With a new space in place, Greens at Renton staff is ready to welcome winter golfers once again.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Article content
Article content
After replacing a large, permanent tent structure on the property with a new building in recent months, employees recently moved its three multi-sport simulators formerly housed in the diner area to the new space.
“There’s a few more boxes that need to be checked off before we can have bigger events in there, but we’re back in the simulator business,” general manager Brad Halyk said in a recent interview.
High-definition simulators aren’t the only thing that will occupy the new 42-foot by 65-foot building, Greens staff will soon add a new swing net with a launch monitor, putting green, cornhole boards and hitting mats.
“What we really want people to understand is that it’ll be a good winter practice facility for golf, but other things will be available,” said Halyk. “We’re looking at purchasing a bouncy castle for kids’ birthday parties. We haven’t explored everything we can do there, but it’s a great space, very light and airy.”
Advertisement 3
Article content
The new “Greens Rec Room” will be functional year-round and serve as a meeting and scoring area before, during, and following outdoor tournaments.
“It’s got two big glass rollup doors and air conditioning,” Halyk noted. “So on beautiful days when people don’t want to be inside, the doors can be rolled up and you’ve got a patio experience.”
The Greens added three HD Golf simulators during the Covid-19 pandemic to give golfers a chance to safely play the game during the winter months. They were immediately a hit with the locals, who can play famous tracks like The Old Course at St. Andrews, Bay Hill, Bethpage Black and more in frightening – and sometimes frustrating – detail.
“Other simulator systems are more like computer games, where HD Golf actually go out and grid a course and take pictures in three-yard intervals – so when you’re sitting behind a tree 240 yards out, that tree is really on the course and that’s what that tree looks like,” said Halyk. “Some of these companies have 150 courses, which is great – however HD has fewer courses but the quality is so much better. They really focus on the big names.”
Advertisement 4
Article content
The simulators feature several other activities including soccer, baseball, hockey, archery and even zombie shooting – a huge draw with the younger crowd.
“That’s been the biggest disappointment has been that it’s taken so long to get the building finished off because Emilie (Kershaw, event coordinator) is constantly getting calls from people wanting to book kids parties,” Halyk said. “It’s a great setup to have a party with 12 kids and the parents can hang out, watch the kids and have some wings.”
The new Rec Room won’t just be for kids but folks of all ages to enjoy some time away from home or the office.
“We haven’t explored everything we can do there, but it’s a great space, very light and airy,” Halyk noted. “What we had before was fine… but we had to find a way to expand. We’re really optimistic it’ll be a great place for people.”
Article content