Can the toast of the fall become the major championship (or elevated event) debutante of the spring? That’s the question when it comes to Tom Kim, winner of two post-Open Championship events on the PGA Tour and individual champion (if there was one) of the Presidents Cup in September.

Kim has captivated pretty much everyone who encountered him with not only his buttery approach shots and deft short game, but an electricity that is rare in the golf world. His aura, it seems, is nearly as singular and nonreplicable as his game. 

He is, without question, the best youngest star in golf. The 20-year-old (he won’t be 21 until the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club) is ranked No. 15 in the world and on the radar of even the very best players in the world.

Kim is a bit of an oddity, too. In a world where many of the top young players are making their way with distance and speed, Kim is not that long off the tee. Last year, he didn’t have enough rounds to qualify, but his average drive of 301.1 yards would have been T92 on the PGA Tour, and his club head speed of 110.09 would have ranked 177th. This is not the statistical profile of somebody ranked in the top 20 in the world six months removed from his teenage years.

And yet, the thing Kim does best is perhaps the lost art of winning. He wins a lot. In 81 starts in Official World Golf Ranking events, Kim has eight wins. That’s an enormous number that, while buoyed a bit by playing often on lesser tours, cannot be immediately dismissed because Kim has also won twice in 20 starts on the PGA Tour.

In other words, his winning percentage on the best tour in the world (10%) is actually slightly better than his winning percentage on every other tour in the world (9.8%).

I recently joked that Tom Kim is going to be the richest golfer who has ever lived, which is fun to think about until you realize it actually might not be a joke. The PGA Tour floated a document earlier this year that showed how Jim Furyk (17 wins, one major) would have made more than $600 million in earnings — if his career had started in 2023 — from a variety of different PGA Tour revenue streams.

I’m not saying Kim is going to have Furyk’s career, but if he does, he’s probably going down as the richest golfer of all time (on-course earnings only, of course).

All of this begs the obvious question of just how good Kim can be: What is Tom Kim’s ceiling?

Some incredible comps from Data Golf gets things started: Adam Scott in 2001, Jon Rahm in 2015, Joaquin Niemann in 2019, Sungjae Im in 2018, Jason Day in 2008, and Rickie Fowler in 2009. It also throws in Kevin Na in 2004 and Ryo Ishikawa in 2012.

Though I’m enamored with Kim’s presence and his sense of the moment, I tend to believe he’s a bit overvalued right now. He exceeded his expected win total during the 2021-22 season (two worldwide wins, 0.79 expected wins), and he is doing so again in the 2022-23 season (one win, 0.55 expected wins). This is not everything, but if you dig a little deeper into his profile, it tells a story.

Kim’s problem is going to be ball-striking. He’s an elite iron player — like, really great — but he’s so short off the tee that it’s likely going to prohibit him from truly contending at the biggest events. While Kim is incredibly consistent off the tee — his driving accuracy would have ranked fourth last season if he’d qualified — he has trouble gaining strokes on the field because of his length.

This could change. We saw Matt Fitzpatrick transform his distance through speed training and win a U.S. Open because of it. As Kim is currently constituted, though, he is going to have to have extraordinary putting weeks to win golf tournaments. (He did, for the record, at both the Wyndham Championship and the Shriners in his two victories.) Of the top 150 players in the world who have won at least twice in 2022, Kim is by far the shortest player of that group, according to Data Golf.

Is that sustainable? It might be. A good present-day comp for Kim might be Cam Smith, who is extremely average off the tee and actually gained fewer strokes with his driver than Kim did over the last 12 months (mostly because he’s not as accurate).

If you pull the numbers back to the top 150 players ever over the last 10 years, we get an even better picture. Here are the names that look like Kim: Jim Furyk, Luke Donald, Zach Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker with maybe a bit of Jordan Spieth.

This group (outside of Spieth) is a great aim for somebody like Kim. I don’t know if he’s going to have the careers that any of them have had, but he certainly could absolutely have Matt Kuchar’s career. He could have Zach Johnson’s career. Can he go beyond that? Unless things change dramatically — and they might given that he’s 20! — that seems unlikely.  

On paper, he may look like Justin Thomas or Rory McIlroy — generational players. But, and not to bum you out because I actually love him, Tom Kim is likely not a generational player.

This has multiple implications for 2023. As the No. 15 player in the world, Kim is probably a bit overvalued. The second, which is related to the first, is that we should consider our expectations of him. Because he won when he did, and because he crushed at the Presidents Cup, some folks are going into this season believing that Kim can (or even will) win three times. However, with the elevated events schedule he’s almost certainly going to play, that’s unlikely.

Kim’s story should be (and is) celebrated. However, will have a much better picture after this season full of expectations and only the big-boy events of just what Tom Kim can be on the PGA Tour.

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A home golf simulator setup is becoming more common among the average player. Affordable packages from companies such as OptiShot, reduced the cost of these systems, making them accessible to more golfers. In this post I will explain the minimum ceiling height you need for a golf simulator.

I will explain what to watch out for and other measurements to factor in when setting up. In addition, I have offered tips on which are the best places in your house to turn into a golf simulator room.

Those on a budget should read our post on the top 10 golf simulators under $1000.

How High Should The Ceiling Be for an Indoor Golf Simulator?

Trackman recommends operating with a minimum ceiling height of 9’10 ft, or 3-meters for folks on the imperial system. Therefore, 10 ft offers enough clearance, even with your longest club. If your ceiling is lower than this, it restricts your ability to produce a full golf swing.

Ceiling height is necessary for two purposes. The first, is the height of the screen, and the second is to do with malicious damage to your property. Low hanging ceilings may cause your club head to crash into it at the top of your swing.

Foresight Sports provides a simulator configurator that highlights the factors to consider when designing your simulation layout. This makes you think about the room layout and where you should position the golf mat, net, and launch monitor.

Other Room Dimensions to Measure

Room Width

After measuring your ceiling height, the next step is to determine your room’s width. Like ceiling measurement, this is necessary for 2 reasons. The aim is to prevent you from slamming your golf club into the wall on your backswing. Plus, it ensures ample space for the width of your impact screen.

A narrow room restricts a full swing. That impacts your overall experience with golf simulator systems. The makers of the GC Quad, Foresight Sports, recommend an absolute minimum width of 13-feet for a comfortable swing diameter.

Room Depth

Once you have determined whether you have sufficient width to install a simulator system, you need to measure its depth. This is to ensure enough distance between the mat and impact screen. Plus, if your launch monitor uses dual radar technology, you will need additional space behind the hitting mat.

For example, the Trackman 4 uses dual radar technology, which requires the device to sit behind your golf ball. Therefore, you need a longer room. Different to the requirements of a photometric device that uses high-speed cameras. Photometric launch monitors sit parallel to the impact zone, reducing depth requirements.

Examples of photometric products include Skytrak and the GCQuad. In addition, products such as the OptiShot 2 use sensor-based technology to gather data on your shots. They are a space-efficient purchase.

Let us assume that you have a doppler radar launch monitor for this exercise. That means that your rooms require the maximum depth. Therefore, your minimum space requirement is 15-ft. You can even increase that to 16.

Distance From Hitting Mat To Impact Screen

Now that you have measured your room’s width, height, and depth, you need to prepare the positioning of your net, impact screen, and hitting mat. Do not place your mat too close to the screen. When there is insufficient distance for the launch monitor to accurately detect data related to your launch and ball flight.

Simulator manufacturers recommend leaving at least 12 ft between your golf ball and the screen.

Distance From Launch Monitor To Hitting Mat

Photo launch monitors require minimal space in this department, making them more efficient. These devices only need to sit 22-inches from the golf ball. However, you need to set up radar models 7 ft behind the impact zone.

Ideas of Places to Put Your Golf Simulator in Your House

Garage

If your garage is going to waste, it is time to change that. Clean out the dusty interior and plan out your home golf simulator setup. Garages often offer a wider, longer, and higher structure than the rooms in your house.

Many garages also feature fewer windows than the rooms inside, leaving less property for you to damage.

Basement

Your basement is another room that is great for a home golf simulator. Based on its location in the house, you are out of the way and can be left alone to play virtual golf courses and practice your game in peace.

The challenge with basements is that the ceiling may hang below your minimum height requirements. It is difficult to fix this challenge as it could impede any rooms directly above.

Spare Room

A spare room is just asking a golf simulator to be installed inside its walls. However, golfers who live in an apartment may lack the space required to make it work.

Living Room

Your living room can work for a golf simulator, so long as you do not intend on whacking any golf balls. Dirt cheap simulators such as the Phigolf Home System allows you to play inside your living room.

The package includes a swing stick that detects your angle of attack and impact to detect the outcome of your shot. The result is displayed on the screen in the form of the World Golf Tour (WGT) game.

I do not suggest setting up a complete simulator in your living room unless you are a golf-mad bachelor. It is inconvenient for you and others to set up and break down equipment. I take it your family won’t approve of a permanent simulator in their living quarters.

Bar

This is a dream come true for most golfers. You cannot beat a golf simulator set up in your bar. I don’t mean the local pub. I am instead referring to your man cave. If space permits, this is an ideal way to entertain your buddies and family at any time of the day.

It also gives you a private space to escape to after work to practice your game, without the noise and interference from your family.

FAQs

How Much Room Do You Need For An Indoor Golf Simulator?

You need a minimum space requirement of 13 x 10 x 19. That refers to 13 ft wide, 10 ft high, and 19 ft deep.

These measurements reflect the requirements for a doppler radar launch monitor simulator. Photometric models require less depth as they sit inches across from the golf ball.

What Size Room Do I Need For A SkyTrak?

SkyTrak is built for rooms that are 10 x 10 x 10. However, I recommend that the room is at least 13-ft wide for a comfortable swing diameter. In addition, I suggest that your space is at least 12 ft long. Because the SkyTrak is a photometric device, it does not take up copious amounts of depth, like radar models.

Is A Golf Simulator Worth It?

Yes, a golf simulator is well worth the purchase. It serves 2 purposes. The first is that it allows you to practice without going to the driving range. The second is that it provides endless entertainment for you and your family.

Having the platform at your disposal to work on your game anytime is a handy tool to help you improve your performance. Plus, it doesn’t harm that you can take on your friends in virtual rounds of golf and challengers to compete for superiority.

Do Pro Golfers Use Simulators?

Yes, professional golfers do use simulators. It gives them a tool to dial their game without heading to the practice range. Tiger Woods even credits his Full Swing Pro Simulator as aiding in his return to golf in 2018.

Eldrick is not alone in his use of technology. It turns out that Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Padraig Harrington, and Jim Furyk have home golf simulator setups. They all stick to the quality Full Swing Pro Simulator.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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