New Golf Simulator Centre takes Flyte in Cork

Cork has welcomed its first dedicated golf simulator centre with the opening of Flyte Golf in the Marina Commercial Park, and it’s already attracting plenty of visitors in its first few weeks. 

Flyte has seen a wide range of customers, from serious amateurs to stag parties to tourists.

Powered by the market leading Trackman technology, the centre offers five custom built simulator bays, providing golfers with the perfect place to practice or socialise. 

The new location is aimed at anyone who wants to swing a club, whether you are a seasoned golfer or a first timer.

Ben Quigley and Rob O’Callaghan are the people behind Flyte, and they spotted the gap in the market in Cork. 

“The idea was born from our own experiences in golf,” explained Rob. 

“Having both played since a young age, as well as having worked in the industry for a number of years, we’ve experienced first-hand how difficult it can be to get consistent practice in, particularly during winter months or when the weather isn’t cooperative, as is often the case in Ireland.

“Although Cork is a thriving city, it is one which is lacking in indoor amenities. 

"There seems to have been a shift away from the pub, and people are looking to partake in non-drinking activities a lot more than in years gone by. 

"Having seen ourselves the surge in simulator centres abroad, we felt Cork was the perfect fit.

“We’re club members so understand both the enjoyment and frustrations that come with trying to improve your game. 

"The personal connection to golf was a big factor in creating the business. We wanted to build something that we would enjoy using ourselves while also introducing more people to the game in a relaxed environment.

“Having grown up as childhood best friends, we’ve played the game together as long as we’ve been able to swing a club. 

"We’ve done a lot of caddying together both in Ireland and abroad so having been in and around the industry for years, the transition into building FLYTE came as a natural next step.”

With a city-centre location and plenty of free parking, the pair have delivered an impressive finished product. 

“Our aim from the outset was to create a welcoming space that would appeal just as much to a novice golfer, who may find a traditional golf club environment a touch intimidating, as it would to an experienced golfer looking for live data feedback.”

The two founders have been hard at work since February, taking the idea from concept to reality and putting in long hours to get the project off the ground. 

“Like any new business venture, you’re going to meet countless obstacles along the way. We carried out the vast majority of the fit-out ourselves, resulting in four and a half months of being on site seven days a week, with 12- to 14-hour days.

“We found ourselves in a constant cycle of problem-solving — often finding that solving one problem created five more! 

"It was definitely a massive learning curve. Looking back, there was a colossal amount of work and certainly moments where it felt never-ending. But by doing so much of it ourselves, not only did it save us a lot of cost, it gave us complete control over the finished product and allowed us to create exactly the type of facility we had envisioned.”

And the result is impressive. Taking a building that was originally used for assembling Ford cars, and one that has had numerous uses since the mid-eighties, the pair have created a custom-built golf centre that meets the needs of social hackers as well as elite amateurs and professionals. Initial feedback from golfers is very positive, and Ben is delighted with the result. 

“Seeing people enjoy the space now makes the long days and late nights worthwhile, and we’re very proud of the way it has turned out. 

"Both of our families have been a massive help throughout. The workload was simply too big to complete fully off our own backs, so there were lots of spare hands thrown in where possible, and we’re massively grateful for all the help throughout.”

The hard work won’t stop now as Flyte is open from 8am to 10pm seven days a week. 

As well as the 30-minute booking slots, monthly and annual membership options are also available. 

PGA Professional Colin Maguire is also based on site to provide lessons and coaching. Bookings can be made online through the website www.flytegolf.ie.