Indoor simulator will extend golfing challenge at Greensburg's Mt. Odin course

Greensburg-area golfers soon won’t need to travel far to experience the challenges of Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Teton Pines or the Old Course at St. Andrew’s.

Those famous venues are among more than 35 golf courses from around the world that will be featured when Greensburg installs a new indoor golf simulator at the city-owned Mt. Odin Golf Course.

City council on Monday approved purchase of the system from Foresight Sports at a cost of $30,400, the lowest of two received bids. Course officials hope to have it ready for use by midsummer.

The feature is intended to attract golfers during cold-weather months when they can’t golf outside.

“Golf simulators, along with the game of golf, have seen a dramatic increase in popularity and participation over the last several years,” said Adam Overly, facilities and operations manager at the Greensburg course. “The idea of installing a simulator at Mt. Odin seemed like an excellent opportunity to provide that outlet to the city of Greensburg and surrounding areas when the ability to play outside is not an option.

“Given the type of weather we experience in Western Pennsylvania, we only have a decent six- to seven-month window for the public to enjoy golf at Mt. Odin.”

“It’s a way to generate some revenue during the winter months,” said Greensburg Mayor Robb Bell. “We’re going to take a shot at it and see what happens.”

Overly explained the simulator system includes an impact screen, a projector, a turf strip, a hitting mat, a high-powered gaming computer and a launch monitor — which takes into account factors such as a player’s club head speed, ball speed, launch angle, club path, impact location and total ball spin.

The simulator will be installed in the basement of the Mt. Odin pro shop and snack bar, in an area that had served as a locker room and storage space.

“It has been vacant for some time, and this will be an excellent repurpose of the space,” Overly said.

Mt. Odin, meanwhile, has upgraded the snack bar menu to include appetizers, sandwiches, steak hoagies, a variety of cheeseburgers and wraps. It also will offer domestic, imported and local craft beer for purchase, along with softdrinks.

It will cost customers $40 per hour for a foursome to use the simulator. Golfers will be able to visit the course website, mtodin.com, to book the simulator, similar to booking tee times.