WOODBURY – Not long ago, when winter rolled around, especially up north, golfers around the country packed up their clubs and stowed them away for the winter. But now, that isn’t the case, thanks to one technological advancement: the rise of golf simulators. With the rise of simulators, golfers don’t have to call it a season when that first snowfall comes in. Instead, they can go to their local virtual golf range and swing away. 

Thanks to these, golf has come back to life amid the gray of winter. 

The rise of golf simulators has extended the season for many golfers, such as myself and many of the millions of golfers around the world. Every year, especially up north, people stow their clubs away in their garages, attics, and any other storage spaces they may have to keep warm for the winter. But now, that doesn’t have to happen. Places with simulators have become so common and affordable that the golf season has been extended for the winter in these colder places. This has been a great thing for many golf-hungry citizens who want to roam their local courses year-round in search of that next great shot.

While nothing replaces the feeling of taking a divot out of some freshly cut grass, the technology around simulators has improved tremendously in the last few years. Now that winter is rolling around, my season doesn’t have to end. I get to go to my local indoor golf range and practice my game just like I would in the heart of summer. It’s a great feeling to keep that empty space in the corner of my garage empty all year round. 

And many golf-loving citizens share this feeling as well. Nonnewaug golf coach Ryan Campanario agrees with the many people that believe that simulators have improved the opportunities that golfers have tremendously. 

“The rise of simulators has been crucial to the game,” Campanario says. “I know for myself, it makes it a lot easier for me and my friends to go and enjoy the game that we love on a regular basis.”

As well as Campanario, Nonnewaug High School math teacher Martin Malaspina thinks that the improvement of technology over the past few years has helped him keep his clubs out of the garage for the winter. 

“I love going to my local indoor golf range and hitting in the Sim(ulator),” Malaspina says. “It’s made it so much easier to practice and play without having to bear the cold of mother nature this time of year.” 

Similarly, Connecticut residents aren’t the only ones benefiting from this technology.  

According to the National Golf Foundation, over 6.2 million Americans reported using a golf simulator in the past year. That is a 73% increase from pre-pandemic levels. 

What has golfers going wild is the software technology that has changed so much in the past few years. With new technology, players are able to track statistics on their shots that weren’t possible in the past. Ball speed, spin rates, launch angles, and more can be tracked with these new-age pieces of technology. Professional golfers can often be seen using this nascent technology when they practice and play to make sure their game is where it needs to be. 

The market for these golf simulators will only keep increasing. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global golf simulator market was valued at $1.74 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $3.95 billion by 2032. This is reflective of how this innovative tech is going to keep making advancements and keep golfers playing year round.

By keeping golfers swinging all year, this technology has bridged the gap between seasons and opened the door for millions of golfers to continue playing the sport they love year-round.

This is the opinion of NHS Chief Advocate reporter Evan Jones ’26.