Portable Golf Dome

[blackbizzlegolf]

Hello,

Me and a business partner are considering starting a golf dome in the midwest. Obviously the winter here is brutal and a majority of players in this area can only golf around 6 months out of the year. Our idea is to startup a dome which has a portable structure and allows us to operate those 6 months out of the year when golf courses are closed. The idea would be to run the facility with as little overhead as possible so we are looking at certain business models to pattern our idea after. Could someone with any experience assist with answering the following questions?

1) Is it possible to lease, instead of purchase, a portable golf dome structure?

2) Heating costs per month? Obviously this would be based upon square footage but I'm just looking for a rough estimate.

Thanks in advance.

[ghalfaire]

You might take a look at how the Japan indoor driving ranges do it.  Not sure how you could get these data but they must have heating/cooling similar to the Midwest USA.  Most of these are fixed structures but might be useful data and there are bunch of them in the country.

Several Universities have indoor practice facilities for some sports (football) that are domed.  Since most are public funded those costs of rent/purchase should be available.  The local University, Arizona State, has a domed facility for the football team due to the early season heat around here. Not sure it is large enough for a driving range but it is a sizable tent for sure and would give you at least one datum on cost/sq ft.

[FLOG4]

I can't offer help with your two questions.  There is a dome range in CT and it's been here a long time. There arealso a few ranges that have heaters in the hitting areas. Those aren't quite as good. The balls are mush.  Thought to indoor with nets in an abandoned wharehouse or similar?  Good Luck

[x129]

A quick google shows up a bunch of companies like http://www.inflatable-sports-dome.com/

I have never looked at the math but I am wondering if renting a warehouse and stuffing full of golf simulators and putting/chipping greens is a better bet.