Wanting More Access to Golf?

Golf in the winter months doesn’t have the same allure as golf in the summer does it? Trudging around a golf course in winter lacks appeal to all but the most enthusiastic golfer. Even those keen to play may find that their my fair weather golfing partners have already accepted defeat and packed up for the year. Other, things seem to take priority.

But what if there was a full 18 hole virtual golf club near you that was open all year round? What if that golf course was easily accessible, and playing on it meshed neatly with your daily routine?

Leisure centres, amusement arcades and bowling alleys located in or near our high streets sound unlikely places to have golf simulator facilities. But maybe, if these premises offered access to golf simulators, people would actually use them. After all, people visit these places to get fit, play competitive sports or to have some recreation time. Is that not the same reason why people play golf?

A suitable premises doesn’t have to be a golf course or virtual golf facility. In fact, these places could even be discouraging to an amateur golfer. Some people are just looking for an excuse to be able to play or practice at a time that fits into their daily routine.

Consider these scenarios for a moment:

If you were to go to the gym, you may think you have no time to practice your golf that same evening. But if there was a golf simulator at the gym, would you not be tempted to sneak in some practice?

Children love to play in amusement arcades. If you were to take your youngsters on a day out and found yourself dragged into an amusement arcade, and noticed that a golf simulator had been installed, would you be able to resist a few swings to rid yourself of that disastrous hook?

What if you go bowling one evening to compete with your friends and notice a golf simulator has been installed. How long would it take before the rivalry moves onto a nearest to pin competition, or another planned visit is tabled to play greensomes?

At Cowlens Golf, we are particularly interested in the more unusual premises such as these. We believe that these venues would capture the passing trade that is not experienced by specialist golf centres.

If you have a premises such as this and have previously overlooked golf simulators due to high costs - or because you are worried about the footfall, then our low price, low risk package may just be the answer.

To find out more about our simulator package, take a look at our website, Cowlens.co.uk.

Maximising Profits From Golf Simulation

With good quality golf simulators costing the best part of £20,000 or more, it can be a daunting prospect to enter into the golf simulator market.  With typical hourly play prices of between £20per hour inclusive of VAT, it is easy to see that with an average of 5 hours play per day, the business will struggle break even after a full twelve months.
In fact, with a pre-tax play price of £16.66, 5 hours play per day, 365 days a year, revenue would be approximately £30,000.  In basic terms, forgetting overheads for a moment, profit would be approximately  £10,000 on a £20,000 investment, in other words about 50% return on investment.

This might appear a good return to you, but at Cowlens, we don’t think it is!

So what do we think is a good return on investment?
60%?  70%
No.

Ideally, a business would want to generate a return of 100% or more on their initial capital investment, starting in year 1.
To overcome this, some simulator companies may promote their systems with an illustration of much higher game play.  Some will have illustrations of up to 14 hours play per day.  This amount of play would show income levels in excess of £85,000 per year.  Whilst this is not impossible, it is clearly impractical and unrealistic for a start up company.  With many new businesses folding in the first year of trading, it is clear that businesses need the best possible start in order to survive, not unrealistic targets.
So is a 100% return on investment actually possible?  At Cowlens we believe that with the right set up, it is.
Cowlens have devised a new approach.  We call it our low cost simulator package.  With a low start up cost of just £8,495 (and enrolment onto our 3 year pricing plan) businesses already have a head start.

Taking the earlier example of 5 hours game play per day and income of £30,000 it is easy to see how the low entry price of £8,495 can generate an attractive return on investment.  There are other monthly charges to consider with the 3 year plan, however with these included, returns of over 100% can be achieved in the first year with just 5 hours play per day at £16.66 per hour.
Of course, not all businesses will be the same, thats why Cowlens also assist with developing pricing structures to increase returns. Examples are shown on our previous blog: Golf Simulator Profits - Buying Time. With a definitive pricing structure and our low entry cost combined, we believe that with the risks of failure are significantly reduced and the opportunities of success are enhanced.
If you would like to know more about our low cost simulator package visit Cowlens.co.uk.

Where Next For Golf Simulation?

Cowlens Golf was launched to service a particular sector in the golf simulator market. After several years experience in the golf simulator industry, Adrian Cowle, a Director of Cowlens Ltd wanted to bring something new to the sector.
Cowlens Golf follows Adrian’s vision that golf play doesn’t need to be restricted to Golf Clubs or specialist virtual golf venues. Adrian says: “With the technology available today at such a low cost there is no reason why golf cannot be an activity that is accessible to everyone. More and more people are becoming interested in the game and I believe that there is a market for amateur golfers that is currently not being serviced to its fullest potential”
It is fair to say that the technology of golf simulators has improved significantly in recent years and accurate simulators no longer have to cost the earth. But how does this connect with Adrian’s vision that golf play doesn’t need to be restricted to golf clubs or specialist virtual golf venues?
“At Cowlens Golf we want to promote the game of golf to a wider market” says Adrian “For those new to the game, playing in golf clubs or specialist indoor golf venues can be intimidating. It doesn’t have to be that way. Although golf simulators can be practical tools to help golfers practice and develop their swing, they also attract interest from non golfers from within the leisure and entertainment market.”
Adrian’s view is that with the low cost technology available today, other businesses in the leisure industry can very easily add a golf simulator to their range of activities. These less intimidating environments are likely to encourage more people to play the game.
“There is no reason why other businesses in the leisure sector cannot have a share in this market place” Adrian says “ Golf simulators are a great way to learn the game and I see no reason why these facilities cannot be available in other venues such as leisure centres, amusement arcades and even bowling alleys”.
Adrian may well have a point. Afterall, these premises are frequented by people wanting to get fit, learn a new sport, play a challenging game or just get out for a couple of hours with the kids. Why wouldn’t people want to hone in their golf skills in these places, compete with others or even play for fun?
“This can only be good for the golfing sector as a whole” says Adrian. “To help realise this vision, we have designed a low cost package that we hope will encourage new businesses into the golfing market and reduce the risks of high capital investment projects.”
Adrian’s vision may soon become a reality. Adrian is keen to promote golf simulation to businesses that would not usually consider adding a golf simulator to the activities that they offer. To help realise this, Cowlens Golf has devised a low cost entry package to help forward thinking businesses get a foot into the golf market.
Cowlens packages start from as little as £8,495 so businesses new to the idea of golf simulation can afford to experiment without breaking the bank. In return for a low entry price, customers sign up to a 3 year agreement that includes maintenance and service.
To find out more, visit Cowlens.co.uk.

Looking For a Golf Simulator But Find Them Too Expensive?

Golf simulators can be very expensive pieces of equipment to buy. If you are in the leisure industry and have previously thought about adding a golf simulator to the range of activities you provide, you may well be used to hearing typical costs of £20,000 or more to have a simulator installed.
In fact, some simulators would set you back considerably more than this, and figures of £40,000 or even £50,000 are not unheard of. This makes the decision to install a simulator that much harder, particularly if golf is not your main business.
The question that would be nagging you would be “If there are simulators on the market for £50,000, does that mean that a simulator for £20,000 is not as good? Without knowledge of each simulator on the market and without knowing exactly what you are trying to achieve with a simulator, you would struggle to find an answer.
With such high entry costs and little knowledge of the simulators on the market, it is difficult to determine whether adding a golf simulator to your range of activities would be a good or bad investment. If the decision isn’t hard enough already, you then have to think about how long it would take to break even – let alone generate a profit.
You may then arrive at the decision that the installation of a simulator is too high a risk and go back to what you have always done.

But wouldn’t it be great if there was another way?

Cowlens Golf has several years experience in the golf simulator industry. We know the pros and cons of various systems in the market place and we are more than happy to meet with you and discuss the options available to you. At Cowlens, our current system of choice is the Sports Coach system with high-speed camera technology. We believe that it is the best value simulator on the market and outstrips more expensive models in performance and accuracy.
But finding the right system is only half of the equation. What about the cost and the return on my investment? Cowlens Golf have covered that too. We have spent several months exploring how we can provide golf simulators at a very low entry cost. We have also generated cash flow forecasts to help visualise how much income can be generated on a month-by-month basis and we would be pleased to talk this through with you to help you make the right decision.
That just leaves the burning question. How much will it cost? Well, with start up costs as low as £8,495 we think that we may just have the answer to your problem.
Want to know how we do it? Visit Cowlens.co.uk to find out more.

Golf Simulator Profits - Buying Time

When investing in a golf simulator, it is important to consider the market it is aimed at. Obviously, you would consider golfers to be the primary customer, but that is not necessarily the case.
If your simulator has been installed in a golf club, and you are offering players the opportunity to book hourly sessions to play 9 holes for example, you may find that the simulator does not attract a great deal of use in the summer months as golfers would rather be on the course. Similarly, if your golf simulator has been installed in fitness facility, you may find that users prefer shorter bookings to coincide with other health and fitness equipment on offer, and that your customers are not primarily golfers.
Pricing structures should be carefully considered against the demographic of customers. The pricing structure should also be regularly monitored to achieve the highest throughput possible. As an example, Cowlens Golf have put together a sample of charging packages to demonstrate this.

Example 1: Golf Club
30 minutes play from 7am-10am £15-£18
30 minutes play from 6pm - 9pm £15-£18
1 hour pre booked slots 10am-6pm £20-£25
30 mins Professional Coaching Monday to Friday £30-£50

Example 2: Fitness Centre
30 minutes play from 7am-10pm £15-£18
1 hour pre booked play from 7am-10pm £20-£25
3 half hour Professional Coaching sessions £150

Example 3: Sports Bar / Indoor Golf Facility
10 minutes play (Nearest the Pin/Longest Drive) from 11am-11pm £6

20 minutes play (Nearest the Pin/Longest Drive) from 11am-11pm £9

30 minutes play (Nearest the Pin/Longest Drive) from 11am-11pm £12

1 hour pre booked slots off peak £20

1 hour pre booked slots peak £25

2 hours pre booked groups of 4-6 players £20 per player

Example 4: Bowling Alley / Arcade

10 minutes turn up and play (Nearest the Pin/Longest Drive) from 10am-10pm £6

30 minutes pre-booked from 9am-11am £15

30 minutes pre-booked from 6pm-10pm £15

These pricing structures are simply examples that show various pricing structures that can be designed to match the type of custom expected at various points of the day and maximise the use and profits that can be gained from the simulator. Actual pricing structures can only be properly tuned once demand for the simulator has been monitored over time.

Can you Profit from a Golf Simulator?

Let's be honest. Companies all over the world demonstrate the great opportunities and profit gains that can be made from golf simulators. Are the figures realistic? Some say yes, some say no. But the hard facts are purely in defining the difference between the two opposing ends of the scale.
Let's start with the failed ventures and discuss how they possibly could have failed.
To begin with, the golf simulator projects that have failed will be mainly down to three factors. First of all, the investment has been to high to achieve the anticipated return on investment. Secondly, the investment has most probably been incorporated into a loan that attracts interest, and thirdly, the investor has not researched market potential.
It all sounds so simple, but in fact it is all so true. Golf simulators are a niche market. Success is not a free ticket. Investors need to understand that the simulators do not guarantee a constant throughput of trade.
Cowlens Golf has undertaken several months of study to examine these pitfalls to try to establish the difference between a winning market and a failing one. The differences are stark, but obvious. Let's start with investment...

Investing in a golf simulator is not cheap. Nearly all golf simulators require a significant outlay, and at the same time, they also require maintenance to ensure that they perform correctly. A large investment requires an equally fast return. Therefore, approaching the simulator market this way requires a huge investment on advertising and cost benefit campaigns to encourage further business. An alternative approach is to minimalise investment and lower your risk through profit share. Examine a full investment risk and potential return against low risk investment and decide what is right for you.

Secondly, lets look at loans. Consider your loan. It nearly is impossible to offset loan interest against hire time and gain profit. Your profit margins will be minimal if not insignificant. You will therefore need to spend serious time establishing a realistic price point per hour and identifying guaranteed usage to cover costs. Loan investments will generally be successful if you can establish a facility operating three or more machines with 3-5 hours on each system per day. It really is entirely your choice. If anyone would like to understand potential ROI, please email Rachel at info@cowlens.co.uk

Finally, what about research? A profitable business model does not rely solely on the simulator. Create an environment that suits and pleases the customer to encourages a stable throughput of custom. A typical example of throughput failure can be seen in British public houses. Licencing laws in public houses has changed to 24 hours after Landlords and Pub-Co companies pushed for it. The result? Landlords and area managers failed to utilise the opportunity. Now, customers are more staggered, pubs are more empty, and trade is going down. The point here is that a fluid flow of custom is important, not the hours of operation. A successful facility manager will understand how to anticipate when demand is high and when it is low. There is little point in being open 24-7 unless facility use is guaranteed. Buy free knowledge from local golf clubs, leisure centres and health clubs. Understand how the local demographic works, take time to consider where your advantages lie and apply them to your business model.

I will talk about all three of these aspects in greater detail in future blogs. Please feel free to comment on this post. If you have any questions, please raise them on this blog, or send us a message on our contact form at www.cowlens.co.uk

Is Change on the Horizon for Golf Simulation?

In  the last few years, we have seen golf simulator technology changing in leaps and bounds. Camera technology is now becoming the norm and less accurate infra red technology is soon to be redundant. Computer power has also improved over recent years, but for some reason, whilst many mainstream gaming companies are wasting no time in unleashing the latest impressive graphics on new releases, it doesn't seem to be the case for golf simulators. When playing on a golf simulator, you cannot help but think that graphical improvements have been left in the dark, maybe for a little too long. Cowlens Golf is keeping a very close eye on this, and we are looking at some incredible graphical developments that will bring amazing realism to the golf simulator market. Much that it is guaranteed that such developments will feed into the market place, we still believe that measurement accuracy remains paramount. The marriage between accuracy and realism is just around the corner. Keep an eye on our blog for updates!