Manitoba Golf Guide

"With everything it reads, it makes the whole experience that much more realistic than it was with older technology." — Cody Brownlee Operations Manager, Avid Golf 07 GOLF GUIDE 2024 M A N I T O B A Elm Creek, MB | 204-436-2600 scotswoodlinks.com 4 GREEN FEES for the PRICE OF 3 CART FEES EXTRA. Not valid in groups larger than 12. Must be used in 1 visit. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Valid till Aug 16, 2024 Present this Coupon. *One coupon per customer / per season By Todd Lewys I n the winter of 2021, Luc Bohunicky and Cody Brownlee – both of whom are avid golfers – were having a hard time getting a tee time at one of Winnipeg's few indoor golf simulators. That's when Bohunicky, an entrepreneurial type, decided to act. "He said, 'we're going to start our own golf simulator business," recalls Brownlee, the operations manager for Avid Golf. "The first thing we needed to do was find a good location." Eventually, they found what they were looking for. "We came across a great opportunity – a unit in a grouping of businesses at 1580 Taylor Avenue that used to be a Snap Fitness," he says. "It was just what we were looking for." The next thing on the agenda was to find the right technology to create the best possible golf simulator. "At the time, there were two players in the simulator game – Foresight and Trackman. We looked at Trackman, but it only tracked part of the golf ball's flight. We then met with a Foresight representative from Calgary to see what that system had to offer." What they found was that the Foresight GP Hawk system – which is mounted directly above the tee off mat in the simulator bay – tracked the entire flight off each golf shot. They had found their system. That in place, they populated the former gym with a lounge area and several spacious, state-of-the-art hitting bays, and opened in October 2022. Today, golfers can play one of 150 courses with the GP Hawk above monitoring their every swing. "It reads everything that's hit off the mat," explains Brownlee. "With the image of the hole on the screen in front of you, it takes thousands of pics every millisecond." All those images are then computed into real time data. "The unit gives you data on things like sidespin, backspin, ball speed, swing speed and even how far offline your shot is going," he says, adding the Hawkeye can even factor in wind. "It will even tell you if you're hitting up or down on the ball, or even if you're swinging over the top." In short, the GP Hawk unit does two things. "With everything it reads, it makes the whole experience that much more realistic than it was with older technology," he says. "If you hit a poor shot, the unit will read it. Just like on a golf course, you'll be in trouble in the rough, trees, or water." In every instant, players get instant feedback on their shots. "As much as it makes playing more realistic, the unit also serves as a diagnostic tool. Of course, you're here to have fun and socialize with friends, but you can also learn things about your swing. That can help you improve your game." Brownlee says Avid Golf has been enthusiastically received by golfers from all over the city. "We just got through our second winter season and beat our previous winter season by a mile. We have a lot of repeat customers that can get both winter and summer memberships. We also host events and parties and have partnered with both A Little Pizza Heaven and Vincenzo's next door to give our customers the ability to order in food to complement the drinks and snacks that we offer." A round of 18 holes typically takes about three hours or so for a foursome, notes Brownlee. "We've found that it takes around 45 minutes per player to play an 18-hole round. But you can do not only 18 holes but nine, or even just come and play three holes – say six, seven and eight at Pebble Beach if that's all the time you have." Avid Golf also offers coaching, and runs a winter golf league, too. "Our first year for the league was last winter, and it was very popular," he says. "Everyone who's been here feels it's helped improve their game, so we invite you to come out and give it a try." Avid Golf hits the mark with local golfers Brownlee gets ready to launch a shot into the screen. Once the ball is in flight, the GP Hawk will provide real time data on every aspect of the shot, providing a realistic playing experience. (Photo by Todd Lewys/The Free Press)

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