Feb. 12, 2025

It’s now possible to golf — at least simulated golf — at 2 a.m. in Sioux Falls.

Swing365 franchisee Pat Sabers said overnight hours are proving popular at the facility he opened last month with what he describes as a “fabulous” start.

“(Recently) I was at the facility and had a cop there. He gets off at 2 in the morning, and rather than go home and sit on the couch for three hours before he goes to bed, he hits some balls to wind down,” Sabers said.

“Bartenders and doctors will be there that late at night. I don’t think it will be ‘bar closes and we’re looking for things to do.’ It’s professionals that are not able to get there in the daytime.”

Swing365, a golf simulator business based around monthly memberships and headquartered in Omaha, opened in a retail center at 3014 W. 57th St. next to JJ’s Axes & Ales.

The space includes two simulator suites. The wide-screen simulators come from the Full Swing Pro Series, which features infrared technology — using 688 infrared sensors across two tracks — to measure the ball mid-flight at the speed of light.

Players can see their ball flight on the screen with no delay transitioning from the real world to the simulated world just as they would on a course. The system offers more than 95 courses from around the world.

“These are serious golfers that are coming in, they want to play with nice equipment, on nice courses, and they want feedback on spin, things like that,” Sabers said. “I’ve had a number of members when I’ve gone in that had tripods and cameras set up so they could videotape themselves, using an online swing coach, taking advantage of the system.”

Beginning golfers may find it easier to improve their golf game in a private setting rather than on a public golf course in front of other players, Sabers said.

“It is honestly for everyone,” he said.

Monthly memberships offer the chance to reserve the suites 24/7, starting at 90 minutes a day. Different membership levels determine how far in advance the suites can be booked. The lowest level of membership already is at capacity, Sabers said.

He thinks Swing365 will not be viewed as a wintertime-only facility, even when other courses turn green in the spring. Swing365 doesn’t compete against green-grass golf but complements it, Sabers said.

“Public courses are busy, and to get on a course is tough,” he said. “I can get in and play 18 holes by myself in 45 minutes. Or hit a bucket of balls for half an hour and still get driving range work. Or leave a round at Bakker (Crossing) or Prairie (Green) and have a bad day with the driver –they can show up at my facility with their driver to get that fixed.”

Swing365 doesn’t offer refreshments, but Sabers is collaborating with neighboring JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars. When a member books a tee time online, they can place an order with JJ’s, and the restaurant staff will deliver the food. JJ’s also might host open houses such as Whiskey Wednesdays at Swing365.

Early feedback makes Sabers feel confident that he will be able to open other Swing365 locations in Sioux Falls.

“The feedback I’ve been getting is that Sioux Falls golfers find ‘cool.’ They know what cool looks like, and they gravitate to technology that is cool,” he said. “The feedback I’ve gotten, this is the best simulator technology in Sioux Falls, and the experience is second to none.”