by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
If you’re looking to improve your swing or just to have a good time golfing without working up a sweat on the course, head out to Inside Golf at their new San Marco location. Just three weeks ago, Inside Golf moved from their location above Boomtown off of Hemming Plaza to the other side of the St. John’s in San Marco. Owner Mary O’Donnell told EU that the move has improved business because Inside Golf is far more visible and accessible.
“We weren’t getting the traffic that we needed and it didn’t look like there was going to be anything to change that in the future.”
In the old building they were the only non-restaurant tenant and they tended to have different hours than the businesses around them. Another factor that’s bringing more people into the San Marco locale are the die-hard habits of golfers. “Golfers,” says O’Donnell “are used to putting their clubs in a car and driving to a range or course and taking the clubs out of the trunk. Here, they can do that.”
You can work on your putts or your drive at Inside Golf, using their computerized booths that analyze your swing. Without elements like wind to carry your ball, you can determine what you’re doing wrong and adjust your swing.
“Every hit that you make, you get instant feedback…You can figure it out, even if you don’t know the mechanics.” O’Donnell and her staff are also happy to give golfers tips and tricks if they want them.
There are other virtual golfing booths in town, but all of them are used, not for entertainment and improving the game, but for finding the right golf club at the pro golf shops in town. Inside Golf is the only place in town that uses the booths to promote golf and entertain.
The store gets many different types of business, from 8-year old golf savants to golfing leagues and corporate team building. It’s a great place to have a party, even if you aren’t an avid golfer. The 10ft by 10ft screens in the golfing booths can be used to project various forms of entertainment. They’ll be showing the ACC Basketball Finals pretty soon and other big games. If you bring any sort of DVD disk to your party, it can be projected on the screens. Classic sports games or bloopers are a favorite, though they can show any type of DVD that you might like. Next Thursday they’ll be holding a Texas Hold-‘Em poker game, with golfing products as prizes.
They serve beer, wine, soft drinks and other commonly available drinks. They also have pre-packaged snacks (such as what you might find in a vending machine) but they keep menus from local eateries like Bistro Aix, Tidbits, European Street on site for delivery, pick-up and catering.
Inside Golf is now located at 1515 San Marco Blvd. near Cedar Street. There are 56 virtual courses which are modeled after real courses. You can use your own clubs and balls or they will provide you with theirs for free. Four play for the price of 3 and a single player gets their second nine holes for free. Hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10AM to 8PM and Saturday-Sunday from 1PM to 6PM. Call (904) 346-0317 for additional info.
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