Virtual Golf

Douse Purificatti hammers a drive down the middle of the virtual fairway at Katie's Leaderboard while his golf partner Frank Caruso watches. Photo by Chris Dawson.

It’s 6:30 a.m. in early January and Douse Purificati is loading up his golf clubs into his car as he prepares to pick up his friend Frank Caruso for their 8 a.m. tee time.

No, the two golfers aren’t on a vacation in Florida; they are actually going golfing here in North Bay’s winter wonderland.

They are just a couple of local golfers who are getting their golf fix at Katie’s Leaderboard; a virtual golf facility that recently opened on Trout Lake road (next to the Granite Club).

“It gives you the opportunity to swing the clubs during the winter months,” said Frank Caruso who’s been visiting the virtual golf facility regularly during the holiday season.

The golf facility which is in the building which used to house Gino’s Pizza and Relish, has three booths where golfers can choose to play 28 different golf courses from St. Andrew’s to Pebble Beach.

The technology

The facility is similar to what used to be offered at the old Shark Tank back in the 1990’s, but technology has improved greatly since then.

Inside your booth up against a large screen is a matt with about four different textures which emulate the rough and long thick straw-like hair creates the sand trap effect.

It’s a neat environment complimented by some very real graphics on the big screen.

“The graphics are unbelievable,” said Katie’s Leaderboard owner Wanda Walker.

“Inside the simulators the ball passes a row of sensors so when it hits the screen a second sensor reads the ball again so the accuracy of your ball is 99 percent accurate, it will read a slice, it will read the arc, the distance, the miles per hour it’s incredible.”

For Douse and Frank their high scores are an indication of a tough Pinehurst course that they are playing.

“If you make a mistake it shows you what mistake you made so its pretty accurate and it keeps us loose so and keep us in shape,” said Douse Purificati who hopes the new facility will help him play better later this winter when he heads to Florida for his annual golf vacation with his friends.

Virtual golf in your home?

The technology is so good that there are companies in the United States that are offering virtual golf in the comfort of your own home. The price tag you ask? A mere $30,000 to $40,000 U.S.