When people think about golf, most people immediately think of club-donning and hat-wearing players under the sunshine of a vast golf course in the countryside. That being said, Indoor golf, literally playing golf inside a room, is something that we may think of as ridiculous. Still, for Igor Vainshtein, this is a business opportunity and his light bulb moment.
One of the home golf industry pioneers, Igor founded 24/7 Golf, a company offering Golf Simulators that can be set up inside a vacant room, whether a garage, a barn or even a bedroom. With a vision of bringing affordable tour-level golf simulators to the industry, the ten-year-old company provides high-quality hitting screens, enclosures and hitting mats at a lower price than competitors while ensuring durability is not compromised.
Golf Simulators are not new in the market. Most of them had been around for quite some time already. However, despite this extended stay in the market, Igor’s team noticed that most commercially available screens, mats and enclosures are of substandard quality and pose hazards and safety risks when used. Driven by this information, Igor’s team developed materials for their enclosure to be made from tough, hard-wearing and long-lasting materials, following the latest health and safety guidelines. “Every simulator enclosure we sell has been independently, rigorously tested by our consultants and the golf teaching and touring professionals on our team.” their website mentions.
Equipped with 20 years of experience within the IT industry, Igor has functioned as General Manager of IT for some of Australia’s most prominent businesses. These experiences helped him build several multi-million dollar companies and share his vast knowledge for innovation in the golf simulation industry.
In line with the current trend of smartphones and handheld devices, Igor also developed GolfTrak, an innovative application that uses advanced AI that allows you to use your smartphone’s rear camera to track the golf ball’s Clubface angle at impact, Vertical launch angle, Spin rate and other golf statistics that would help you develop your A-game. Aside from tracking statistics, the application allows you to play virtual golf, track your progress and challenge your friends.
Aside from the fact that GolfTrak can be used as an alternative for expensive launch monitors worth up to tens of thousands of dollars, the accuracy of the results it provides also lessens the need to purchase sensors and additional hardware for your “off the course” golfing experience. But despite the individuality that GolfTrak promises, it can also be used as an app that works simultaneously with the Golf Simulators from 24/7 Golf.
These companies and innovations are fueled by Igor’s drive to provide exceptional products for the Golf Simulation community. The pandemic also brought in new customers that looked for an alternative way to play the sport while golf courses were closed. The growing market for sports simulators also helped the company ensure they’re on an onward path.
Sports simulations are a very innovative way to introduce sports to regular consumers. They can experience the excitement and the thrill of playing in the comfort of their home. The future is bright for this industry, and with Igor continually contributing, the innovations will be fast and stable.
