HOLLAND, Ohio — There's a new option for area golfers to work on their game when the links are closed for winter.
"Who wants to go out in May or June for the first time and say, 'Oh my goodness, I haven't swung for six months," said professional golfer and X Golf Toledo co-owner Marlon Gisi.
X Golf Toledo is currently in a soft opening at its location in Holland, 7141 Spring Meadows Drive W. There is a second location in the greater Toledo area located in Perrysburg, 26567 N. Dixie Highway is set to open in the summer.
Featuring seven simulators and PGA pro lessons, X Golf Toledo will provide local golfers a chance to keep swinging throughout the year.
"Work on your game through the seasons, throughout the year,' said general manager Sam Vause. "When the grass gets brown and the ground gets hard it's a little challenging to get out there. But come in, it's always 70 degrees and 'sunny' inside of X Golf."
The top-of-the-line simulators offer up to 50 real-world courses, can host up to six golfers a round and can track velocity, angle, spin and much more. Leagues and special event reservations are also offered.
"The short game especially is far superior than a lot of the other ones," said Nick Perrine, who is in an X Golf league at the Perrysburg location.
Gisi touted the simulators' precision.
"A lot of simulators, I've heard things like the putting is terrible or it doesn't read accurately," he said. "Sure, it's fun to swing. But if you're not getting the accurate feedback, it's not the same. This is just like playing a round of golf; you get rewarded for a good shot and you get penalized for a bad one."
Along with practicing your game any time of the year, you can also participate in national online tournaments. Regulars can keep track of every shot on the X Golf app and golfers of all skill levels can take that information to help better refine their game before they hit the links again in late spring.
"From teaching to club fitting, those numbers are vital. It allows us to work on all aspects of the game," Gisi said.
X Golf Toledo will operate in a soft opening for the time being and a grand opening to be planned in a few weeks. The facility is still looking for more PGA pros, bartenders and servers to join the team.