Will This 18-Hole Indoor Golf Course Concept Work?

The golf boom is testing its boundaries.

CityGolf USA, in partnership with simulator pioneer Golfzon, just announced the upcoming opening of its flagship location in Nashville, Tenn., which claims to be the first full 18-hole indoor simulator golf course in the United States. The Nashville location will open later this year and there are multiple future facilities being planned (10–15 locations by 2030, according to the Golfzon website).

The CityGolf concept features full shots being hit into a simulator and then 18 synthetic green complexes that allow for in-real-life short-game pitching, chipping, bunker play and putting.

Think of this as a modified TGL (“half-sim” model) that is consumer-facing. It’s sim golf (Golfzon tech) combined with “real golf” once you get within close range. Hit on a sim, place your ball on the green complex, hole out and then go to the next sim location to repeat.

An 18-hole round will cost between $60 and $125, depending on time of day. It will take about 2.5 hours to play the whole round.

There are also dedicated short-game areas, a driving range with Golfzon simulators, PGA pros offering lessons, player development programs, leagues, restaurant and bar, retail pro shop and private event spaces.

The 174,000-square-foot facility is located (checks notes) … woah, only 11 minutes from where I’m typing this! For those familiar with Nashville, we’re talking about The Nations, west of Tennessee State University’s campus.

This is the third CityGolf location; the first two are in China. The Tianjin site, which opened in September 2024, had 9,937 rounds played in 2025. Through the first half of 2026, 7,623 rounds had been played there, a significant uptick in traffic.

“Golf has never been more popular but for millions of golfers, finding the time, or even a place to play remains a challenge,” said Tony Graffia Jr, CEO of CityGolf USA. “CityGolf USA changes that by making it possible to play a full round before or after work, year-round, in cities where people live and work. It’s a faster, more accessible way to experience the game.”

“CityGolf is creating something that has never existed in the U.S.—a true indoor golf course supported by a full hospitality ecosystem,” said A.J. Zahn, COO of CityGolf USA. “Our mission is to bring real golf into the heart of America’s cities, and Nashville is the perfect place to begin.”

Is this concept going to be successful?

A lot of people have been dismissing this idea since it was announced but I think it will be immensely popular.

Let’s start with the idea in a vacuum—I think it’s cool. It’s going to be really fast to play. You don’t have to worry about weather or daylight. The facility can be a place where all skill levels of golfer can convene. It’s family-friendly. I’m 1,000 percent going to try it.

Think about alternative golf competitors.

Is CityGolf going to be more fun than Topgolf? Uh, yes. Topgolf is struggling for a reason. The novelty factor wears off quickly. You are just hitting bad golf balls with bad golf clubs into a field.

More fun than PopStroke or Puttshack? Definitely. I love me some mini golf but getting to make actual golf swings and hit chips/pitches is way more compelling.

More fun than a standard simulator? Well, it better be.

And Nashville, like many cities, has a supply and demand issue with golf courses. The new golf development is all private. Public golf is limited—especially in the vicinity of downtown—and the tee sheet is packed everywhere. It’s like Sunday morning at Costco if you go to McCabe on a weekend (Nashville people will get that one).

CityGolf will get most of the hard-core golf locals at least once and they’ll get tons of the tourists/bachelor parties. Lots of frat bros will pour into this place to try it. I’m sure CityGolf will also get into northern markets with heavy population centers that can support this kind of facility.

I’ve said a lot of nice things so here is the counterpoint: Should golfers be paying upwards of $100 or more for a round of semi-real golf?

I can play normal golf at a muni down the street for $35. Or, if I wanted to pay $100, I could play a much nicer course.

Nothing can replace actual golf. The best synthetic greens don’t react the same way as real grass. A simulator can’t replace a course.

I’m not anti-simulator by any means. They are an awesome part of our game. There is a time, place and price point for simulators.

What I’m saying is that if you are paying $100 to play golf, it’s hard to stomach doing that for many will feel is a novelty experience. Closer to the $65 and I think we have more of a match.

I also want to mention there is a simulator club downtown called Nashville City Golf. I’m sure that won’t lead to any confusion for anyone who types in “CityGolf Nashville” and sees “Nashville City Golf” as the first search result.

This will test the golf boom boundaries

As I said at the beginning, this type of niche concept at this price point will really test how popular golf has become.

I have no doubt that people are going to be willing to pay to experience CityGolf one time. It’s cool enough for that.

The kicker is whether they will want to pay for the experience a second, third and fourth time.

I’m reserving judgment. My opinion is that this will be very successful for multiple years due to the novelty and then will experience a Topgolf-esque decline when the consumer looks at their golf spending and votes for green grass.

However, I’m writing that prediction in pencil. I also want to go experience it myself before making any bold proclamations.

What do you think? Let me know below in the comments.