Does a Golf Simulator Actually Help Your Game Outside?

Let’s be honest—“head pro” is a made-up title.
My name’s Jeff Testa. I started Neighborhood National out of my garage.
And when I did, I gave myself the title of Head Pro.

I don’t have any teaching credentials. I’m certainly no expert on the golf swing.
I did it because it’s fun.
And really, that’s what I care about most.

So don’t trust the title.
In fact—this is the internet—be careful who you trust in general.

If there’s one thing I hope you can trust, it’s experience.
Mine, yes—but more importantly, the collective experience of our club.

I’ve lived this journey personally.
I’ve also had a front-row seat to hundreds of others doing the same.
Ten clubs now, with the 11th about a week out.
Nearly 200 members—and counting.

And one of the most common questions we get—from them and from others:

Does this actually work?

That’s what this post is about.
Three things, specifically, that I zero in on when asked—
the last one admittedly a little more personal.

1. It Comes Down to Practice

Ask anyone how to get better at golf and you’ll get a hundred different opinions.
But one thing no one argues with: you have to practice.

If you get fitted for new clubs or pay for lessons and don’t follow it up with regular reps,
you’re lighting your money on fire.

A simulator makes practice easy.
Or rather—it can.
If you have easy access to it.

That’s the secret.
Or at least, that’s our secret.

At Neighborhood National, our members don’t have to book a bay, drive 30 minutes, or pay by the hour.
We’re minutes away. Sometimes literally down the street.
Booking is completely flexible.
And the cost is a fraction of anywhere else.

More reps.
More often.
More better.

2. Data That Actually Helps

Everyone wants a different level of feedback.
Some want all the numbers. Others just want a general sense of how they’re hitting it.

Either way, consistent, accurate feedback changes your game.

The biggest change for me?

Knowing my carry distances.

I don’t speak in total distance anymore.
I don’t think, “What do I hit to 150?”
I think, “What do I carry 137? 146?”

It’s a different mindset.
I approach shots differently.
Not overthinking—but thinking just enough to avoid bad misses and plan for good ones.

It’s made a huge difference in my short game, too.
Landing 3 yards vs 5. 6 yards vs 9.

Tiny numbers—but a 2-yard difference is the difference between a 5-foot putt and a 15-footer.
I don’t make every 5-footer. But I sure make a lot more 5-footers than 15s.

If there’s one thing that got me from a 9 handicap to a 5, this is it.

3. The Mental Game Surprise

This one caught me off guard.
And of any of them, this one is all me—though I have to believe others experience it too.

Practicing on a simulator made me less frustrated.

Maybe it’s the convenience.
Maybe it’s being able to stop and start without pressure.
Maybe it’s not paying by the minute.

Whatever it is, the grind feels lighter.
More productive.

And it carries over onto the course.
I think differently now.
More deliberate. More strategic.

Less autopilot. More awareness.

A Quick Poll from Our Members

I ran a casual poll in our member chat recently.
It was a leading question, sure—but still:

“Is a high-end simulator the best training tool you’ve ever used?”

100% of responses said yes.

Our members are fans for sure.
But they don’t blow smoke. They’ll give me honest feedback.

I expected positivity—I didn’t expect 100% yes’s.

No doubt it’s not just the sim—it’s how it’s all packaged up:
consistent, convenient practice with real feedback.

It just works.

A Quick Note on the Market Shift

Golf is growing—no doubt about it.
In 2023, a record 3.4 million people played on a golf course for the first time, according to the National Golf Foundation.
That’s the fourth straight year of 3+ million new on-course players.

Even hotter is the off-course growth:

• Entertainment venues.
• Driving ranges.
• Simulator bays.

For the first time ever, 2023 saw a higher number of people playing off-course (32.9 million) than on (26.6 million).

What’s often overlooked?
How few people have actually had regular access to a high-quality simulator.

That’s starting to change.

The tech is better.
The costs are lower.
You don’t have to be a Tour pro—or a tech nerd—to make a simulator part of your game now.
But they’re still not widely available for everyday practice... unless you own one yourself.

That’s where Neighborhood National comes in.

We didn’t build this around entertainment or profit.
We built it around a simple idea:

Practice is too hard.
What if it wasn’t?

What if your club was down the street?
Open all day?
No hourly fees?

That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

And we’ve seen it work—
not just for us, but for every member who finally had a way to swing consistently, conveniently, and affordably.

It’s not surprising they’re getting better.
It’s just a matter of access.

Pro Tip: Does It Translate? YES.

Yes. Absolutely. No hesitation.

It doesn’t replace outdoor golf.
It’s not supposed to.

But a high-end golf simulator, used regularly, is hands-down the best training tool I’ve ever used.

And if you’re even a little serious about improving—
it’ll probably be the best one you’ve ever used too.

Curious about the neighborhood we’re building?
Maybe you're not.
Maybe you just have a question about sims.

Either way—reach out anytime.
Happy to help. It’s what good neighbors do.

• 🔵 Become a member at a nearby club
  Get Started →
• 🟢 Join when a club opens near you
  Let Us Know →
• 🟡 Start your own club
  Reach Out →
• ⚪️ Not sure yet? Let’s talk
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