Okay, so I saw this thing about Josh Allen playing in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and I figured, “Why not give it a shot myself?” Well, not actually play in the Pro-Am, obviously. I mean, on a golf simulator.
First things first, I needed to find a decent golf simulator setup. I’ve messed around with a few before, nothing too serious, just those ones you find at some sports bars.
I checked out a couple of places nearby. One was way too fancy and expensive. Another one seemed okay, but the reviews online were kinda sketchy. Finally, I found this place a little further out, but it had good ratings, and the prices seemed reasonable.
Getting Set Up
I booked a two-hour session for Saturday morning. When I got there, the guy at the counter was super helpful. He showed me the ropes, how to select the course (Pebble Beach, of course!), adjust the settings, and all that jazz.
- Choose the course: I easily found Pebble Beach in the system. It looked amazing!
- Set the weather: I went with sunny and a light breeze. Gotta keep it somewhat realistic, right?
- Pick my clubs: The system had a standard set, which was fine by me. I’m no pro, so fancy clubs wouldn’t make much difference.
Teeing Off (Virtually)
The simulator was great. I could select the course, adjust tee positions, and even choose different clubs. I was impressed!
Okay, so my first swing… not great. I totally sliced it into the virtual ocean. But hey, that’s what mulligans are for, right? I took a few practice swings, trying to get a feel for the virtual wind and the lie of the land.
It’s definitely different from playing on a real course. You don’t have the sun in your eyes or the actual feel of the grass under your feet, but it’s still pretty fun. I managed to get a few decent drives in, and even sunk a couple of putts that I was pretty proud of.
It took me a while to get used to it. I kept forgetting to account for the virtual wind, and my putting was all over the place. But after a few holes, I started to get the hang of it.
The Results (Don’t Judge)
Let’s just say I won’t be quitting my day job to join the PGA Tour anytime soon. My score was… well, let’s just say it was high. But I had a blast! It was cool to “play” Pebble Beach, even if it was just on a simulator. It made those highlights of Josh Allen seem even crazier, though.
I definitely recommend giving it a try if you’re looking for something different to do. It’s a fun way to spend a couple of hours, and you might even improve your (virtual) golf game!
