Come fall, which is perhaps the best time to get out and play a round of golf thanks to the combination of lovely weather and gorgeous foliage, every golfer in New England knows the inevitable winter weather is on the horizon. Yet despite being aware of it, when that time does come, it’s every bit as sad as the year prior.

Cold temperatures and snow essentially means no golf for four or five months.

Well, that may be true in terms of playing outside.

But now, there are indoor golf simulator options all over western Massachusetts – the perfect solution for northeast golfers. Max’s Swing Lounge in Springfield celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 14, joining neighboring towns like Agawam, Westfield, Easthampton, Northampton and Deerfield, among others, with golf simulators open to the public.

Golf simulators really took off in the spring of 2020, when people were looking for new hobbies to try. Greg Larson was one of those people, and in the winter of that year, he started Cottage Street Golf in Easthampton. 

Larson and one of his friends, George, decided to buy a Mevo+ simulator so they could play and make the offseason move faster. They set it up in a small room in the back of Larson’s cabinet shop on Cottage Street, where there was just enough room to fully swing a club. Not only did the two friends have a blast, it allowed them to keep their rhythm and improve their swing while most golfers could only hope to pick up techniques through YouTube videos or watching the Golf Channel.

Using the simulator’s shot feedback, they could continue to improve their golf games.

“More and more people are golfing and wanting to get into golf,” Larson said. “During the winter, people ask themselves, ‘What do I do?’ Just for improving your swing, coming in here is so beneficial. I think more golfers are realizing the value of coming in here.”

And that’s not only because they don’t have to go months without touching a club; the simulator allows avid golfers to see every detail of each shot. Larson’s simulator feeds out nearly 30 different numbers, ranging from club-head speed and ball speed to spin rate and club path. Each swing can be analyzed in-depth, allowing the golfer to make the proper corrections. Larson also has several cameras set up at different angles so golfers that come in can visually understand what they’re doing wrong.

Larson moved Cottage Street Golf – and his cabinet business – to Maine Avenue in Easthampton, although it still goes by Cottage Street Golf. He’s been there for about three months and welcomes the public.

His new setup is spacious yet cozy, and it’s bring-you-own food and drink. Golfers wanting to play there can make a reservation for any amount of time, from 30 minutes to three and a half hours, and they can either swing freely to work on aspects of their game or play a full round on one of the over 40 courses his simulator offers. It costs $40 an hour, but the cost goes down with the more hours requested (three hours is $100).

“Some people prefer the bar scene, [where] there are simulators that have that kind of aspect to them,” Larson said. “But here, it’s like your own room for you and your golf game. And you can bring friends in here and play as a foursome, but it’s private. We get people who really just want to come in, put their heads down and work on their swing. It’s a little more education-focused.”

Looking for even more ways to expand his business, Larson partnered with Marissa Kulig Crow – the 2021 LPGA National Teacher of the Year and 2022 LPGA National Professional of the Year. Kulig Crow now gives lessons at Cottage Street Golf, and she was recently named to the 2024-25 LPGA Best Teachers list. She designs personalized programs to meet whatever needs golfers may have. Lessons are offered for one or two people at a time.

“Greg contacted me a couple of months ago because one of his regulars took a lesson from me,” Kulig Crow said. “He asked me if I’d be willing to give lessons, and figured I’d go check it out. Walking through the door I was like, ‘Oh my, this is so nice.’ You know, it's not like most of the other simulators I teach at. I also teach at Northampton Country Club. They have two simulators, which are also really nice.”

At Northampton Country Club, owner Jim Casagrande runs a similar ship to Larson. He opens his simulators in the morning, takes reservations in time increments and also is open to the public. Northampton’s pair of simulators are Foresight Sports’ GCHawk launch monitors, one of the best simulators in the business. Casagrande opened up his indoor golf option in March 2022, and it’s nicknamed “The Bunker,” located in the back of the NCC pro shop.

NCC has a whopping 1,200 different golf courses to choose from, including its very own, as well as Augusta National, a plethora of TPC courses and many other notable tracks that golf fans appreciate. Casagrande welcomes a scratch league during the week and hosts other competitive events. He also opens the bar upstairs for those with later tee times in the afternoons and evenings.

“Especially in New England or areas that you can’t play golf [in the winter], it’s not going away,” Casagrande said of the growing world of golf simulators. “We have all these core golfers that want to keep their game sharp and don’t necessarily get to go to Florida every year, and this is a way for them to hold on to that golf club all winter long and practice and stay loose.”

Both Larson and Casagrande admitted that people who have never used a golf simulator before are hesitant when swinging at first. Being indoors in an enclosed area is much different than playing outside with no restrictions. But after a few reps, they forget they’re even inside.

And as for accuracy, the two owners ensured that they’re as close to 100% accurate as it gets.

For golf savants across Hampshire County and western Massachusetts, fear no more – there are plenty of places to play throughout the winter to keep your golf game in tip-top shape.

Garrett Cote can be reached at gcote@gazettenet.com.