Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Barn?
The Barn features 9 covered hitting bays allowing golf in almost all weather. It is powered by Toptracer Range, the same technology used on televised golf tournaments to track the shots of the game’s best players. Guests can play virtual golf courses, try for closest to the pin or long drive, and receive instant shot feedback on interactive game screens.
How does it work?
You have your own “bay” similar to a lane at a bowling alley. Each bay has a garage door open to the outside. You stand inside and hit balls through the garage door. Each bay holds up to 4 players and during your reservation you get unlimited range balls.
How much does it cost?
Generally speaking it costs $40 per hour per bay. (There may be discounts at off peak times, see current rates) If you have 4 people in the bay, it works out to just $10/hour for each of you.
OK, but when I book online it says $80 for each reservation?
Yes, we book in 2 hour blocks of time, so the $80 is for 2 hours. When we first opened, we tried to book in 1 hour blocks, but no one was ready to leave after just one hour so we had to kick people out against their will. It wasn’t fun for anyone, so now we book in 2 hour blocks
What if I only want to stay for an hour?
Make a reservation as usual for 2 hours, but you will only be charged for the time that you use, with a minimum of 1 hour.
What if I want to stay for more than 2 hours?
Please make a second reservation for 2 hours after your original start time. For example, if you want to play from 2:00 to 6:00, make one reservation for 2:00, and a second reservation for 4:00.
Is there a bar?
Of course! The bar is always open when the Barn is open. In the summer, food service is usually available until 4 PM. In the winter food service is only available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
How are the balls tracked?
There is a camera at each end of the building that traces each ball and measures its speed, height, and trajectory.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are highly recommended. Why take the chance of getting shut out? There are only 9 bays so space is very limited. More information on making a reservation is here
What if I have more than 4 people?
Each bay holds 4 people, so if you have more than that you will need to reserve a second bay. We will try to put your groups in adjoining bays.
What if I have less than 4 people?
Sorry – the price is still $40/hour for the bay, so you’ll each have to pay a little more. On the plus side, you’ll each get to hit more balls.
Is it cold in the winter?
It can be. This is still an outdoor activity. There are propane heaters like in a hockey rink, but the east side of the building is open. If you are standing or sitting near the heaters, they will warm you, but dress for the outdoors.
What do you mean by “works in almost all weather”?
Sorry – Toptracer Range does not work while it is actively snowing. The balls are tracked by a camera at each end of the building which triangulates the position of the balls being hit, so when the cameras are blocked by falling snow they can’t read the golf balls. Our policy is to give rain checks if people want them, or they can stay and still hit balls for half price if that is their preference. We apologize for the inconvenience, but there is nothing we can do about it. Think of it like a rain out on an outdoor course. If we know there is going to be a snowy day, we will likely close for the day and notify our people with reservations via email. If you aren’t sure before you come, feel free to call us at 508-830-3535 to check the current conditions.
Do I need to download the Toptracer Range App?
No. You can play as a guest. Some virtual courses require the Toptracer App, and if you login with the app it will keep track of your stats over time and show your name on the leaderboards, so it is highly recommended. Please see the bottom of this page if you would like to download the app before you come.
Do you have leagues in the Barn?
We sure do – Winter Golf League
How long does it take to play 9 holes?
Even getting used to the technology your first time out, you should be able to complete nine holes in 2 hours with 4 players no problem. As in real golf, a lot of it depends on how quickly your group moves and how much talking goes on between shots. Once you’re used to the technology, four people can sometimes play a full 18 in 2 hours if they move quickly. The good news is you can play at your own pace, you aren’t slowing down the group behind you or waiting for the group in front of you.
Do you offer rental clubs?
We do not. Experience has shown that they get damaged almost immediately so it becomes very expensive. You can easily play out of one of your friends bags as long as one person in your group has clubs
I have never played golf before, what do you think?
It can be challenging if you are not an experienced golfer. The technology has trouble reading balls that don’t go in the air, the garage doors can be surprisingly easy to hit, and the virtual courses are difficult. That being said, golf is only part of the fun of being in the Barn.
How do you putt in virtual golf?
So this is a major difference between Toptracer Range and conventional indoor golf simulators. For those of you who have tried to “putt” on an indoor golf simulator, you know that it is an iffy proposition at best. With Toptracer, once you get on or near the green, a series of targets will show up on the screen, usually at 55 or 100 yards. Each target will have rings around it based on how close your approach shot was to the hole. The closer the approach, the bigger the rings will be to have you finish the hole with a birdie, par, bogey, etc. There is a great on screen tutorial and our friendly staff members can help you as well.
Can I play Southers Marsh virtually?
Unfortunately no. I don’t know what it takes to map a virtual course, but they haven’t made the trip to Southers Marsh yet.
Do you offer memberships to the Barn?
Nope. We thought long and hard about it, but we only have 9 bays, so the membership pricing would be exorbitant.
What if I want to just come hit balls and not use the Toptracer technology?
No dice. Trust us, you’ll want to use the technology, it’s awesome.
Can I hold and event or party in the Barn?
Yes. Please email our event coordinator, Tanya, or call her at 508-830-3535 Tuesday-Friday between 10 and 3 to discuss the details and see if it would be a fit for you.