Custom Build Complete! (Foresight + ProPutt)

[rbilramz]

After way too much planning (and way too much spending), I am excited to say my simulator build is complete! 

 

I want to compliment ProPutt Systems for working with me to get the putting green / hitting mat potion just right.  Their design team worked with me on numerous back-and-forth emails getting everything figured out.  And their production team is amazing.  We field measured everything to the nearest 1/4" and they got it PERFECT.  The putting green base fit exactly and the turn on top does as well.  Really impressive.

 

Everything else came from and was installed by Foresight Sports.  I worked with their design team on not only the nuts & bolts of a simulator, but figuring out the proper materials, where to use curtains vs carpet pads, etc.  They flew their installation team out to our house and absolutely NAILED the install.  They were sure to involve me with any little decisions along the way and the quality of their work is top notch.

 

As for the launch monitor, I love the GCQuad.  I started the simulator journey by choosing which launch monitor (and available software) I wanted.  The GCQuad's ability to connect via it's own Wifi, combined with insane accuracy and the ease of portability made it my number one pick.  When the ability to play TGC2019 came out a few months ago the decision was made.  I can confirm TGC works perfectly, but so far I am really enjoying FSX.

 

Edited February 5, 2021 by rbilramz
TGC2019, not JNPG

[Instron4204]

That looks amazing.  I did not know JNPG was available on Foresight.  I will look into it.  Thanks for sharing the setup.

[Chief Illiniwek]

Love that setup! Would you mind discussing more about the build? How long it took? Dimensions? Initial budget vs final cost? 

[Needsmoreeagles]

Well that is beautiful!

[I'_rather_be_golfing]

How high are your ceilings? 

[hls2k6]

I’m about to do an in-home sim, and can only hope it comes out half this nice. Congrats!  
 

I am still undecided between a GCQuad & TM4. I know the Foresight is a better indoor monitor by any objective measure, but I do weekly lessons on a Trackman sim and really find their software impressive. 
 

I was just starting to lean toward the TM, for all the subjective reasons: because their customer service is so unanimously considered great, they seem to be upping their commitment to indoor performance, and mostly because they emphasize their ability to help design something both custom and turnkey. 
 

Based on your experience, though, perhaps every one of those benefits can be found with Foresight. I’d be curious to know just how much the labor (design and installation) added to your cost, as well as the name of the person you worked with there, so I can ask for him or her. (Happy to ask those q’s via PM if preferable.)

 

Thanks for any insights.  And congratulations again!

 

 

 

 

[irnmn77]

This looks amazing. The soon to be fiancé and I are building a new home right now and I've got the hall pass for a simulator. After all the research I choose the QC Quad as well. I love how clean it looks.  Question, where is the computer it's hooked up to? I love how clean it looks.  

[powerplay007]

Simply awesome congrats! 

[caller]

Nice,

What would cost something like that?

[rbilramz]

On 2/4/2021 at 2:48 PM, Chief Illiniwek said:

Love that setup! Would you mind discussing more about the build? How long it took? Dimensions? Initial budget vs final cost? 

It is 13'-9" wide and 13'-2" from center of hitting mat to the back wall.  The final build came in pretty close to budget, but it was expensive.  My Foresight cost was about 25% more than if I had done sim-in-a-box, PLUS shipping and installation.  But the professional installation was great, I would happily pay for that again.

[rbilramz]

On 2/4/2021 at 10:26 PM, I'_rather_be_golfing said:

How high are your ceilings? 

9' exactly before the putting green went in.  So ~8'-9.75".  I am pretty tall (6'-4") so I've touched the ceiling with e few drivers.  But for everyone else that has come and used it, clearance hasn't been a problem.  Ideally, I would want at least 9'-6" before installing anything.

[rbilramz]

On 2/5/2021 at 9:24 PM, hls2k6 said:

I’m about to do an in-home sim, and can only hope it comes out half this nice. Congrats!  
 

I am still undecided between a GCQuad & TM4. I know the Foresight is a better indoor monitor by any objective measure, but I do weekly lessons on a Trackman sim and really find their software impressive. 
 

I was just starting to lean toward the TM, for all the subjective reasons: because their customer service is so unanimously considered great, they seem to be upping their commitment to indoor performance, and mostly because they emphasize their ability to help design something both custom and turnkey. 
 

Based on your experience, though, perhaps every one of those benefits can be found with Foresight. I’d be curious to know just how much the labor (design and installation) added to your cost, as well as the name of the person you worked with there, so I can ask for him or her. (Happy to ask those q’s via PM if preferable.)

 

Thanks for any insights.  And congratulations again!

 

 

 

 

I looked in to the TM4 as well.  Its a great machine.  I preferred the Foresight because it'll be used indoors 90% of the time, and their custom design / install service cannot be beat.  I don't know much about TM customer service, but I would give Foresight a perfect rating in that department.

The don't charge anything for design, but do require a deposit on the final build.  Basically, they don't want to spend a bunch of time & money designing a simulator for you to not build with them.  They also allowed me to buy my computer, projector, putting green, etc from other sources, which I really liked.  Their install was $2,500.  When you factor flying a professional in and putting him up in a hotel for 3 days I thought that seemed more than fair.  And the quality of the install cannot be beat.

[rbilramz]

On 2/6/2021 at 10:30 AM, irnmn77 said:

This looks amazing. The soon to be fiancé and I are building a new home right now and I've got the hall pass for a simulator. After all the research I choose the QC Quad as well. I love how clean it looks.  Question, where is the computer it's hooked up to? I love how clean it looks.  

You can see our bar just to the left of the simulator?  I put the computer in one of those cabinets and had conduit run for both the projector and TV.  I HATE exposed wires so I wanted to be sure everything was planned out ahead of time.  That's another reason that I love the GCQuad, it can connect to the computer wirelessly via it's own WiFi.

[Loose_Ferrule]

On 2/4/2021 at 11:40 AM, rbilramz said:

After way too much planning (and way too much spending), I am excited to say my simulator build is complete! 

 

I want to compliment ProPutt Systems for working with me to get the putting green / hitting mat potion just right.  Their design team worked with me on numerous back-and-forth emails getting everything figured out.  And their production team is amazing.  We field measured everything to the nearest 1/4" and they got it PERFECT.  The putting green base fit exactly and the turn on top does as well.  Really impressive.

 

Everything else came from and was installed by Foresight Sports.  I worked with their design team on not only the nuts & bolts of a simulator, but figuring out the proper materials, where to use curtains vs carpet pads, etc.  They flew their installation team out to our house and absolutely NAILED the install.  They were sure to involve me with any little decisions along the way and the quality of their work is top notch.

 

As for the launch monitor, I love the GCQuad.  I started the simulator journey by choosing which launch monitor (and available software) I wanted.  The GCQuad's ability to connect via it's own Wifi, combined with insane accuracy and the ease of portability made it my number one pick.  When the ability to play TGC2019 came out a few months ago the decision was made.  I can confirm TGC works perfectly, but so far I am really enjoying FSX.

 

Looks fantastic, congrats!

[hls2k6]

50 minutes ago, rbilramz said:

I looked in to the TM4 as well.  Its a great machine.  I preferred the Foresight because it'll be used indoors 90% of the time, and their custom design / install service cannot be beat.  I don't know much about TM customer service, but I would give Foresight a perfect rating in that department.

The don't charge anything for design, but do require a deposit on the final build.  Basically, they don't want to spend a bunch of time & money designing a simulator for you to not build with them.  They also allowed me to buy my computer, projector, putting green, etc from other sources, which I really liked.  Their install was $2,500.  When you factor flying a professional in and putting him up in a hotel for 3 days I thought that seemed more than fair.  And the quality of the install cannot be beat.

That’s a super helpful reply, so thank you. I emailed Foresight & Trackman last night. Figured that I’ll talk to both & then decide. I might have checked my phone 25 times today in case I missed either of them. 

And wow, $2,500 for that install truly is unbelievable. I was expecting double to triple that plus the travel expenses.  
 

Thanks again. Enjoy your sim!

[knudson81]

Wow, that is one great setup you have there! I love the integration of the putting green and full swing hitting area, that is just a perfect use of your space. If I only had tall ceilings...

[Tzoid]

That looks amazing.  

[jak77]

Wow, simulator goal for sure.  How do you like the truestrike hitting strip?

[rbilramz]

2 hours ago, jak77 said:

Wow, simulator goal for sure.  How do you like the truestrike hitting strip?

I love it.  Honestly, that is one thing I feel really strongly about.  I take a divot when I play and this feels as close to real as I've seen.  The fact that Pro Putt will design the TrueStrike in to their putting greens is what made me use them.

[jak77]

4 hours ago, rbilramz said:

I love it.  Honestly, that is one thing I feel really strongly about.  I take a divot when I play and this feels as close to real as I've seen.  The fact that Pro Putt will design the TrueStrike in to their putting greens is what made me use them.

 

Great feedback thank you.  Brainstorming sim room ideas and that integration has me leaning heavily to pro putt for the turf.  

[jonmay]

How do you connect to TCG2019?  I have read there is a way but you mentioned you can do it now as of a couple months ago.  can you clarify that and how it works?

Thanks

 

[SpacklersEdge]

Wow that turned out fantastic.  Nice work and congrats.

[BostonWRX]

On 2/4/2021 at 11:40 AM, rbilramz said:

After way too much planning (and way too much spending), I am excited to say my simulator build is complete! 

 

I want to compliment ProPutt Systems for working with me to get the putting green / hitting mat potion just right.  Their design team worked with me on numerous back-and-forth emails getting everything figured out.  And their production team is amazing.  We field measured everything to the nearest 1/4" and they got it PERFECT.  The putting green base fit exactly and the turn on top does as well.  Really impressive.

 

Everything else came from and was installed by Foresight Sports.  I worked with their design team on not only the nuts & bolts of a simulator, but figuring out the proper materials, where to use curtains vs carpet pads, etc.  They flew their installation team out to our house and absolutely NAILED the install.  They were sure to involve me with any little decisions along the way and the quality of their work is top notch.

 

As for the launch monitor, I love the GCQuad.  I started the simulator journey by choosing which launch monitor (and available software) I wanted.  The GCQuad's ability to connect via it's own Wifi, combined with insane accuracy and the ease of portability made it my number one pick.  When the ability to play TGC2019 came out a few months ago the decision was made.  I can confirm TGC works perfectly, but so far I am really enjoying FSX.

 

impressive. Enjoy

[rbilramz]

On 2/10/2021 at 9:45 AM, jonmay said:

How do you connect to TCG2019?  I have read there is a way but you mentioned you can do it now as of a couple months ago.  can you clarify that and how it works?

Thanks

 

Everything you need can be found via the link below.  It was super easy, I'm impressed.

 

https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/foresight-sports/310888-gcq-tgc2019-new-interface-gcqx2

[hls2k6]

On 2/8/2021 at 7:38 PM, rbilramz said:

I looked in to the TM4 as well.  Its a great machine.  I preferred the Foresight because it'll be used indoors 90% of the time, and their custom design / install service cannot be beat.  I don't know much about TM customer service, but I would give Foresight a perfect rating in that department.

The don't charge anything for design, but do require a deposit on the final build.  Basically, they don't want to spend a bunch of time & money designing a simulator for you to not build with them.  They also allowed me to buy my computer, projector, putting green, etc from other sources, which I really liked.  Their install was $2,500.  When you factor flying a professional in and putting him up in a hotel for 3 days I thought that seemed more than fair.  And the quality of the install cannot be beat.

I gave them my deposit for the formal design tonight. Should have the initial plans in 2 weeks, with my simulator up & running by the end of April. 
 

Thanks again for the advice. Hopefully I can end up with something nearly as nice as yours!

[rbilramz]

34 minutes ago, hls2k6 said:

I gave them my deposit for the formal design tonight. Should have the initial plans in 2 weeks, with my simulator up & running by the end of April. 
 

Thanks again for the advice. Hopefully I can end up with something nearly as nice as yours!

That’s awesome!  Keep us updated

[highandright]

Really nice setup, looks very clean and professional. What model projector are you running? I'm guessing it's got a pretty high brightness to look that sharp with over head lighting so close to the screen. Or perhaps the blacked out ceiling/walls right around the screen help with that?

[rbilramz]

On 4/20/2021 at 8:48 PM, highandright said:

Really nice setup, looks very clean and professional. What model projector are you running? I'm guessing it's got a pretty high brightness to look that sharp with over head lighting so close to the screen. Or perhaps the blacked out ceiling/walls right around the screen help with that?

The projector is a Panasonic PT-VZ580U 5000-Lumen.  It’s pretty good, but I think the lighting makes an even bigger difference.  The last 2 can lights are on their own switch, which is a dimmer.  I have them on ~50% most of the time, which lights the putting green well, but leaves the screen looking really bright.

[beazy33]

This may very well be the nicest simulator setup I’ve seen so far.

 

the dual purpose hitting and putting setup is seamlessly integrated. Well done.

[supranak]

That looks amazing