There's a new type of golf starting

[golfintheworld]

There's a new type of golf starting in Washington state. It's called Realitee www.realitee.com . It's a hybrid idea. I'm curious about how the group feels about it. Would you play it? Does it offer a good alternative? Will it bring new golfers to the game? Just throwing it out there.

 

[SavvySwede]

A big step up from the traditional simulator. Chipping and putting on a simulator are just terrible and this layout seems to solve that issue. I just don't think people will be willing to pay the additional cost for that luxury when simulator golf is already quite expensive in standard form.

[freshmanUTA]

This is the link to their site: http://realiteegolf.com/

[phillyk]

I live about 30min away from Silver Reef casino so when it opens I can check it out.  That's an interesting spot for them.  Its about 1.5hrs north of Seattle and 15min from the Canadian border.  I wonder why they didn't want to be closer to Seattle.  Silver Reef isn't that popular of a spot.  Hopefully this will draw a crowd, otherwise it won't last very long.

[phillyk]

53 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

A big step up from the traditional simulator. Chipping and putting on a simulator are just terrible and this layout seems to solve that issue. I just don't think people will be willing to pay the additional cost for that luxury when simulator golf is already quite expensive in standard form.

Being as close as they are to the Canadian border, they are looking for that audience.  Courses around there get almost 75% of their play from our northern friends.  But with the Canadian dollar still kinda crappy, they may not be willing to try it very often especially with a few courses around there with standard simulator play available.

[Groucho Valentine]

Looks expensive as hell.

[golfintheworld]

It looks as if they're trying to solve two issues: time and all year playing. Living in NY all year would be nice.

[nevets88]

Looks like the lovechild of Topgolf and ginormous indoor soccer fields. Looks like it's trying to capture the Topgolf serious golfer segment. A great idea, but cost is the big question.

[phillyk]

47 minutes ago, golfintheworld said:

It looks as if they're trying to solve two issues: time and all year playing. Living in NY all year would be nice.

Well we can play all year here already, so it probably isn't that.  I like the concept, I'm more interested in why they chose the spot that they did.  It doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

4 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

Looks like the lovechild of Topgolf and ginormous indoor soccer fields. Looks like it's trying to capture the Topgolf serious golfer segment. A great idea, but cost is the big question.

Cost and target audience.  If the what they offer really makes a statement for a reasonable cost, then it will succeed but they need a bigger draw to go there than just being next to a mid-level casino.

[No Mulligans]

Since this is a virtual reality experience, I think it would have to be priced at less than the real thing to get recurring customers.  That would be really tough in some markets, San Diego for example.

[golfintheworld]

I agree if they come in to the local price point, it could be a good alternative. I guess I'm questioning whether golf needs alternative venues.

[nevets88]

If you lived near a school, like OSU, with an awesome indoor short game facility, you should compare this (assuming you're near one) versus the cost of taking a course, assuming getting a P/T student card even gets you access to the OUS facility, probably not, but worth a try because it might be competitive.

[Buckeyebowman]

Mehhhh. Doesn't look like that would be for me. I basically can't stand simulator golf. I'll go to the golf dome to hit balls when the weather is too crappy to play, but that just makes me enjoy getting outside all the more!

 

[WUTiger]

RealiTee looks like an upscale version of Go Low golf center in Las Vegas. The Vegas MGM-Grand Hotel has a site called Topgolf, which may be closer to the RealiTee model.

I usually take three months off starting in early November, so I don't have much first-hand experience with simulators, basic or upscale.

I would like RealiTee as a chance to practice and play simulator rounds. Not sure I would spend much time in the bar - probably not a very good value for the dollar.

RealiTee would be like any other fixed-asset heavy luxury operation: great profits if you surpass the break-even point, but getting there can be "rough." The monthly mortgage or lease payment could be brutal if the golfers don't come in droves.

I would want several of silent investors to put up the $$ for capital investment and early operating expenses.

[HitAndGiggle]

I lived, off and on, for several years in the Puget Sound area. I have long thought that any type of decent indoor golf activity would do well there. 

I just visited our new TopGolf in our Sacramento area the other day for the first time. It was fun. Whippy clubs combined with good food and beer. Oh, and a lot of pretty ladies. All good.

Edited February 28, 2017 by HitAndGiggle

[golfintheworld]

So it seems that the main concern is the simulator play. Will golfers go for that in that realm. 

So what if they built nine holes indoors and made them challenging. Would that justify the price? Could they add something to the place to increase the curious eyeballs?

[David in FL]

I live in Florida, so no.

I've been to Top Golf a couple of times, but I don't think of that as anything more than another sports bar.  I certainly don't go there solely for the "golf"