Building my dream garage simulator! Details and specs - Foresight GC3

[jak77]

On 1/25/2022 at 8:43 AM, Albatross85 said:

My original plan was to use the 12x6 turf and then my 9x4 fiber built so that put me roughly 8 feet from the screen. I discovered that was too close for a couple reasons. The ball bounce back off the screen was too hot for my liking as well as it cast a shadow on the screen from the projector. 
 

I solved this by picking up a 12x8 section of 1” tall Pet/Play turf from Home Depot. I cut a 12x2 section to move me out another two feet. The turf is also 1” tall where my putting turf is .75” so it turned out awesome. Like i have two cuts! Fairway and rough. This now puts me 10feet away which i think is perfect. Any further and I would be able to flop shots up to quick and hit my ceiling. I can’t flop them quick enough from 10 feet. Yet! 
 

I’m using the remaining 12x6 of the turf as a rug for the couch area that will sit behind the hitting platform. The turf was supposed to be $225 for that piece but it was the last of the roll so HD gave me $60 off to take the whole piece. 

 

Thank you so much for sharing!  We're about to move in the next month or so and I'm getting my plans laid out to do pretty much what you've done.

 

Could you explain how you went about cutting the memory foam, wrapping in in some sort of black cloth, and attaching it to the inside frame like in the above picture?

 

I have an memory foam topper right now that we're not planning on using once we move. I was going to take it to the dump but looks like I may not now.

 

Are you projecting at 4:3 or 16:9?

 

Much thanks!

[JAM01]

Sharing a set of Version 1.0 and Version 2.0

Went from Net Return Pro and TV with Skytrak and reoriented 90 degrees. Mostly since 1/2 the garage is now freed from a car. Bought a garage door opener hanger kit ($25), Carls impact screen on clearance, frame (screwed to the garage door opener angle irons), laptop tray, Optoma short throw and protector. Will add another strip of turf between the hitting mat and the turf by the screen. So far so good. 

[MK7Golf21]

pretty sweet, thanks for sharing. I've thought about setting one up over the years but I hear too many stories of people getting golfers elbow/tennis elbow from hitting so many balls on mats after setting up a hitting bay.

[Retsof2021]

4 hours ago, JAM01 said:

 

Sharing a set of Version 1.0 and Version 2.0

Went from Net Return Pro and TV with Skytrak and reoriented 90 degrees. Mostly since 1/2 the garage is now freed from a car. Bought a garage door opener hanger kit ($25), Carls impact screen on clearance, frame (screwed to the garage door opener angle irons), laptop tray, Optoma short throw and protector. Will add another strip of turf between the hitting mat and the turf by the screen. So far so good. 

 

This looks great. Looking more and more like mine will be a garage sim. We picked the house today and basement has 8.5 foot ceilings. All dry walled so don’t believe it’s a drop ceiling situation where I can raise the ceiling.  Only issue is that it’s a 2 car with 2 doors so the garage motor will be in the danger zone. 

[Albatross85]

9 hours ago, jak77 said:

 

Thank you so much for sharing!  We're about to move in the next month or so and I'm getting my plans laid out to do pretty much what you've done.

 

Could you explain how you went about cutting the memory foam, wrapping in in some sort of black cloth, and attaching it to the inside frame like in the above picture?

 

I have an memory foam topper right now that we're not planning on using once we move. I was going to take it to the dump but looks like I may not now.

 

Are you projecting at 4:3 or 16:9?

 

Much thanks!

Projector is doing 4:3 since it’s 12x9

the diy screen has the black flaps and Velcro already installed. I cut 3” wide strips of memory foam and just stuffed it in there. 

[JAM01]

8 minutes ago, Retsof2021 said:

This looks great. Looking more and more like mine will be a garage sim. We picked the house today and basement has 8.5 foot ceilings. All dry walled so don’t believe it’s a drop ceiling situation where I can raise the ceiling.  Only issue is that it’s a 2 car with 2 doors so the garage motor will be in the danger zone. 

Wonder if the cost of 1 or 2 of the side mounted door openers is worth it, especially if/when they need to be replaced? 

[Albatross85]

Making progress and been playing every night! I’m very pleased with my setup. 

[Retsof2021]

6 minutes ago, JAM01 said:

Wonder if the cost of 1 or 2 of the side mounted door openers is worth it, especially if/when they need to be replaced? 

Not a bad idea. Then I could mount the projector where the motor was. The ceiling was probably 15 feet but of course the motors are much lower.  How high should a projector be mounted?

[Retsof2021]

7 minutes ago, Albatross85 said:

 

Making progress and been playing every night! I’m very pleased with my setup.

 

Looks incredible! Great work. 

[Pens #1 fan]

@Albatross85 do you have club data with that GC3 price, how many course and what do you owe next year

[Albatross85]

1 minute ago, Pens #1 fan said:

@Albatross85 do you have club data with that GC3 price, how many course and what do you owe next year

Yes i bought the fully unlocked GC3 with the 10 built in courses. I also paid $250 for gspro which is a different software with over 60 courses that is 4K and compatible with GC3. I won’t owe anything next year except $250 to keep gspro 

[JAM01]

42 minutes ago, Retsof2021 said:

Not a bad idea. Then I could mount the projector where the motor was. The ceiling was probably 15 feet but of course the motors are much lower.  How high should a projector be mounted?

I went with a floor mount, my garage is right at 9’5” if I ever mount it on the ceiling I’ll get a low profile mount and get it as close to the ceiling as possible. Then angle it down slightly.  I did learn to look for a projector that keystones horizontal and vertical to get a nice square image. 

[Retsof2021]

@Albatross85 Have you had enough time with it to compare FSX2020 vs GSPro? I here a lot of people say FSX graphics are underwhelming. And it’s TBD how FSX Play looks. 
 

[Pens #1 fan]

This is my setup now, i have the room to upgrade, I just don’t know if I have $$ to do it all at once. I’d rather just play Sim golf than practice. I don’t if it’s buy GC3 and hit into net them look at TV. 

[Albatross85]

11 hours ago, Retsof2021 said:

@Albatross85 Have you had enough time with it to compare FSX2020 vs GSPro? I here a lot of people say FSX graphics are underwhelming. And it’s TBD how FSX Play looks. 
 

GSPro has better graphics and i personally like it better. FSX is a bit more polished but the graphics are just okay. I will say that GSPro has kids tees as an option which is a big plus for my setup bc my 11 and 7 year old's love to play

[Pens #1 fan]

So I have the Net Return, hitting mat, Skytrak, gaming PC. I need Imapct

screen, encloser, Sim software, Projector. Can I get all the things I need for under $2k? 

[JAM01]

8 minutes ago, Pens #1 fan said:

So I have the Net Return, hitting mat, Skytrak, gaming PC. I need Imapct

screen, encloser, Sim software, Projector. Can I get all the things I need for under $2k? 

Carls screen 8x8 clearance - $340

DYI enclosure - brackets $82 from Carls, 10 foot x 1 inch emt $18 each 

projector $600-900

that leaves side netting, bungees, software and projector mount. 
probably at or slightly over depending on the software. 
 

 

[Pens #1 fan]

14 minutes ago, JAM01 said:

Carls screen 8x8 clearance - $340

DYI enclosure - brackets $82 from Carls, 10 foot x 1 inch emt $18 each 

projector $600-900

that leaves side netting, bungees, software and projector mount. 
probably at or slightly over depending on the software. 
 

 

Would I put screen on Net Return? 

[JAM01]

2 minutes ago, Pens #1 fan said:

Would I put screen on Net Return? 

I think that might be a good idea and would save some $$$

[Albatross85]

Finally finished! Got my big moss green rolled out and setup our old sectional we weren’t using. Now i need to find a cheap beer fridge but otherwise i think I’m done spending money. 

[Snapda9]

Looks awesome! 

 

[DillyRahmrell]

Occasionally I go to a country club and they have a simulator. It is a nice perk to have a simulator. You’ll get some good stats and numbers and keep your touch in the off-season 

[wilton]

On 1/30/2022 at 1:25 PM, Albatross85 said:

Finally finished! Got my big moss green rolled out and setup our old sectional we weren’t using. Now i need to find a cheap beer fridge but otherwise i think I’m done spending money. 

Great job! 

[jml4]

On 1/30/2022 at 11:25 AM, Albatross85 said:

Finally finished! Got my big moss green rolled out and setup our old sectional we weren’t using. Now i need to find a cheap beer fridge but otherwise i think I’m done spending money. 

Looks so awesome!! 

[jak77]

8 hours ago, jml4 said:

Looks so awesome!! 

 

Gauchos alum here!  Grew up in the Pasadena area...parents still live there!

[jml4]

38 minutes ago, jak77 said:

 

Gauchos alum here!  Grew up in the Pasadena area...parents still live there!

Awesome, love meeting other Gauchos.. that shared experience is tough to beat! What year did you graduate? 

[Retsof2021]

On 1/30/2022 at 2:25 PM, Albatross85 said:

 

Finally finished! Got my big moss green rolled out and setup our old sectional we weren’t using. Now i need to find a cheap beer fridge but otherwise i think I’m done spending money. 

 

Hey man! Thanks again for the information. How you liking the projector? 

[Albatross85]

1 hour ago, Retsof2021 said:

Hey man! Thanks again for the information. How you liking the projector? 

I like it a lot. In hindsight i would’ve gone with higher lumens for a 12 foot screen. The projector has to be about 17 feet away to fill a 12x9 so it’s not super bright. When i turn the lights down it looks tremendous though. I usually play with only one ambient light on. 

[Retsof2021]

22 hours ago, Albatross85 said:

I like it a lot. In hindsight i would’ve gone with higher lumens for a 12 foot screen. The projector has to be about 17 feet away to fill a 12x9 so it’s not super bright. When i turn the lights down it looks tremendous though. I usually play with only one ambient light on. 

That's helpful.  Since I'm shifting to a garage sim I'm concerned about not being able to control the lighting as much.  Especially when playing with a door open. 

[carrera]

That setup is awesome.  What is the ceiling height?  I am in early stages of planning a standalone sim/man cave building on our lot and just starting to think about building dimensions.