Being able to play any course at any time is a fantasy for many golf enthusiasts. Instead of continuing to fantasize, one local golfer took matters into his own hands, turning those dreams into a reality by creating a new indoor golf facility in his hometown of Modesto, the Swing Center.

Swing Center, located at 3801 Pelandale Ave., opened in August of 2023. Owned by Brian and Valerie Harvey, the facility features six stations with aboutGolf simulators that allow players of all levels to be able to choose the type of games, courses and even conditions they want to drive, pitch and putt in without any need for walk or drive a bumpy course or having to wait for groups to finish up the hole in front of you. The simulators feature over 85 PGA and Ryder Cup courses. Many seasoned golfers have played 18 holes in under an hour at Swing Center. They also offer a variety of practice ranges — long drive, par 3, wedge, doglegs, etc. Each station can accommodate up to eight players at a time.

Above all, the software gives players a seemingly endless amount of feedback, providing data like distance, carry, run club speed, ball speed and backspin for each swing. Additionally, averages can be calculated for each club used, giving players an idea of what they are good at and what they could improve on especially if they are planning on playing at outdoor courses. Data collected can be accessed through the aboutGolf Locker app.

And it’s not just for the die-hard golfers and their player development. The simulators could be a full-time alternative who those who may be intimated by the real courses, they could be a convenient and cleaner way for individuals to get a few practice swings in or folks can come just for fun, Aside from the driving range and course features, the simulators offer games like mini-golf, Skee-ball, cornhole and darts, that are all played with clubs and golf balls.

“It truly is the best of both worlds,” Brian said. “You can come here and practice your game while being given all of this data to help you, or you can come here and swing just for the heck of it with family and friends. You can be passionate about the game or be someone who just wants to try it out or swing for just a small session. There’s valuable data and at the same time, a huge entertainment factor for a lot of people. We just want this to be the place for everyone.”

That concept goes beyond the simulator screens. Each station Swing Center is complemented with couches, barstools and tables for folks to lounge out. Finger foods and drinks, including a variety of beer, can be purchased at a concessions area. 

Swing Center’s front desk is accompanied with a pro shop that offers a range of repairs and maintenance services for the many that choose to bring their own clubs, including re-gripping, re-shafting, and loft and lie adjustments. For those without a full set, rentals are available.

“This is a place that’s been very popular with parties,” said Brian. “A lot of corporate events have been held here, but also birthday parties and other family gatherings. And we see the younger generations come in here and have a great time on the simulator, learning about the mechanics thanks to all the data that it provides, and that’s huge.”

The couple have noticed that golf simulators had grown in popularity in recent years with larger, national chains like Topgolf. 

“Even though the indoor golf simulator concept is growing, we still have people coming in or calling that have no idea about it and are curious to know more,” Valerie said. “But the people who know about it already and the ones that try it out, they all seem to love it, which is good to hear.”

Nevertheless, they feel as if the Swing Center is more than just for entertainment, but a facility that can truly help golfers become better at the game.

“For many people, especially the kids, this is an introduction to the game of golf,” Brian said. “Some people have come here and are swinging a club for the very first time. They learn about the sport and learn how to get better… If this place can help kids fall in love with golf, it’s all worth it.”

Brian fell in love with the sport when he was 12 years old, playing alongside his father at Turlock Golf and Country Club. 

“For about three years there, it was us playing golf every single Sunday,” he recalled. “It was our religion.”

After a successful playing career at Central Catholic High School, Brian knew he wanted to be involved in the sport as an adult. The opportunity finally arose five years ago while on a trip to San Francisco. After dropping Valerie for an appointment, he took a short walk and came upon the Eagle Club Indoor Golf Center.

“I didn’t even know the place existed,” he joked. “I rented a set and hit balls for like an hour. I loved it. It was awesome. And I started wondering if a place like this could work in Modesto.”

He went to work, researching the demographics of the region’s golf community. 

“I would ask people on the range, I would ask people on the putting green about how passionate they were about golf and how much they spend just to get an idea of the market,” he said. “I also read that about 10% of the nation’s population golfs. So I figured, what is 10% of Modesto’s 300,000 population? If there are 30,000 golfers in Modesto and we only have two public courses (Dryden Park and Creekside), we could do this. 

“Especially with our weather where it gets unbearably hot in the summers and there could be some really wet and cold days in the winter, this can be the place for you to play every day throughout the year. That’s the beauty of it all being indoors.”

Swing Center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walk-in prices are per station, which can fit up to eight players, and are as follows:

· MON-THUR: $55/hour

· FRI-SUN: $65/hour

· $30 for a 30-minute session regardless of day

“They’re prices that are really good for groups,” Brian explained. “Because it’s the same price regardless of how many players, up to eight, the more people there are at a simulator, the cheaper it’ll be for each person when they split the bill between each other.”

Discounts can also be applied for pre-paid reservations and by purchasing a Swing Center membership. 

Four pre-paid hours of simulator play is $180. A series of eight hours is $320 when pre-paid. A pre-paid series of 16 hours is $480. With each package, the hours can be used at any time.

As far as memberships go, a solo membership runs $79 per month and includes anytime access to the simulators at a reduced rate of $25 an hour and a $10 an hour guest fee. The Par, Birdie and Albatross memberships vary in price. The Par is $140 for four hours per month, the Birdie is $180 for six hours per month and the Albatross is $300 for 12 hours per month. The hours can be used at any time for the three memberships, that also each include waived guest fees and access to discounted add-on hours. There is also the $400 Unlimited membership that gives players unlimited playing hours each month that can be used at any time with no guest fees. All memberships also include priority booking, discounted fees for any tournaments and leagues, discounts on party packages, exclusive access to promotions and discounts for clubs, grips apparel and accessories at the pro shop. There is no commitment on memberships as they could be canceled at any time.

For more information on Swing Center, they can be reached by visiting www.swingcenter209.com, calling (209) 488-4440, emailing info@swingcenter209.com or by following them on social media at @SwingCenter209 on Instagram and at Swing Center Indoor Golf on Facebook.