone architecture

Downtown Canton will be home to two of the more unique virtual golf venues.

Jared Clark and Timothy Gillems are launching The 19th Hole inside the Mills Historic Tower across from the Stark County Courthouse. The building, constructed in 1922, features exquisite architecture as a bygone backdrop for Trackman simulators.

"I could go build a box somewhere and put four simulators in it, but would you go?" Clark asked rhetorically. "This (building) has soul."

Tall ceilings are ornately decorated. Custom woodwork adorns the bar. Careful thought has been put into other stylistic touches, including distinctive tables and furnishings, as well as the logo.

A soft opening is scheduled for Nov. 8. Elevated bar food and drinks will be served in a family-friendly lounge environment, Clark said.

Based on the current trend, however, Clark acknowledged there's a concern that Northeast Ohio could become saturated with simulated golf outlets.

"This was terrifying," he said of the sizable investment and business venture. "But we think there's a good upside and opportunity."

Hupp Gulf: Wine, food and indoor golf in reborn space

Meanwhile, Hupp Gulf, an offshoot of H2 Huth & Harris Wine Merchants, boasts rustbelt character.

Housed in an industrial warehouse space, Hupp is located near H2 and gets its name from the former Hupmobile dealership in downtown Canton.

Rustic charm fills the 2,400-square-foot space, where a bar and tables have been made from repurposed and vintage materials. Ceilings and floors are original. Multiple Trackman virtual golf bays have been incorporated into the building, which dates to the early 1900s.

"It's not a strip mall thing," said Patrick Huth, who owns and operates both H2 and Hupp with his wife, Whitney Harris. "It's just unique."

A variety of tequila, bourbon, cocktails and food will available, including gourmet hot dogs served in a baguette with golf-themed names like "The Shank" and "The Duff," Huth said.

Hupp Gulf is expected to open in mid-to-late November.

"It seems like there's plenty of (indoor golf customers) to go around" based on what Trackman representatives have indicated, Harris said.

'The U.S. is a golf hungry market.'

Smaller venues like Hupp and The 19th Hole are positioned for success, Yeazel said.

"Off-course golf participation is growing like crazy following (COVID-19), but there are only so many options for people to interact with the sport," he said. "It’s easy to say open more (large facilities like Topgolf or BigShots), but the economics behind opening that type of venue are immense."

Indoor golf has evolved from practice-style settings to "the entertainment space and blended space," he said of Trackman's business.

"The boom is not slowing down anytime soon, either, as the markets are for more," Yeazel said.

Venues like The 19th Hole and Hupp Gulf also provide ambience, Yeazel said.

"They breathe a lot of life into this sport and make others want to try the game when (they) previously felt it wasn’t the right culture fit for them," he said.

Indoor golf has enormous potential to grow nationally, Yeazel said.

"The U.S. is a golf hungry market and indoor golf is going to fill the void," he said, noting that Trackman has a virtual golf tour called NEXT Tour with a season-long purse of $1 million.

'I think it's going to stay.'

X-Golf opened in Stark County earlier this year.

Jen Dillon, never a diehard golfer herself, got the idea while giving virtual golf a try on vacation in South Carolina when it was raining. She switched careers from owning and operating an adult daycare and home health care agency.

"I think it's going to stay," she said of simulated golf's popularity.

Dillion's X-Golf franchise is among more than 80 indoor golf locations in the country for the chain, with scores of new sites scheduled to open, including in Toledo.

She noted that customers don't have to reserve a full hour. Smaller increments are also available, including a 15-minute block for a doctor who hits shots at lunchtime on the simulated driving range, Dillon said. A dad even brings his baby in with him while practicing.

Fall and winter leagues are also offered, as well as golf lessons. Special events include ladies' night sip and swing group golf instruction.

Not interested in virtual golf ... what about zombie dodgeball?

Topgolf Swing Suite at The Brew Kettle offers more than golf. Baseball and footballs can be tossed at video screens, too. Zombie dodgeball and carnival-style games are other choices.

Multiple bays can be rented for groups and special events.

Vinnie Iannone, 28, of New Jersey, tried out virtual golf for the first time recently at The Brew Kettle.

"You don't have to play 18 holes," he said. "You can smack some balls and drink some beers and have a good time. You can eat and can play at the same time. Instead of going bowling, you can go golfing."

A casual player on real courses, Iannone was taking swings after lunch with Dan Marrone, 29, of Maryland.

"I want to put one of these in my house," Iannone said.

While it's not "the real thing," Marrone said, "I would definitely do it again, especially when it gets rainy and cold."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

Where to play virtual golf in Northeast Ohio

Northeast Ohio has many virtual golf simulator businesses. Here are some of the larger operations:

• X-Golf, 4385 Whipple Ave. NW in Jackson Township. Also features shuffle board, full bar and food, including loaded nachos, hot dogs, meatballs, dips, pulled pork sliders, calzones and pepperoni rolls. Summer memberships are offered. Fall and winter leagues, too. X-Golf also has locations in Avon, Solon, Columbus, Broadview Heights and Perrysburg.

• 1899 Indoor Golf, 4700 Everhard Drive NW in Jackson Township. Features handcrafted cocktails and artisan flatbreads, filet mignon kabobs, charcuterie boards and desserts. Locations include Twinsburg and Shaker Heights. Golf leagues and lessons offered.

• Tee It Up, 7976 Whipple Ave. NW in Jackson Township. Features Foresight golf simulators and offers coaching and lessons for players of all ages and levels.

• Topgolf Swing Suite at The Brew Kettle, 2018 Champions Gateway Suite 101 at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton. Simulator bays are both downstairs and upstairs. Virtual sports games, too. Food and drinks served. Special events hosted. Topgolf is also at the Strongsville location.

• The 19th Hole, 101 Central Plaza S in downtown Canton in the Mills Historic Tower. Soft opening scheduled for Nov. 8. Food and drinks served in an historic building, including a Philly cheese bratwurst and homemade sauerkraut balls. Trackman simulators featured.

• Hupp Gulf, 420 Second St. NE in downtown Canton. Operated by the owners of H2 Wine Merchants; scheduled to open in November. Tequila, bourbon and cocktails served, along with gourmet hot dogs in a baguette such as the Cuban dog, pepper jam dog and French onion dog. Golf pro Justin Huth is on staff.

• The Corner Club, 1070 Ghent Road in Bath Township. Also features four simulators, plus a bar and restaurant with a custom menu.

• Springside Athletic Club, 215 Springside Drive in Bath Township. A sports and tennis complex that also hosts an indoor golf league using simulators.

• BigShots Golf, 600 Swartz Road at Firestone Country Club in Akron. Features Anthem Kitchen + Bar and hosts holiday parties, company events, fundraisers and student events.

• Five Iron Golf, 1101 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland. Also serves beer, wings and broadcasts NFL football games. Virtual courses include Pebble Beach. Swing coaches are available.

• West Bank Golf Club, 2111 Center St. Unit D in downtown Cleveland. Full-service bar. Golf leagues offered.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Hupp Gulf, 19th Hole, X-Golf in Canton take swing at virtual golf