‘Where all of golf is moving’: New Johnson County indoor course opening, more soon

Heavy snow and scorching heat can scare many golfers away from playing outside.

Alex Reed, co-founder of GolfTRK, sought to roll past that obstacle when he opened his indoor course last year in Lenexa at 11207 Strang Line Road. He and his partners, Matt Williams and Sam Collins, were mostly looking to build a place to play year-round for themselves.

Realizing the demand, they decided to offer monthly membership fees (starting at $125 per month). At GolfTRK, players can access golf simulators and putting greens and play in rain or shine.

“It was truly born out of, there’s no concept out there that’s offering us what we want,” Reed said. “It just so happened that it resonated in a way that we were not necessarily anticipating.”

Customers have been responding so well that GolfTRK is opening its second location, at 7325 W. 161st St. in Overland Park. They’re aiming for November.

Reed said they’re in talks for more locations in the area and beyond.

“We’re planning aggressive expansion both here and out of state,” he said.

The new Overland Park location will be a 3,000-square-foot space with four golf bays. Renderings show a small lounge in addition to the simulators and putting greens.

When players hit the ball at a screen, the simulator maps out where the ball would have gone, giving the hitter statistics on their swings: how fast the ball went, how much spin it had, whether it went too far to the right or left.

On the putting greens, a projector device called PuttView gives hitters statistics about the speed and direction of the ball.

A PGA instructor is also available to teach lessons. Non-members can book private instructors on GolfTRK’s website, golftrk.com .

While Dallas-based Topgolf has become a popular entertainment destination with locations across the U.S. — including in Overland Park at 10611 Nall Ave. — Reed said the attraction has less of a benefit for serious golfers.

GolfTRK also does not offer food and beverages like Topgolf, but that’s intentional. His facilities are less about entertainment, more about improving your game.

“There’s a couple indoor concepts, but the emphasis seems to be on … the food and bev, and the golf comes separate,” he said.

Reed said more golf enthusiasts are beginning to realize the benefits of indoor golf technology.

Some are installing simulators inside their homes, though this can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Even golf courses and country clubs have begun building digital simulators that can help golfers identify issues with their swing, Reed said.

“This is where all of golf is moving,” he said. “It’s a bet that three, five, seven years from now this will become the norm.”

A handful of other facilities in the area offer golf simulators, including Leawood’s X-Golf at 4825 W. 117th St. in Town Center Plaza and True Aim at 14870 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park.

AME Golf and Brew Lounge , which featured golf simulators and ballpark food, recently closed in Overland Park’s Oak Park Mall.