Indoor Golf Census: 3,849 Venues, $40/Hour Median — What It Means for Home Sims

The Census Data: 3,849 Venues, 82.7% Independent

What does the 2026 indoor golf census tell home sim buyers? There are 3,849 indoor golf venues in the US, 82.7% independent, median $40/hour — meaning 50 sessions costs $2,000, roughly the price of a mid-range launch monitor. TrackMan dominates at 63.2% of venues.

Rent vs Buy: The Home Sim Math

The data makes a strong case for building your own home sim if you’d practice more than once a week. See our cost guide for full budget breakdowns, our garage sim build guide for the most popular home setup option, and our golf simulator facility financing guide for the commercial venue economics.

What 3,849 Venues Mean for Your Home Sim

The census numbers confirm the home sim market is no longer a niche: with 3,849 venues nationwide and a $40/hour median, the “rent vs buy” question now has real data behind it. If you’re weighing whether to rent a bay or build your own, the 82.7% independent operator share shows the barrier to entry is low — and the sim facility boom is directly expanding the ecosystem that makes home sims better. For the full picture of who’s buying, see our home golf sim market analysis and best home golf simulators guide.