Week Seven: Design Your Garage Around Golf
In Chicagoland, golf season eventually comes to an end. But that doesn’t mean you have to put the clubs away.
A garage can be an ideal place for an indoor golf simulator, but there’s an important catch. You need to plan for it before you build.
Ceiling Height Matters
A golf swing takes up more room than you might think. You need enough clearance for the club, your swing, and the equipment surrounding the simulator.
That’s why ceiling height should be one of the first things you discuss. Ensure during the design phase to inquire about side-mount overhead garage doors as traditional tracks can impact the ceiling height.
A taller garage wall can also give you more flexibility for other uses down the road.
Think About Depth and Width
The simulator itself needs room, but so does everything around it.
You may want space for:
- A hitting area
- Screen and projector
- Golf clubs
- Seating
- A refrigerator or beverage area
- Storage
- A television
The garage doesn’t have to become a dedicated golf facility. But if golf is the priority, the layout should reflect that.
Plan the Electrical
Projectors, screens, computers, lighting, televisions, and other equipment all require power.
It’s much easier to plan outlets and electrical locations while the garage is being built than after everything is finished.
Don’t Forget the Rest of the Year
The best custom spaces aren’t designed for only one season.
Maybe the golf simulator gets used all winter, while the rest of the garage handles vehicles and storage during the summer.
That’s where thoughtful planning pays off. A garage can serve more than one purpose if the structure and layout are designed with that flexibility in mind.
If you’re thinking about adding a golf simulator, don’t start with the simulator. Start with the garage.
Figure out the dimensions, ceiling height, electrical requirements, storage needs, and how the space will work around it.
Then build the garage to support the way you want to use it.
