Cotati’s new golf simulator, Golf 20Fore7 opened in May and offers golf 24 hours a day.
Marc Fischer has been an avid golfer since his college days but he noticed that Sonoma County was missing something that could benefit golfers looking to improve their skills – an indoor golf facility.
After years of dreaming of that facility, the Santa Rosa resident and his wife Julie quietly opened an indoor golf facility in Cotati last month called Golf 20Fore7.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the Cotati community and I just hope it grows and expands and I look forward to serving the community with entertainment and some education around golf,” Fischer said.
Golf 20Fore7 offers high tech golf simulators that displays statistics about the golfer’s swing, the trajectory of the ball and more, as well as putting greens. You can also get a golf lesson from PGA member David Suh.
The golf simulator uses a projector and screen setup. A golfer hits balls at a soft, flexible screen, and the simulator displays data of the swing such as how far the ball would go, the angle of the swing, the power behind the swing and more.
This is one of the few indoor golf simulators in Sonoma County, along with Ace’s Ball Club which has batting cages and golf simulators, and soon-to-open Sports Society in Petaluma.
With its tables and chairs that clients use when bringing in food, Fischer compares the facility to “a man cave.”
“It’s got everything you want in your own place if you had space, I tried to make it at our facility,” Fischer said.
Customers can reserve an hour for $50 for one of the three simulators. They also have the option to buy a basic membership for $150 to have 24 hour facility access, a three hour limit per day and $20 Guest Fee.
The premium membership for $200 per month offers the same benefits, except guests do not have to pay a fee.
Fischer said the customer books a session on their website and they will get an email with a link to unlock the simulator’s door. The customer then turns on projector and swings away at the screen.
Fischer said the facility’s ability to stay open 24/7 makes it unique. His background in software consulting gave him the tools he needed to monitor the business without needing any overnight employees.
“As an avid golfer myself, for those who not only want to have fun but also want to do some game improvement activity, the technology has just come a really long way in the last few years,” Fischer said. “It makes it a really positive experience.”
One of the facility’s customers, Abraham Flinders said as more people started golfing, there were fewer tee times available, and this offers an alternative to the golf course.
“You don’t have to be a great golfer, you can really level up your play. There’s nothing intimidating about it, just come in and swing away and have fun,” Flinders said.
Flinders said the facility doesn’t just offer a place for golfers to practice their swing, it’s also a late-night entertainment space for Cotati. He said he often visits the place after work and after his two young children are in bed.
“After 8 p.m., the only thing you can do is go to the bar. And we just need more things that aren’t involving alcohol all the time. And this is a great way to not only get some exercise, but you can do it with friends, you can be competitive and it’s great,” Flinders said.
The shop’s grand opening is this week on July 17 starting at 4:30 p.m., when free golf and a networking mixer for the Cotati Chamber of Commerce will be offered.
Fischer said hopes to expand with locations in Santa Rosa and Petaluma. According to their website, they expect to open those facilities in late 2025.
You can reach Staff Writer Melanie Nguyen at 707-521-5457 or melanie.nguyen@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @mellybelly119