CEO Sean Pyun joins The Hole Story Podcast to share how GOLFZON is transforming indoor golf, expanding access,aand creating new opportunities for players worldwide.
There’s a moment that sticks with you when you hear Sean Pyun talk about golf.
It’s not about technology.
It’s not about data.
It’s not even about hitting the perfect shot.
It’s about access.
I remember a conversation that I had with the USGA back when we were signing GOLFZON as a corporate sponsor. The question was, “is this gimmicky, maybe video game like?” What I remember saying to Mike and John from the USGA about was, hey, this gimmicky game or whatever you want to call it, puts clubs in the hands of people.
That single idea — simple, almost obvious — is quietly powering one of the biggest shifts happening in the game today: the rise of indoor golf and professional golf simulators.
From Donut Shops to the Global Golf Business
Sean’s story doesn’t begin on a pristine fairway. It starts in a donut shop.
Growing up, his parents would come home from long mornings running their business and turn on coverage from the LPGA Tour. At the time, Sean wasn’t interested. Golf wasn’t his thing.
But something about those moments stuck.
Years later, after graduate school, he found himself working for the LPGA — what turned into a 16-year career that took him around the world. That journey eventually led him to GOLFZON, a company he had once helped bring in as a sponsor.
What he saw then — and what he sees even more clearly now — is that golf doesn’t grow by staying exclusive. It grows by becoming more accessible.
The First “Wow” Moment
Ask anyone who steps into a Golfzon setup for the first time, and you’ll hear the same reaction:
“Wow.”
It’s not just a golf simulator with a screen. It’s something closer to a full sensory experience. The floor shifts beneath your feet. Your ball lies change from fairway to rough to bunker. The system reacts in real time, simulating conditions you’d expect on a championship course.
This is what defines premium golf simulators today — and why GOLFZON has become a leader in the professional indoor golf simulator space.
But the real magic isn’t just in the tech. It’s in what that tech enables.
A Different Kind of Golf Experience
Picture this.
You’re playing a round of golf… but your playing partner is across the country. Maybe across the world. You swing, and your ball flies across not just your screen — but theirs. They see it land in real time.
You talk. You laugh. Maybe you talk a little trash.
It’s not just screen golf anymore. It’s shared golf.
That sense of connection is intentional. Because while many people think of a golf simulator as a training tool, GOLFZON sees it as something bigger: a social experience.
And that shift is exactly why the indoor golf simulator business is booming.
A New Chapter for the Game
For decades, golf has been tied to time, weather and geography. Tee times are limited. Seasons dictate when you can play. And not everyone has easy access to a course.
Indoor golf changes that.
Sean has seen it firsthand in South Korea, where GOLFZON originated. What began as a way to practice during harsh winters turned into something much bigger. Today, more rounds are played on simulators than on traditional courses there.
And instead of hurting the game, it fueled it.
More beginners picked up clubs. More casual players became regulars. Entirely new audiences — especially women and first-time golfers — found a more welcoming way into the sport.
That same pattern is now emerging globally.
From Simulators to Stadiums
One of the most fascinating developments is something GOLFZON calls “City Golf.”
Imagine walking through an 18-hole course indoors. Not just hitting into a screen — but moving from hole to hole, just like you would outside. The screen lifts, revealing a putting green. You finish the hole, then walk forward to the next.
You never go backward. The flow feels natural.
It’s not trying to replace outdoor golf. It’s trying to recreate the experience in a new way.
And for entrepreneurs exploring golf simulator business ideas or starting a golf simulator business, concepts like this represent a whole new category — something between traditional golf and entertainment venues.
The Business Behind the Experience
Of course, none of this happens without serious investment.
A professional golf simulator cost — especially for a system like GOLFZON — can reach $100,000. It’s a premium product, designed for both residential enthusiasts and commercial operators.
But the demand is there.
Facilities are staying busy year-round. Some report significant percentages of first-time golfers walking through their doors. Others are seeing strong repeat business driven by leagues, events and social play.
For anyone researching:
- how to start a golf simulator business
- opening a golf simulator business
- or building an indoor golf simulator business
…the model is becoming clearer. It’s not just about golf. It’s about creating a place people want to return to.
Technology Is Just the Beginning
You might expect the future to be all about better graphics or more accurate data.
And yes, GOLFZON is investing in those — along with innovations like AI coaching and remote instruction.
But when Sean talks about what’s next, he doesn’t lead with technology.
He talks about experience.
How do you recreate the feeling of being on a course?
How do you capture the camaraderie, the rhythm, the shared moments?
Because in the end, that’s what keeps people coming back.
A Partnership That Signals What’s Coming
GOLFZON’s collaboration with the United States Golf Association — including ties to events like the U.S. Open — is a clear sign that indoor golf is no longer on the fringe.
It’s being taken seriously.
There’s growing momentum toward organized competition, global simulator tours and even the possibility of major indoor championships.
The line between virtual and traditional golf is starting to blur — and that’s by design.
Why It All Matters
At first glance, GOLFZON simulators and the broader golf simulator business might seem like they’re about innovation.
But spend a little time with Sean’s story, and you realize it’s about something much simpler.
It’s about removing barriers.
It’s about giving someone who’s never played golf a reason to try.
It’s about letting friends stay connected — even when they’re miles apart.
And maybe most importantly, it’s about remembering what makes golf special in the first place.
In a world where technology often pulls people apart, indoor golf — powered by companies like GOLFZON — is doing something unexpected.
It’s bringing them back together.
Listen to CEO Sean Pyun’s full interview with the Hole Story Podcast here.