Virtually driving the game's popularity

American wit Mark Twain is said to have once quipped that "golf is a good walk spoiled". One can only wonder what he would make of the emergence of high-tech urban golf spaces that remove the walking part from the equation.

In such spaces, enthusiasts of the game Mr Twain clearly had such little regard for are offered far greater access to it than ever before, no longer required to pay exorbitant membership dues and pricey green fees, nor needing to be close to a sprawling outdoor course — and, of course, no more lost balls.

Instead, they simply swing into a giant screen that simulates fairways and putting greens, all from a cozy indoor setting where sofas, drinks and food are never more than a few steps away.

Sensors instantly track the ball's flight, and the simulator projects a realistic trajectory across the virtual course, showing distance, launch angle, sidespin, backspin and other shot data in real time.

This tech-driven model is also reshaping competitive golf.

Last year, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy launched TGL, a fast-paced indoor league built around a massive screen for long shots and a 3,800-square-foot, 360-degree rotating and morphing green — all part of an effort to make golf more engaging, accessible and environmentally sustainable.

"Today's young people are more interested in the virtual and digital world," noted Hei Jiantao, a golf commentator.

"As an activity with a history of around seven hundred years, golf may be facing a bottleneck in appealing to the younger generation."

Golf courses cover large areas and are mostly located on the outskirts of cities, rather than in urban areas. A round of golf takes about four hours, plus one or two hours of travel time. This time commitment is another reason many people consider golf a "luxury". Indoor golf, however, offers convenient access nearby and will also reshape the stereotype of traditional golf as an "aristocratic sport", potentially becoming a new pastime for young people, Hei added.

He believes this evolved format will also unlock new market opportunities.

A recent report by the China Golf Association (CGA) showed that the country's golfing population stands at approximately 5.4 million, including about 720,000 core on-course participants and around 1.33 million indoor participants, namely, golf simulator users.

The average number of rounds played per person at indoor facilities is significantly higher than that at outdoor courses.

Li Jinli, an indoor golf enthusiast in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, picked up the sport in recent years and has since fallen in love with it.

"I've found that compared to high-intensity sports like basketball, which I used to enjoy, golf is a more suitable long-term pursuit as my physical fitness naturally declines with age," he said.

He chose to practice using golf simulators because they are more affordable and require less time commitment.

"Indoor golf allows us to practice, have a drink and chat. It satisfies the social and stress-relief requirements of city dwellers," he added.

Currently, the country is home to more than 2,000 indoor golf facilities.

Wang Jijun, CEO and founder of Shenzhen-based GolfJoy, a leading company in the field of indoor golf technology, believes that it can help remove the barriers to entry in golf, providing consumers with more enjoyable and accessible digitally intelligent golf products, while contributing to the development of fitness nationwide.

In December, GolfJoy opened an urban golf space in Guangzhou's Huangpu district. The facility combines digital simulators with a real-grass short-game area, delivering a complete 18-hole golf experience in an urban setting.

"We aim to deliver about 95 percent of the experience of playing on a traditional outdoor course, using only about three percent of the physical footprint," Wang said. He added that for consumers, the cost of an 18-hole round has also dropped from over a thousand yuan ($144) to an affordable two to three hundred yuan.

"With AI-empowered golf facilities, players can receive targeted guidance from an AI instructor," Wang said. "This makes every shot more enjoyable and helps enthusiasts sharpen their skills before stepping onto a real course, ultimately enhancing their outdoor experience."

On the company's AI-driven indoor simulator, after a player stands on a gravity mat and hits a shot toward the giant screen, the system immediately evaluates the swing and analyzes the ball's trajectory. It then offers recommendations focused on two key goals: hitting farther and hitting straighter.

The feedback includes analysis of swing posture, stance and other critical aspects.

Lyu Jiapeng, a 36-year-old golf coach who has been using the AI-driven simulator for three months, said that the technology had helped him hit shots surpassing 300 yards.

"If I were practicing on my own, I would have to try out different possible solutions one by one through trial and error," he noted.

"But AI analysis helps me prioritize what matters most, allowing for more targeted improvement.

"When I'm coaching, the AI and I kind of double-check each other. It makes the whole process more efficient," he added.

The GolfJoy Women's Open, the first full-field event of the 2026 CLPG Tour season, wrapped up this past weekend at Mission Hills in Dongguan, Guangdong province.

As part of the tournament's embracing of technology, smart devices and LED screens installed at the first and 18th holes delivered real-time swing data to both live and online audiences. Players also had the opportunity to experience AI-powered instruction on the simulators.

"I think applying this kind of technology to amateur competitions would give regular golfers a great experience and help them fall even more in love with the sport," said Chinese golfer Anne Yu.