First virtual golf course makes debut in Fort Collins - The Coloradoan

Quentin Sickafoose 2:52 p.m. MST January 2, 2015

Scott Smith, owner of Virtual Links, a new virtual golf center in Fort Collins, demonstrates to customers how to golf using the virtual screens on Thursday. The center at 925 S. Taft Hill Road offers courses from around the world to play as well as a putting green and bar area.(Photo: Erin Hull/The Coloradoan)

Freezing temperatures that dropped into the minus-degree range struck Northern Colorado this past week. But the cold temperatures didn’t eliminate the opportunity for local golfers to work on their technique.

That’s because Virtual Links Indoor Golf Center, Fort Collins’ first virtual golf course, opened Dec. 27 at 925 S. Taft Hill Road, where the former Blockbuster once stood.

After a seven-month renovation , the building has been transformed into the vision of owner Scott Smith and his family since moving from California.

“I wanted to do this because I felt there was a need for Fort Collins to be able to golf all year-round,” Smith said. “We get to help the golfers who want to play in the winter and at night after they get off work.”

At Virtual Links, golfers can play 85 famous courses 15 hours per day, 362 days per year. The establishment features four 300-square-foot enclosures called bays equipped with TruGolf simulator technology.

In each bay, sensors surround the area where golfers tee off toward the high-impact screen that shows their position on the golf course. The screen displays information about distance, speed and spin of each stroke. Microphones line each bay to create triangular sound.

The simulator also offers feedback to golfers regarding their position and the location of their club face when contact is made.

“I don’t know know if I’ll ever hit a driving range again. That’s because of the feedback and the technology it gives you that you can’t see out on a golf course,” Smith said.

Virtual Links offers sessions in one-hour increments, rather than individual rounds. Playing a round of 18 holes takes approximately one hour per golfer, which provides twosomes the choice to play nine holes together and split the cost.

The virtual golf course is open 9 a.m. until midnight Mondays through Saturdays and closes one hour earlier on Sundays. The rate for one hour of golf is $30 if played from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $35 from 1-6 p.m.; and $40 from 6 p.m.-midnight. Special rates for children and seniors are provided. Golfers ages 18 and younger and 55 and older are able to purchase an hour for $25 all day long.

Also at Virtual Links are an instructional bay for private lessons, poker room in which chips and cards are provided, a 1,000-square-foot putting green, four flat-screen TVs and a small restaurant.

The Back Nine Taproom n’ Bistro offers pizza and nachos with nine beers on tap and three different wines.

“We definitely didn’t want to leave that part of the experience out,” Smith said of the taproom. “Fort Collins is a huge beer community and there’s a big passion for golf, too.”

Information and tee times can be found at www.virtuallinksinc.com.

Follow sports reporter Quentin Sickafoose at twitter.com/QSickafoose.

About Virtual Links

Location: 925 S. Taft Hill Road

Hours: 9 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays

Cost: $30 per hour 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $35 from 1-6 p.m. and $40 from 6 p.m.-midnight. Special rates for children and seniors provided. Golfers ages 18 and younger and 55 and older are able to purchase an entire day of unlimited golf for $25.

Information and tee times: www.virtuallinksinc.com.

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