A high school golf program does not need a massive room, unlimited budget or tour-level practice facility to give players a serious training advantage.
Bennington High School proved it.
Working alongside the school’s golf coach and athletic director, the Austad’s team designed and installed a durable, space-conscious golf simulator that could handle both right-handed and left-handed golfers. The entire golf simulator installation was completed in one day, giving the program a practical new place to practice, compete and improve throughout the year.
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A Golf Simulator Success Story Built Around Real Constraints
The best golf simulator projects do not start with a shopping list.
The start with the room, the golfers and the goals.
Bennington High School approached Austad’s with a clear vision: create a reliable indoor golf training space that would fit inside a smaller room, stay within a strict budget and work equally well for right-handed and left-handed players.
That combination made thoughtful planning especially important.
The school did not need the largest screen, the brightest projector or the most powerful gaming computer on the market. It needed the right equipment for the room and the people who would actually use it.
That is where a properly planned golf simulator installation makes all the difference.
Austad's Expert Insight: “A successful simulator is not about cramming the most expensive equipment into a room. It is about matching every component to the available space, budget and training goals.”
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The Challenge: A Small Golf Simulator Room and a Strict Budget
Every installation comes with its own puzzle pieces. For Bennington High School, the biggest considerations were budget, durability, room size and player accessibility.
Working Within a Limited Space
The available golf simulator room was not oversized, so every piece of equipment needed to earn its place.
The enclosure had to provide a safe hitting environment without taking up unnecessary floor space. The projector needed to create a clean image without requiring major room modifications. The launch monitor also needed to work without a large amount of space behind the golfer.
This ruled out systems that require a long tracking area or permanent overhead mounting.
Staying Within the School’s Budget
School athletic programs have to make each investment count. Bennington High School needed a simulator that could provide reliable golf performance technology without adding features the team would rarely use.
Instead of overspending on raw computer power, extreme projector brightness or unnecessary accessories, the setup focused on the pieces that would have the biggest impact:
- Reliable ball and club data
- A safe, durable hitting enclosure
- High-quality simulator visuals
- Simple operation
- Compatibility with different golfers
- Equipment that could stand up to repeated team use
Supporting Right-Handed and Left-Handed Golfers
A golf simulator for high schools should be designed for the whole team.
Bennington needed a setup that could accommodate golfers hitting from either side of the ball. This influenced the placement of the launch monitor, hitting area, enclosure and surrounding equipment.
Because the Foresight GC3 is portable and sits near the golf ball, it can be moved from one side of the hitting area to the other when switching between right-handed and left-handed players.
That flexibility made it a strong fit for a team environment.
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What Bennington High School Chose for Its Golf Simulator Installation
After working through the room requirements with the golf coach and athletic director, the Austad’s team assembled a balanced package centered on performance, durability and value.
Foresight GC3 Launch Monitor
At the heart of the simulator is the Foresight GC3 launch monitor.
The GC3 provides the data players and coaches need to turn indoor practice into productive training. Rather than simply showing where a virtual shot finishes, the launch monitor helps golfers understand what happened at impact.
Depending on the software and configuration, players can use data such as:
- Ball speed
- Launch angle
- Spin
- Carry distance
- Total distance
- Club path and delivery information
- Shot shape
- Dispersion patterns
For a high school program, this creates opportunities to make practice more measurable.
Players can track progress, work on distance control and learn why certain shots curve, climb or fall out of the air. Coaches can also use the data to reinforce swing changes and help golfers identify reliable on-course patterns.
The GC3 package also came with a bonus Bushnell rangefinder and speaker, adding even more value for the program.
Carl’s Pro Simulator Cage
For the enclosure, Bennington High School selected a Carl’s Pro Simulator Cage
A school golf simulator can see a lot of use. Players may practice before school, after school and during the offseason. That makes durability a priority, not an upgrade.
The simulator cage creates a defined, protected hitting area while helping contain shots and support the impact screen. It also offers a professional appearance without requiring the school to build a fully customized room from scratch.
The enclosure helped the team maximize the smaller space while keeping the hitting area organized and functional.
AK700ST 4K Projector
The school used an AK700ST 4K projector to display the simulator software.
Projector selection is one of the easiest places to overspend during a golf simulator installation. Bright rooms may require higher-lumen projectors to keep the image from looking washed out. Darker rooms can often achieve excellent results with less brightness.
Bennington space had no outside light, which meant the school did not need to pay for an extremely high-lumen projector.
That made the AK700ST a smart match for the room.
Austad's Sim Caddie Tip: Before choosing a projector, evaluate how much natural and overhead light reaches the screen. A darker room may not require the brightest projector available, leaving more of the budget for the launch monitor, enclosure or hitting surface.
Basic Gaming Computer
A basic gaming computer provided enough performance for the selected software and projector setup. The school also supplied its own computer stand, helping keep the project within budget.
This is a good example of where smart substitutions can reduce the total cost of a golf simulator room without affecting the actual training experience.
The goal is not to build the most powerful computer possible. The goal is to choose a machine that meets the software requirements and runs the simulator smoothly.
50-Inch Television
A 50-inch television was added to the room as a secondary display.
This gives coaches and players another way to view information without relying entirely on the projected image. The television can be used for launch monitor data, swing video, leaderboards, instruction or other training content.
In a team setting, a secondary display can also help golfers who are waiting their turn stay engaged with the session.
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Bennington High School Golf Simulator Equipment Overview
Component |
Product |
Why It Fit the Project |
|---|---|---|
Launch Monitor |
Foresight GC3 |
Portable, accurate and easy to reposition for right- or left-handed players |
Enclosure |
Carl’s Pro Simulator Cage |
Durable and well suited for repeated team use |
Projector |
AK700ST 4K Projector |
Strong image quality without paying for unnecessary brightness |
Computer |
Basic Gaming Computer |
Met the software requirements while protecting the budget |
Secondary Display |
50-Inch TV |
Added flexibility for data, coaching and group training |
Furniture |
School-Provided Computer Stand |
Reduced cost by reusing available equipment |
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Why the Foresight GC3 Worked for a High School Golf Program
Not every launch monitor works equally well in a smaller, shared training space.
The Foresight GC3 made sense for Bennington High School because it combines useful golf performance technology with a compact, portable design.
It Does Not Need a Large Tracking Area
Radar-based launch monitors often require additional room behind the golfer and between the ball and screen.
The GC3 reads the ball from a position near impact, making it a strong option for shorter indoor spaces.
That allowed the school to create a functional golf simulator room without expanding the space or making major structural changes.
It Can Move for Left-Handed Players
Some simulator configurations make switching between right-handed and left-handed players inconvenient.
Because the GC3 is portable, it can be moved to the correct side of the hitting zone when golfers switch. This makes the simulator more inclusive and practical for a school team with a changing roster.
It Turns Practice Into Measurable Progress
Players can hit balls almost anywhere.
The value of indoor golf training comes from receiving immediate, useful feedback.
The GC3 gives golfers objective information they can use to evaluate swing changes, compare clubs and build more consistent distances.
Instead of saying, “That felt pretty good,” players can begin asking better questions:
- Did the ball launch too high?
- Was the strike efficient?
- Is carry distance consistent?
- Does the same miss keep appearing?
- Is spin helping or hurting the shot?
- Are club changes improving dispersion?
Those questions lead to more focused practice sessions.
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How Indoor Golf Training Can Help High School Players
A golf simulator for high schools can do much more than keep players occupied during bad weather.
When used with a clear plan, it becomes a year-round development tool.
Build Reliable Carry Distances
Many younger golfers know roughly how far they hit a club, but rough estimates can lead to poor decisions on the course.
A simulator allows players to build a more accurate carry-distance chart throughout the bag. This can improve approach-shot planning and reduce the temptation to choose a club based only on the best shot they have ever hit.
Practice When the Course Is Closed
Cold temperatures, snow, rain and limited daylight can make outdoor practice difficult.
Indoor golf training gives players a place to work even when the course or driving range is unavailable. That can be especially valuable during the preseason, when teams are preparing for competition but local conditions are not cooperating.
Improve Wedge Distance Control
Full driver swings may get most of the attention, but scoring often improves faster when golfers sharpen their wedge distances.
Players can use the simulator to practice specific carries from 40 yards to three-quarter shots.
Turning those numbers into repeatable feels can help players become more confident from scoring range.
Track Shot Dispersion
One perfect shot does not tell the full story.
A simulator allows golfers to look at groups of shots and evaluate overall dispersion. This helps players and coaches identify which clubs produce predictable patterns and which parts of the bag need more attention.
Create Friendly Team Competitions
Not every practice session needs to feel like a spreadsheet.
Closet-to-the-pin contests, virtual rounds, skill challenges and team competitions can make practice fun while still encouraging focus and accountability.
A little competition is especially useful when several players are rotating through the simulator.
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One-Day Installation With a Seamless Setup
Once the equipment plan was finalized, the Austad's installation team completed the project in one day.
The process went smoothly, with no unexpected issues during the setup.
That fast turnaround was possible because the room had been evaluated ahead of time and each component was selected with the space in mind. The enclosure, launch monitor, projector, computer and display all worked together without requiring complicated last-minute changes.
A smooth installation is not an accident; it starts with proper planning.
What a Professional Golf Simulator Installation Covers
Depending on the project, a professional installation may include:
- Reviewing the room dimensions
- Confirming ceiling height and swing clearance
- Planning right- and left-handed use
- Positioning the impact screen and enclosure
- Determining projector throw distance
- Locating power and cable connections
- Setting up the launch monitor
- Connecting the gaming computer
- Calibrating the projected image
- Testing the simulator software
- Confirming safe clearances
- Walking the customer through basic operation
For Bennington High School, that preparation helped turn a potentially complicated technology project into a straightforward one-day installation.
Austad's Sim Caddie Insight: The easiest installation days usually happen because the important decisions were made before the equipment arrived. Measuring carefully and matching the products to the room prevents a lot of expensive surprises.
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Golf Simulator Room Layout
A compact golf simulator room still needs several functional zones.
1. Hitting Zone
The hitting area should provide enough room for golfers to swing comfortably from both sides.
It should also give the launch monitor a clear view of the ball and allow the player to move naturally without worrying about walls, furniture or equipment.
2. Impact and Safety Zone
The enclosure and screen form the main impact area.
This zone needs enough space behind and around the screen to absorb shots safely. Side protection is also important in a team environment, where swing speeds and skill levels can vary.
3. Projector Zone
The projector must be positioned so that it fills the screen without creating an excessive shadow or placing equipment in the golfer’s swing path.
A short-throw projector can be especially useful in a compact golf simulator room.
4. Technology Zone
The computer, television, speakers, cables and controls should be accessible without creating clutter around the player.
Bennington’s use of its own computer stand is a great example of adapting the room with equipment the school already had.
5. Coaching and Waiting Zone
When space allows, include a safe area where coaches and other players can watch.
A secondary television can make this zone more useful by showing data, swing video or simulator results.
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Where Bennington High School Saved Money Without Sacrificing Performance
Budget-friendly does not have to mean low quality.
The Bennington High School golf simulator success story shows how a project can control costs by spending intentionally.
The Room Did Not Require an Ultra-Bright Projector
Because there was no outside light, the school could prioritize image quality and proper throw distance instead of buying the brightest projector possible.
The Computer Matched the Software Requirements
The school chose a basic gaming computer rather than paying for premium components that would not noticeably improve the training experience.
Existing Furniture Was Reused
Providing its own computer stand was a small decision, but small savings add up when a project has a strict budget.
The GC3 Fit the Existing Space
Choosing a compact launch monitor helped the school avoid more expensive room modifications or a major expansion.
The Enclosure Offered a Complete, Durable Solution
A purpose-built simulator cage provided a clean installation without requiring a fully custom construction project.
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Is a Golf Simulator Worth It for a High School?
For programs that face weather interruptions, limited course access or short practice seasons, a simulator can create meaningful value.
A well-designed golf simulator for high schools can help programs:
- Practice throughout the year
- Reduce dependence on weather
- Improve player engagement
- Collect measurable performance data
- Work on distance control
- Evaluate shot patterns
- Run team competitions
- Introduce new students to golf
- Create a safer, more structured practice environment
- Support coaches with objective feedback
The biggest benefit may be consistency.
Players no longer have to wait for perfect conditions to work on their game. Coaches gain another way to keep practices organized, purposeful and engaging.
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Find a Golf Simulator That Fits Your Space
Bennington High School did not have unlimited room or an unlimited budget. It had a clear goal, a committed coaching staff and a space that needed the right plan
Austad's helped turn those constraints into a durable indoor golf training setup that supports right-handed and left-handed golfers, provides meaningful performance data and gives the team a place to practice throughout the year.
Whether you are planning a golf simulator for a high school, college, training facility, business or home, our team can help you choose equipment that works together and fits the room you actually have.
Talk with an Austad’s simulator expert about room dimensions, launch monitors, projectors, enclosures, computers and professional installation 👇
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