What a golf simulator really costs per player
Updated Oct 31, 2026 · based on 21 Minneapolis–St Paul venues that publish their prices
Golf simulator venues almost never charge per person. You rent a bay (one screen, one hitting mat) by the hour, and everyone in your group shares it. That makes the real question “what does it cost each of us?”, and the answer depends far more on group size and timing than on which venue you pick.
The formula
Cost per player = bay rate × hours × bays needed ÷ players.
Most bays take up to 4 or 6 players. A group bigger than that needs a second bay, which doubles the bill. Of the venues we track, 9 allow up to six per bay, 2 cap it at four, and 10 don't publish a limit (our calculator assumes 6 for those and says so).
What venues charge (Twin Cities, per bay per hour)
| When | Lowest | Typical | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday daytime | $25 | $44 | $65 |
| Weekday evening | $35 | $50 | $80 |
| Weekend | $43 | $55 | $80 |
“Typical” is the median published rate. The highest prices are at full-service simulator bars; golf-course clubhouses and small studios sit at the lower end.
What a group actually pays
At the typical weekday-evening rate of $50 an hour, here is the per-person cost for one bay:
| Group | 1 hour | 2 hours | 18 holes (≈1 hr per player) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 player | $50 | $100 | $50 |
| 2 players | $25 | $50 | $50 |
| 4 players | $12.50 | $25 | $50 |
| 6 players | $8.33 | $16.67 | $50 |
Notice the last column: a full 18-hole round costs roughly one hour's bay rate per person no matter how many of you play, because a bigger group simply needs more time. Group size saves money on time-boxed sessions (practice, a two-hour night out), not on full rounds.
Timing changes the price more than the venue
- Weekday daytime is the cheapest slot: a typical $44 an hour versus $55 at weekends.
- Evening and weekend “peak” rates usually start between 4 and 5 pm. Starting an hour earlier can save a full tier.
- Golf-course clubhouses often run simulators only in winter, and some studios switch to cheaper summer rates.
Discounts most people miss
14 of the 21 priced venues publish at least one deal. The common ones:
- Senior, student and veteran rates on weekday daytimes.
- Half-price days: X-Golf Blaine, X-Golf Champlin, X-Golf Medina, X-Golf Apple Valley, X-Golf Eden Prairie, X-Golf Woodbury, The Golf Garage.
- Hour packs and passes at golf-course clubhouses, which bring the hourly rate down for regulars.
- Public Country Club membership discounts at several chains.
Before you book
- Check whether the price includes tax (most don't).
- Ask about the maximum group size per bay if the venue doesn't publish it.
- Look for minimum booking lengths on discount slots (often 2 hours).
- Bring your own clubs if you can; rental fees vary and aren't always listed.
Run your own numbers. The Minneapolis–St Paul calculator ranks every priced venue for your group size, hours and time of day.