How much does a golf simulator projector cost?

If you are thinking about converting a spare bedroom or your basement into St. Andrews or Augusta National – you are not alone.  According to Bloomberg, there was a 50% jump in demand for home golf simulation systems in 2020.   These systems work best with a projector using an impact screen to deliver an immersive experience.  Golf simulator projectors can cost from $400 to $4000 depending on the features you want for your room.  

Which model is right for your setup – and budget?  This article will help you break down how much a good golf simulator projector will cost – including the ones using the latest laser light technology. Here three key factors to consider:

• Projector Placement – “Throw Ratio” needed for home golf simulator rooms
• Resolution that is best for your impact screen
• Using traditional projector lamps or laser projectors for a maintenance free golf simulator

While TV’s and monitors typically come in only 1080p or 4K, selecting the right resolution for your golf simulator is one of the biggest choices for your investment.  Why?  A home golf simulator projector will display the course on a large impact screen – typically 150 inches or larger.  The larger your screen – the more important resolution is to enable an immersive experience.  This is especially important on 4K enabled Foresight, TruGolf, and other simulators that enable putting.  Here are the common resolutions you should consider for your golf simulator.

Many of the most popular simulators can create a 4K image, creating the most realistic and immersive experience possible – especially on a larger impact screen.  A true UHD 4K projector can display each one of these on the screen, enabling you to see every detail of the course.  The good news – depending on how bright a projector you need, you can get a 4K UHD short throw projector for under $2000, and a 5000 lumen high brightness laser projector for under $5000.

One other benefit of the 4K is that it will enable your impact screen to double as an amazing home theater for movies or watching the Masters in true 4K resolution.

This is a popular resolution for laser projectors used for golf simulators until affordable 4K projectors became available.   They have higher resolution than 1080p projectors (2.3 million pixels) and have 4000 or 5000 lumens of brightness, and laser-based models cost under $5000.   This is more than enough brightness for a well-lit room for a golf sim setup with curtains.  The main drawback is that it is not a native resolution for TV or movies, so if you are looking at using this as a home theater or TV viewing room, you may want to consider moving up to UHD resolution.

This is the most popular resolution for monitors and older televisions and displays over 2 million pixels on the screen.   For projectors, there are lots of models that are under $1000 to choose from for golf simulator setups, but since most of these models are designed for home theaters, you will want to make sure your projector is bright enough.   Most lamp-based projectors generate only 2000 – 3000 lumens, but there are now 4000-lumen laser powered projectors at this resolution (and the right throw ratio) available for under $1500.

If you looking for an inexpensive projector or are space-constrained on the width of your image, a WXGA or XGA projector might be for you.  Originally designed for classroom whiteboards, they are bright enough for golf simulators – and have the right throw ratios.  These are the least expensive of them all, and while they display only 1 million pixels, you can find lamp projectors with a short-throw lens starting at around $600.  But for a small amount more – you may want to consider a higher resolution as the incremental cost for 1 million more pixels is usually worth it.    

BenQ introduced the first laser projector in 2011, and since then the cost of these has come down substantially.   Is it worth the extra cost for your home simulator?   Here are the key differences between a lamp and a laser projector for golf simulators for you to consider.

A laser projector turns on instantly – just like your TV – and doesn’t require a warm-up period like a traditional lamp.   Laser projectors are ideal when you just want to drop in and hit a quick bucket of balls.

While projectors with traditional lamps are less expensive to purchase– the cost of replacement lamps – and the hassle of installing them – is something to consider.  Higher lumen 5000-lumen golf simulator projectors that use regular lamps have shorter lamp life and are more expensive to replace than traditional home theater lamps.  For example – one popular golf simulation 5000 lumen projector model has a replacement lamp cost of $350 - which adds up to $1400 over the life of the projector.   While laser projectors have a higher initial cost - they are rated for 20,000 hours – which is a lot of hassle-free course time.   

Compared to the cost of the camera and impact screen, a projector is one of the less expensive components – but can make a big difference in how your simulator looks, plays – and how much the room is used for watching Tin Cup, live or recorded tournaments, and streaming golf content when you are not playing.  Here is a breakdown of the cost and features of models you may want to consider that have the right throw ratios for golf simulation placement and an estimated cost.  Note that many of these models may have special pricing or promotions, so check with us or your reseller for the latest price.