Indoor Golf’s Big Leap: From Korean Trend to U. S. Boom

From Fancy Video Game to Golf Phenomenon

Just a decade ago, many Koreans dismissed indoor golf simulators as little more than an elaborate video game. Today, that perception has flipped entirely. Golfzon, the dominant force in Korea’s off-course golf market, now operates over 6,500 indoor simulator sites—double the number of rounds played on traditional courses in the country. What was once seen as a novelty has become the primary way millions experience the game.

America’s Next Golf Boom?

In the United States, Golfzon’s CEO Sean Pyun sees a mirror of Korea’s past—a market brimming with untapped potential. Last year alone, the U.S. market grew by 90%, outpacing even the most optimistic forecasts. "Competition here moves faster than in Korea," Pyun says. "And that speed benefits the entire sport."

Pyun’s deep roots in golf—16 years with the LPGA Tour—gave him early insight into the debate over simulators. Equipment manufacturers once feared that indoor golf would deter players from buying clubs, visiting real courses, or even losing balls in the rough. Yet in Korea, the opposite happened: golf participation and the industry thrived alongside the rise of simulators.

From Backup Plan to Mainstream Game-Changer

For years, Americans largely viewed simulators as a weather-proof backup—useful for bad days or late-night practice. Now, that’s changing. Pyun predicts a massive surge in new players, especially those who’ve never held a club before. He envisions the U.S. golf market doubling or tripling over the next decade, following Korea’s lead.

To capitalize on this, Golfzon has relocated its global team to the U.S. and is aggressively expanding into commercial venues, lessons, club fittings, and even home setups. While major cities like New York and Chicago were initial targets, hot climates like Arizona and Texas are seeing surging demand—so much so that traditional courses worry about losing members to indoor centers.

Turning Practice Areas Into Nightlife Hotspots

Golfzon’s recent partnership with Pebble Beach—installing simulators at Spanish Bay—exemplifies this shift. What was once a daytime practice area is now an evening entertainment hub, blending high-tech golf with social experience.

Their flagship project, Golfzon City, replicates this model on a massive scale: an 18-hole simulator experience in a space the size of a Walmart, where players move from screen to synthetic green, completing each hole before advancing. The first U.S. location opens in Chicago, with Nashville and other cities soon to follow. China already has two such venues, attracting record crowds.

The Future: Can Simulators Grow the Game?

Pyun is quick to clarify: real courses aren’t going anywhere. They remain the heart of golf’s tradition and prestige. But indoor golf, he argues, is the gateway—introducing millions to the game who might eventually step onto real greens, from local muni courses to world-renowned resorts.

The numbers back him up. The National Golf Foundation reports a 154% increase in simulator participation since 2019, with over 9.2 million Americans using them in 2025. More than half of these players have never swung a club on a real course.

For golf’s long-term health, this is a win-win. Pyun believes this trend will sustain growth, attract new businesses, and ensure the sport’s future is as vibrant as its past.

The question isn’t whether indoor golf will change the game—it’s how soon the rest of the world catches up.