Whisper it quietly, but by the end of 2028 it has been predicted that there will be more rounds of virtual golf played in the UK than outdoors ones. It's a bold claim made by one of indoor golf's leading technology firms, who also suggest that globally 80% of all rounds will be virtual in two years. But it perhaps shouldn't surprise anyone. In golf-loving South Korea, the tipping point was reached...
Whisper it quietly, but by the end of 2028 it has been predicted that there will be more rounds of virtual golf played in the UK than outdoors ones. It's a bold claim made by one of indoor golf's leading technology firms, who also suggest that globally 80% of all rounds will be virtual in two years. But it perhaps shouldn't surprise anyone. In golf-loving South Korea, the tipping point was reached almost a decade ago as 'screen golf' overtook 'field golf'. And these virtual rounds are providing opportunities to play in professional tournaments, such as when Scottish-born Gavin Macpherson won a simulator event to qualify for the NSW Open in Australia. The rise of golf gaming started a little over 40 years ago with handheld dot-matrix computer games emerging out of Japan. These simple to play devices allowed you to get your golf fix virtually, wherever you were, by pressing buttons to hit the ball. Video game consoles naturally followed with Tiger Woods-endorsed offerings later dominating the market. Companies like Toptracer, Trackman and Golfzon are now further evolving the sport with their technology-driven developments intriguing established golfers, while also attracting new players. Recent data from the R&A - which runs golf globally outside the United States and Mexico - and the US, revealed more people globally are playing golf off-course than on-course. Even the PGA Tour pros are on board. Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL venture has been taking the indoor game to the next level, with teams smashing balls at a screen that measures 64 feet by 53 feet - around 24 times bigger than your average sim. But before the purists among you spit out your pre-round bacon sandwich, it is worth noting that virtual golf can make it possible to play the sport at times when players would otherwise be denied their fix. "Golf is really good for five months of the year in the UK, OK for four, and rubbish for the rest," says Chris Ingham, co-founder of indoor venue Pitch Golf. And whil...