The Standard

What it takes to be selected

There are perhaps twenty thousand public indoor golf venues in the world. We expect to select around five thousand of them. This page explains how that decision is made, and what it is never influenced by.

First, the baseline

Five conditions · fail one and a venue is not considered

  1. 01

    Golf is central

    The golf is the reason the venue exists, not an amenity beside something else.

  2. 02

    Credible technology

    Named, current, correctly installed and honestly described.

  3. 03

    A proper environment

    Adequate ceiling height, maintained mats and screens, a room that is looked after.

  4. 04

    Meaningful access

    Public or membership access a reader can actually obtain.

  5. 05

    Verifiable facts

    Current information we can check, and re-check.

Then, one clear strength

Clearing the baseline is not enough
Performance
Accuracy you can trust, coaching that changes something, fitting done properly, and data presented rather than displayed.
Typical evidence — launch monitor model and calibration, coach credentials, fitting inventory, session structure.
Play
Realistic ball flight, a course experience worth an evening, and a room that does not fight the swing.
Typical evidence — ceiling height, screen scale, hitting area, course library, round pace.
Place
Design, privacy, light and comfort — a room you would happily spend two hours in.
Typical evidence — room enclosure, noise separation, seating, materials, upkeep.
Culture
A real local golf community, a distinctive format, or a room that regulars protect.
Typical evidence — leagues, regular play, local standing, format specificity.
Hospitality
Service, food and drink good enough to stand on their own, with the golf still the reason to go.
Typical evidence — kitchen, service model, hosting for groups, staff golf literacy.
Character
A memorable point of view, or a place that means something in its own city.
Typical evidence — history, ownership, singularity, local significance.

What does not belong

Saying no is the whole job.

An entertainment-first venue can be selected where the golf is still a genuine reason to go. Most are not. A guide that includes everything is a search engine with worse coverage.

  • Incidental simulators in bars, hotels and gyms
  • Novelty venues where golf is the theme, not the activity
  • Weakly evidenced listings we cannot verify
  • Private installations a reader could never access
  • Anywhere the room is neglected, whatever the technology

Inclusion cannot be purchased.

Selected
Independent, scarce, and decided by the guide alone. Never influenced by payment of any kind.
Verified
A selected venue keeps its facts, imagery and booking details current. A factual status, not an award.
Sponsored
Always labelled, always visually separate, never mixed into selection.
SELECTED BY GOLFSPOTS MMXXVI

The mark is given, never sold, and it can be withdrawn. Selections are re-reviewed every 90 days; no venue has been removed yet.

See the Pro listing