Himalayas Golf creates indoor short-game area for Bayview club in Toronto

Himalayas Golf has created a new indoor short-game facility for Bayview Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Canada.

The 5,000-square-foot area has been built in the club’s old curling barn and has a three-tiered artificial turf green and a bunker with a lip height of three feet. Four simulator bays have also been installed.

“Design it with interest, and they won’t just come, they’ll stay,” said Rob Gavarkovs, vice president of Himalayas Golf, formerly known as Jansen Golf Design. “We strived to build something that would keep Bayview’s members interested in their practice routines all winter long.

“Flat is boring. I see greens go unused or underused all the time. If it’s flat, players will hit five putts, make one, and they’re done. We give them a tough pin on a tricky shelf, and it takes them 30 putts to make. They feel so much more accomplished when they do, and they’ve also built a new skill in their game they didn’t have before.”

Construction of the new practice area began in November 2023 and it opened to members in December.

“More than anything, the key to designing indoor golf is the focus on safety,” said Gavarkovs. “In the case of Bayview, the green was designed to have a ‘putting only’ section that extends behind the bunker, and a chipping section on either side. The focus was allowing players to putt, while players chipping and playing from the bunker are naturally directed to hit balls to the back right wall.”

Bayview offered 250 winter membership add-ons for their approximately 700 members, which sold out in 10 hours.

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