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HOW TO BUILD YOUR
DREAM GOLF SIM
Building a golf sim is easier than you think! With DIY, you control the gear to fit your space and budget. Pixel Golf is here to help—check out our YouTube Guides or reach out anytime. We'll assist you step-by-step, completely free!
HAVE QUESTIONS?
GIVE US A CALL NOW!
We understand building a golf sim can
feel overwhelming with where to start... Feel free to call us directly to discuss your build.
NEED HELP DESIGNING
YOUR BUILD?
We will work with you to design
your dream setup to fit your
space & your budget, FREE of charge!
We believe your golf simulator should be more than a place to practice—it should be the most entertaining room in your home. What started as our family’s DIY COVID project is now a space for golf, movies, workouts, and more.
Now, we help others create their dream sims—whether in a garage, business, basement, or spare room. Scroll down for our step-by-step guide, gear picks, and trusted products. Questions? Reach out anytime!
DIY GOLF SIM GUIDE
The Screen
Start your golf simulator build with the screen—it defines your space and greatly affects image quality and noise. We recommend Carl’s Place Premium: a thick, 3-layer design for crisp visuals and quiet impact. Available in enclosures, screen-only, or built-in options, all customizable to fit your space. Not sure what size or style you need? Call or message us—we’re happy to help!
Design it to fit your space perfectly: Custom DIY Build
Get a prebuilt enclosure: Carl's Place Enclosures
Go screen only: Carl's Place Screens
Bright Space? Check out the new gray screen: Go Gray!
Want a curved screen? Get it here
The Turf
Turf is the other major piece that frames your golf sim. We recommend 1" EVA puzzle mats with putting turf, a cost-effective, realistic setup. Our top pick: Money Putt Turf. It’s durable, lays flat without glue, and rolls like a real green. Easy to trim, install, and fully customizable for your space.
Get the puzzle mat: 1" EVA Foam Gym Mat
Get the turf here: Money Put Turf
Want it in black? Order here: Black Turf
The Projector
Your projector choice depends on screen size and resolution—1080p or stunning 4K. We recommend BenQ, the only brand with golf-specific features like Auto Screen Fit and Golf Mode. We use the king of golf sim projectors, the LK936ST, but their new AK700ST gets you 90% of the way there at a more budget-friendly price. We'll list our favorites below, but check out all models here: https://alnk.to/5Fcxcqk
The 4K King:BenQ LK936ST
The New Affordable 4K Option: BenQ AK700ST
Highly Recommended 1080P: BenQ AH700ST
The Launch Monitor
You might wonder why the launch monitor comes last—it’s important, but I recommend starting with the screen, turf, and projector since they define your space and will last for years if you invest in quality. Plus, with a projector, you’ve already got a home theater! Launch monitors are evolving fast, and most are accurate enough for 95% of golfers. If budget allows, the Foresight GC3 is a top pick—portable and precise. On a tighter budget? The Garmin R10 is a solid start and upgradeable later. Ceiling-mounted options like the Apogee are great if portability isn’t a concern or if you need ambidextrous support. Reach out anytime—we're happy to help you choose the right one!
Our Favorite Floor Unit:
GC3 Launch Monitor from Foresight Sports
Affordable Floor Unit:
Garmin Approach R10
Our Favorite Ceiling-Mount Unit:
TruGolf Apogee
Affordable Ceiling-Mount Unit:
ProTee VX *Use Code: TEEUP5 for 5% OFF!
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The PC
When choosing a PC, ask yourself: Are you going 4K? Do you need portability? For 4K, we recommend a beefy gaming desktop for better performance. Prefer portability or only going 1080P? We’ll also link a recommended prebuilt gaming laptop. You can also check out our custom $K monster DIY build tutorial on YouTube, linked below and also a prebuilt 4K gaming desktop option.
DIY PC Build Tutorial:
Watch the full video
Prebuilt 4K Desktop Bundle (includes monitor, keyboard & mouse)
4K Gaming PC Bundle
Gaming Laptop Option
Gaming Laptop
The Software
Like launch monitors, you’ve got plenty of software options. Some are device-specific, but most work with our favorite—GS Pro. We love GS Pro for its massive course library and flexibility, including custom tee boxes for kids. We also really like FSX Play as it has great graphics and works great, but course selection is lacking... Honorable mention: E6 Apex, which offers stunning graphics and is improving fast with frequent updates.
Get GSPro: GS Pro Software
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The Hitting Insert
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If you're going with the DIY gym mat and putting turf setup (great choice!), we recommend adding a drop-in hitting insert. It provides a realistic feel, clearly marks the hitting zone, and makes it easy to swap styles—foam-backed for joint comfort or gel for that true divot feel. Check out our YouTube tutorial to make your own easily and affordably! We'll also link some prebuilt options if DIY isn't your thing.
Build your own: https://youtu.be/OTW2GLJG8XM
Prebuilt Options: https://alnk.to/gKRKOkn
Important Note: Prebuilt options require a thicker underlayment. We recommend these tiles →
The Other Components
With the components above, you’ve got everything you need for your DIY golf sim—but don’t forget a few key accessories like mounts and cables. Below are the extras we use and recommend:
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HDMI Cable: We’ve tested several, and this one’s the most reliable—great signal and image quality over long runs. Pick your length here.
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Projector Mounts:
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Sound: Projector speakers are fine for sim play, but for movie mode, we recommend this soundbar. It has a wireless sub with deep bass and detachable surround speakers for full immersion.
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Apple TV: Use the projector’s second HDMI port to connect an Apple TV for smart functionality. We’ve tried them all—the Apple TV 4K was the easiest to use and looked the best.
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Gaming Console: Remember—this is more than just a golf simulator! You can hook up your favorite console and game on a massive screen 🎮 We love connecting our Nintendo Switch and playing life-sized Mario Kart with friends. Check it out here. We even turned it into a full racing sim—watch the YouTube video to see how we did it!
CHECK OUT OUR REVIEWS & HOW TO VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
Learn how to make your own DIY golf simulator! Don’t settle for those all-in-one golf sim kits that can be expensive and limited, build it and customize it exactly how you want to fit YOUR space & budget
Watch our video covering all of the changes we've made to our home golf sim after 4 years. We cover all products in our current setup as well as things you should consider for your dream build.
Check out our review and install of Money Putt turf by GrassTex. We have tested a few different turfs for indoor golf simulators and this one takes the crown for durability and design!
GET IN TOUCH
Have questions or need help? Fill out out our contact form and let us know what you need help with. We will help you design and build your dream DIY golf simulator to fit your space & budget.
You can also reach out to us via email at pixelgolfco@gmail.com or give us a call/text at 602.430.0279. Let's work together to bring your golf simulator vision to life or upgrade your current setup!
PRODUCTS WE RECOMMEND
USE CODE: "PIXELGOLF" FOR 5% OFF CARL'S PRODUCTS!
