Play 18 holes at Pebble Beach on new virtual golf simulators at Ferg’s

If the list of activities at St. Pete’s biggest sports bar wasn’t long enough, there’s now another new reason to make the pilgrimage. Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill has debuted two full-size virtual golf simulation rooms, allowing locals to tee off everywhere from Pebble Beach and Augusta to Whistling Straits and St. Andrews.

The massive simulators quietly made their debut this summer as part of the rebranded “Ferg’s 19^th Hole Sports and Golf Clubhouse” on the second floor of the sprawling sports bar. Indeed, the entire floor has been redecorated to more closely resemble a clubhouse at a golf course, as opposed to the often rowdy sports bar below. Now, with golf, air conditioning and an upcoming craft cocktail program, it fits the bill.

The two bays are open for reservation any day of the week, and will be open for walk-ups every Thursday-Sunday. Beginning July 21, the bays will run golfers $40 an hour (which can be used solo or with a group), but until then, the virtual golf rooms are completely free.

So how does it work? If you’ve seen a golf simulator before, these operate in the same fashion. There is an area for hitting, similar to TopGolf, but instead of launching balls into the sky, they’re hit straight into a tarp, tracked by sensors, and participants will watch their simulated ball sail (hopefully) down the fairway. There are a variety of options, with golfers able to hit the driving range, practice their short game, or play a full 18 holes at nearly 100 courses from across the world.

Clubs are provided on-site, including kids clubs, though guests are welcome to bring their own. Soon, they even plan to have daily golf lessons in the mornings, as well as events such as long drive contests and charity tournaments.

And in fact, it’s not limited to golf, though that’s the main draw. The simulators can run 12 different sports – even including dodgeball. We’d recommend keeping your drinks at a safe distance for that one.

The golf simulators are being run by the team behind the On The Tee radio show, which broadcasts from the 19^th Hole lounge every Thursday from 5-7 pm. Individual and group reservations for the simulators can be made by calling Ferg’s at 727-822-4562.

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