A ballroom isn't a backyard. We found that out, in a good way, when we did an event for the Canucks Autism Network. It's a solid example of a golf simulator charity event: a mobile golf simulator that arrives with the whole setup, goes into a room built for banquets, and gives guests something to gather around. The network is a registered charity that runs programs and training for autistic children, youth and adults across British Columbia, and we were proud to support it.
The room
It was a proper ballroom: long banquet tables, a stage with big screens, carpet underfoot. None of that is built for golf, and none of it has to be. A simulator doesn't need a course, a patio or a quiet corner. It needs clear floor space, a standard power outlet, and a way to get the gear through the door.
How setup went
The clip shows most of it. The enclosure goes up first. Then comes a ladder beside the projector, the hitting mat unrolled across the floor, and a laptop on a side table running the simulator software. From an empty patch of carpet to ready to hit is usually 30 to 45 minutes, and teardown takes about the same. Our attendant handles both, so nobody from the organizing team has to be pulled off their own job to help.
If you're booking a venue like this, the one thing worth sorting early is load-in: which door, what time, and whether there's a cart or a lift. Everything else on our setup page applies the same as it does outdoors.
Why a simulator suits a charity event
- Anyone can play. No golf experience needed, so the first-timer and the weekend golfer end up in the same lineup.
- Something to do between the main parts. At a night with dinner, speeches or an auction, guests need somewhere to stand and talk. A screen with a game on it does that job.
- Weather is a smaller risk. It runs indoors, so you aren't gambling on a course booking or a forecast.
- It's one booking. No tee sheet, no travel for guests, no course fees. We bring the setup to the room.
If you're planning one for your cause
Pick the format first: open play all evening, a closest-to-the-pin contest, or a bracket with a trophy. Then tell us the date, the venue and roughly how many people you expect, and we'll recommend how much time to book. Half Day is $499 and Full Day is $799 for the simulator across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley; see pricing.
How you raise money around it is up to you, whether that's entry fees or a sponsored contest. In BC, raffles and 50/50 draws need a licence, and the province explains the process on its gambling and fundraising page. More on this kind of event is on our school and charity fundraiser page, and if you're booking for a company rather than a cause, see corporate golf events in Vancouver. Ready to go? Tell us your date.