Search for the best indoor golf in Calgary and you get a list of names in an order somebody else chose. That tells you almost nothing about whether a Thursday night with three friends is going to go smoothly.
A better approach is to ask every venue the same short set of questions. Below is that list, along with PGM's answer to each one, so you have something concrete to compare against. No venue rankings here, and no claims about anybody else.
What "best" means once you are actually booking
Three golfers can use that word and mean three different things. A serious practiser means good feedback and cheap hours. A group organiser means a rate that splits cleanly. Somebody bringing a first-timer means privacy.
Decide which of the three you are before you compare anything. Then work through the questions.
- What are the hours, and when can you actually book?
- How do you get in?
- What is the minimum booking length?
- What happens if you run over?
- Is the rate per person or per bay?
- What does the rate include?
- What are the cancellation terms?
- What do you have to bring?
- What are the house rules?
Getting in, and getting the time you want
What are the hours, really
Posted hours and bookable hours are not always the same thing. Ask when the last booking of the night starts and whether early mornings are available at all, because that is where the cheap time usually hides.
At PGM: open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
How do you get in
Is somebody meeting you, or is entry handled by a code or a link? If it is self-serve, find out exactly what arrives and when, so you are not standing at a door at 11 PM searching your inbox.
At PGM: you book online and get a confirmation email, then a second email with a door access link. Open that link at the door. Nobody works on site, and a remote team answers the phone on 403-680-3380.
What is the minimum booking, and how do slots work
A one-hour minimum and a 30-minute minimum are very different products if you only want a quick session before work.
At PGM: bookings come in 30-minute blocks with a 30-minute minimum. The suggested length is 1 to 1.5 hours per player, warm-up included.
What happens if you run over
Ask this before you are 14 holes into a round with nine minutes left.
At PGM: the simulator turns on at your start time and shuts down at the end of the slot. You can extend on the day if nobody has booked the bay after you.
What you are actually paying for
Is the rate per person or per bay
The most important question on the list, and the easiest one to get wrong. A rate that looks high per hour can be cheaper for four people than a rate charged per head.
At PGM: per bay, per hour, shared by everyone in the bay, plus GST. $18 an hour before 9 AM Sunday to Thursday, before 10 AM Friday and Saturday, and from 11 PM Sunday to Thursday. $30 an hour from 9 AM to 11 PM Sunday to Thursday and 10 AM to 6 PM Friday. $35 an hour Friday from 6 PM and Saturday from 10 AM, both until midnight.
What does the rate include
Find out whether the course library, the practice range and any video feature are in the price or added on.
At PGM: each of the six bays has its own simulator and touchscreen. More than 200 virtual courses, a virtual driving range and Swing Cam for watching your swing back are all included in the bay rate.
What are the cancellation terms
Plans change. Ask how much notice you need and how you give it.
At PGM: cancel with at least 24 hours notice by emailing fspgmindoorgolf@gmail.com. Same-day bookings cannot be cancelled.
What you need to bring
Clubs, and everything else
Never assume clubs are provided. Ask, and ask about shoes while you are at it.
At PGM: bring your own clubs, because none are provided. Clothing and shoes have a short list of their own, set out in the what to wear post.
What are the house rules
Short lists, but worth reading before you arrive with a group.
At PGM: minors must be with an adult, there is no alcohol on the premises, and you should not mark golf balls with a Sharpie because the ink transfers to the screens. Leave the bay clean for whoever is in next. The unwritten rules are in the golf simulator etiquette guide.
One more question: what do the reviews complain about
Skip the star average and read the low reviews for operational problems, the ones about access, booking and the room. PGM's Google rating is 4.9 from 17 reviews, which is a small sample, so read them rather than counting them.
When a membership changes the answer
If you expect to go more than a couple of times a month, compare the monthly options against what you would pay by the hour. PGM has three, per month plus GST: Night Owl at $129 with unlimited bookings between 11 PM and 10 AM Sunday to Thursday, and between midnight and 10 AM on Friday and Saturday nights, Standard at $249 with a $200 booking credit each month and 15 per cent off all bookings, and Ultimate at $349 with a $280 credit, 20 per cent off and Night Owl included. All three include members-only events and special offers.
Work out your real monthly hours first. The membership page has the details, and the rates page shows which hours fall into which band so you can do the sum honestly.
Run the list, then book
The best indoor golf in Calgary for you is whichever place answers that list in a way that fits your group, your hours and your budget. If the answers above look right, pick a time on the Calgary booking page and bring your clubs. Anything still unanswered is on the FAQ or the contact page.