I Built an $8,000 Golf Simulator in My Basement

Full build guide: Carl’s Place built-in room kit, Garmin Approach R50, SynPro turf, Ex Tee hitting strip, custom slat wall, and LED lighting. Every dollar documented. No shortcuts hidden.

The Starting Point

I had a bonus room in my basement that was collecting nothing. About 14 feet deep, 12 feet wide, and just under 9 feet of ceiling clearance. It was fine as a storage room. It could be a golf simulator.

I’m a business analyst. Before I buy anything, I build a spreadsheet. So I spent two weeks pricing out every component, reading every forum thread I could find, and watching hours of build videos before I ordered a single thing. Here’s everything I learned — and everything I spent.

Phase 1: Framing the Enclosure

The first decision was whether to use a freestanding net or go full built-in. I went built-in for one reason: resale value and aesthetics. A net in your basement looks like a net in your basement. A Carl’s Place built-in room kit looks like a real simulator bay.

That meant framing. The kit attaches to the wall and ceiling, so I needed a proper stud wall where there wasn’t one. If you’re not comfortable with basic framing, this is the step where you call a friend or hire it out — everything else in this build is more DIY-friendly.

I framed a dividing wall to separate the simulator room from the rest of the basement. Standard 2×4 framing, 16 inches on center. Nothing complicated — just time-consuming. One afternoon.

Pro tip: Measure your ceiling height three times before you order the Carl’s Place kit. The kits come in specific heights and the enclosure needs to fit. I had 8’10” of usable clearance after accounting for the track mount — that’s tight but workable.

Phase 2: The Carl’s Place Built-In Room Kit

This is the centerpiece of the build. Carl’s Place makes the gold standard of golf simulator enclosures — the built-in room kit comes with the side baffles, the top baffle, the impact screen, and all the hardware. Nothing else on the market comes close for the price.

The kit ships in a few boxes. Setup involves mounting the top track to the ceiling, attaching the side frame rails to the wall studs, and hanging the impact screen from the included bungee attachment system. It took me about 6 hours across a Saturday.

The impact screen hangs via bungees from the top track, which keeps it taut while still allowing it to absorb ball impact. This is critical — a rigid screen will take damage. The bungee system means the screen can give slightly on contact, which extends its life considerably.

What I’d do differently: Order the screen tensioning rods at the same time as the kit. I had to wait an extra week for them because I didn’t realize they were a separate accessory. Minor, but annoying.

Phase 3: SynPro Turf

Flooring makes or breaks the look of a simulator room. I went with SynPro turf — a golf-specific artificial turf that looks great and performs well underfoot. It ships as a large roll that you cut to size.

I ordered enough to cover the full room floor. The turf goes down over the existing foam tiles — no adhesive, just weight. The edges tuck under the side baffles cleanly.

Phase 4: The Ex Tee Hitting Strip

The hitting strip is where you actually swing from, so it matters. The Ex Tee hitting strip sits on top of the SynPro turf and gives you a realistic hitting surface. It’s a firm, low-pile mat that sits flush with the surrounding turf — no tripping hazard, no awkward step up.

The Ex Tee hitting strip is one of those things where you get what you pay for. The cheap alternatives feel wrong underfoot immediately. This one feels like hitting off a tight lie — exactly what you want.

Why Not Just Use a Thick Hitting Mat?

You can, and plenty of sim builds do. I went the turf-plus-strip route because I wanted the full floor coverage to look like a real tee box, not a mat sitting on carpet. Personal preference, but I think it looks significantly better and the playing experience is more immersive.

Phase 5: Side Padding and Enclosure Finish

The Carl’s Place kit includes the side baffles, but the side wall padding is a separate addition. I added foam padding panels along the side walls — both for safety on errant shots and for the finished look.

Phase 6: LED Lighting

This was an afterthought that became one of my favorite decisions. I ran LED strip lights along the ceiling edge around the perimeter of the room. It adds ambient lighting that doesn’t create glare on the screen and makes the room look incredible.

I used addressable LED strips so I can change the color. Usually warm white during play, color modes when I just want to vibe in there. Cost was under $80 for the whole run.

LED tip: Don’t run the LEDs directly behind the screen — you’ll get glare that washes out the projected image. Keep them on the side and rear walls only.

Phase 7: The Garmin Approach R50 Launch Monitor

The launch monitor is the brain of the whole operation. I chose the Garmin Approach R50 after comparing it against the Mevo+ and Uneekor setups. The R50 won for Garmin’s accuracy reputation, the built-in touchscreen display, and E6 Connect software integration.

The R50 sits on the floor behind the hitting position and reads the ball using radar. It captures ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, carry distance, total distance, and more. Setup took about 20 minutes including app configuration and network pairing.

E6 Connect vs. GSPro

The R50 comes with E6 Connect included. It’s solid — good course library, realistic ball physics, works well out of the box. Some builders prefer GSPro for its course variety and community, but it requires a subscription and more setup. I started with E6 and have been happy with it.

Phase 8: The Finished Room

Three weekends. A lot of trips to Lowe’s. One moment of panic when I thought I’d ordered the wrong screen size (I hadn’t). And this is what you end up with:

The finished room hits every note I was going for: professional look, functional setup, and a playing experience that actually improves your game. I play 3–4 rounds a week in here now. My handicap has dropped two strokes since the build.

Full Cost Breakdown

Here’s every dollar. No rounding, no leaving things out.

Item	Brand / Model	Cost
Built-In Room Kit	Carl’s Place Standard	$2,199
Launch Monitor	Garmin Approach R50	$2,500
Turf	SynPro Golf Turf (12×14)	$680
Hitting Strip	Ex Tee Hitting Strip	$290
Side Padding	Carl’s Place Side Pads	$380
Projector	Optoma ZH406ST	$850
LED Lighting	Govee LED Strip (2× runs)	$78
Framing lumber + hardware	Lowe’s	$145
Slat wall panels	Lowe’s	$180
Club storage mounts	Amazon	$65
Misc (cables, mounts, tape)	Various	$47
Foam floor tiles	Already owned	$0
Total		$7,414

What I’d Do Differently

• Order everything at once. I made three separate Carl’s Place orders because I kept finding accessories I missed. Their shipping is good, but you’re paying for it each time.
• Do the LED lighting from the start. Running the strips after the enclosure was installed meant working in tight spaces. 20 minutes of planning up front saves 2 hours later.
• Get the projector ceiling mount before the screen goes in. Mount placement matters more than I expected — doing that math before the screen is hung is much easier.
• The slat wall was worth every penny. It’s the detail that makes the room feel finished rather than just functional.

Final Verdict

This is the best home improvement project I’ve ever done. Full stop. The golf simulator gets used 3–4× per week. My game has measurably improved. My kids use it. My friends ask to come over specifically to play. The $7,400 I spent on this has generated more value than almost anything else I’ve put money into in this house.

If you’re on the fence — do it. Do your homework on the launch monitor, go built-in if you have the ceiling height, and document everything as you go.

Full Gear List

• Carl’s Place Built-In Room Kit — enclosure, impact screen, baffles
• Garmin Approach R50 — launch monitor
• SynPro Golf Turf — floor covering
• Ex Tee Hitting Strip — hitting surface
• Carl’s Place Side Padding — wall protection
• Optoma ZH406ST Projector — short-throw projector
• Govee LED Strip Lights — ambient lighting

Questions about the build? Drop them in the comments below or reach out directly. Happy to go deeper on any phase.