Cork has welcomed its first dedicated golf simulator centre with the opening of Flyte Golf in the Marina Commercial Park, and it’s already attracting plenty of visitors in its first few weeks.  Flyte has seen a wide range of customers, from serious amateurs to stag parties to tourists.

Powered by the market leading Trackman technology, the centre offers five custom built simulator bays, providing golfers with the perfect place to practice or socialise.  The new location is aimed at anyone who wants to swing a club, whether you are a seasoned golfer or a first timer.
Ben Quigley and Rob O’Callaghanare the people behind Flyte, and they spotted the gap in the market in Cork.  “The idea was born from our own experiences in golf” explained Rob.  “Having both played since a young age as well as having worked in the industry for a number of years we’ve experienced first hand how difficult it can be to get consistent practice in, particularly during winter months or when the weather isn’t cooperative as in Ireland is often the case.”

“Although Cork is a thriving City, it is one which is lacking in indoor amenities, there seems to have been a shift away from the pub and people are looking to partake in non-drinking activities a lot more than in years gone by.  Having seen ourselves the surge in simulator centres abroad we felt Cork was the perfect fit.”

“We’re club members so understand both the enjoyment and frustrations that come with trying to improve your game.  The personal connection to golf was a big factor in creating the business. We wanted to build something that we would enjoy using ourselves while also introducing more people to the game in a relaxed environment.”

“Having grown up as childhood best friends, we’ve played the game together as long as we’ve been able to swing a club. We’ve done a lot of caddying together both in Ireland and abroad so having been in and around the industry for years, the transition into building FLYTE came as a natural next step.”

With a city centre location, and plenty of free parking, the pair have delivered an impressive finished product.  “Our aim from the outset was to create a welcoming space that would appeal just as much to a novice golfer who may find a traditional golf club environment a touch intimidating as it would to an experienced golfer looking for live time data feedback.”

The two lads have been hard at work since February taking the idea from concept to reality, putting in long hours to get the project off the ground.  “Like any new business venture you’re going to meet countless obstacles along the way. We carried out the vast majority of the fit out ourselves resulting in 4 and a half months of being on site 7 days a week, 12-14 hour days.”

“We found ourselves in a constant cycle of problem solving – often finding one problem solved created 5 more! It was definitely a massive learning curve – looking back there was a colossal amount of work and certainly moments where it felt never ending.  But by doing so much of it ourselves not only did it save us a lot of cost, it gave us complete control over the finished product and allowed is to create exactly the type of facility we had envisioned.”

And the result is impressive, taking a building that was originally used for assembling Ford cars, and one that has had numerous uses since the mid-eighties, the pair have created a custom-built golf centre that meets the needs of social hackers as well as elite amateurs and professionals.    Initial feedback from golfers is very positive, and Ben is delighted with the result.  “Seeing people enjoy the space now make the long days and late nights worthwhile and we’re very proud of the way it has turned out.  Both of our families have been a massive help throughout.  The workload was simply too big to complete fully off our own backs so there was lots of spare hands thrown in where possible and we’re massively grateful for all the help throughout.”

The hard work won’t stop now as Flyte is open from 8am to 10pm seven days a week.  As well as the 30 minute booking slots, monthly and annual membership options are also available.

The city centre location, with plenty of free parking was a key part of the planning by Ben and Rob, making it easy and quick to get to for most people in the city and suburbs.  “In an age where time comes at a premium and people can’t often afford to give the bones of 4 or 5 hours to a round of golf, FLYTE makes golf accessible, enjoyable and convenient for people.  Sessions are €30 per half hour, with the bays accommodating up to 4 players at any one time.  Four friends in a bay for an hour is €15 each which we feel is certainly competitive.  One of our biggest attractions is giving people the ability to play hundreds of the top courses from all around the world, without having to leave Cork. From Old Head to Pebble Beach, the options are vast and the variety of courses available are fantastic.  Our Trackman’s also provide 40 data points on every shot you take, helping people of all golfing ability to hone their skills while having fun.”

www.flytegolf.ie

PGA Professional Colin Maguire is the resident teaching pro in Flyte and he is available for anyone who wants guidance and help with their game.  Ben thinks that this is an essential part of what on offer.  “While many people come to enjoy the social aspect of simulator golf, coaching is also a major part of what we offer. Having access to a PGA Professional allows golfers to combine expert instruction with highly detailed data provided by Trackman.  Anyone that has played the game knows how frustrating it can be – having a lesson on Trackman provides you the live time feedback necessary to make swing changes on the spot.  Whether someone is completely new to the game or an experienced player looking to lower their handicap, the coaching element adds significant value and helps people make real progress.”

The hard work won’t stop now as Flyte is open from 8am to 10pm seven days a week. As well as the 30-minute booking slots, monthly and annual membership options are also available. PGA Professional Colin Maguire is also based on site to provide lessons and coaching. Bookings can be made online through the website http://www.flytegolf.ie.