Golf Simulators in Lofts, Basements, Flats and Shared Rooms
Not every simulator goes in a garage. These are the rooms people ask about most, and the one thing to check first in each.
Loft conversions and sloping ceilings
Measure the height along the line of the swing, not just at the ridge. Stand the golfer where the ceiling is highest and point the screen along the length of the ridge, so the swing happens in the tallest strip. Check the floor can take the impact and that ball noise will not carry into bedrooms below. Rooflights in the hitting line need protecting.
Basements and cellars
Often the best height in the house, but check damp first: electronics and impact screens do not like it. Plan ventilation, a dehumidifier and safe power. Low beams and pipes across the swing count as the ceiling height.
Flats, shared walls and noise
Ball strikes on the screen and the club hitting the mat are the loud parts. On an upper floor, put the mat on a thick base and avoid late sessions; irons-only or putting and short-game setups are kinder to neighbours. In a semi or terrace, keep the screen off the party wall and add acoustic panels. Permitted development rights do not apply to flats, so check before building anything outside.
Lounges and rooms that double as a cinema
A retractable screen lets the room go back to normal use. A 16:9 screen and projector also work for films and sport, which is a good reason to choose 16:9 in a shared room. Mark the floor so the mat and launch monitor go back to the same place each time, and store clubs away from children. See projector aspect ratios.
Windows, glass and doors
Nothing breakable should sit in the hitting line, behind the screen or beside the mat where a shank could reach it. Side netting covers most mis-hits; fit window film or a fixed board over glass you cannot avoid. Doors should open outside the swing, and people should not be able to walk in behind the golfer mid-swing.
If full swings will not fit
You can still have a putting and short-game room: a putting mat, a chipping net and a launch monitor that reads putts (Square Golf does). Wedge games such as closest to the pin need much less height than driver.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a golf simulator in a loft?
Sometimes. Measure the height along the swing line, put the golfer under the highest part of the ceiling, and check the floor and noise for rooms below.
Can I have a golf simulator in a flat?
Possibly, if the height fits and you manage noise: a thick mat base, sensible hours, and irons or short game only if needed.