I tried indoor golfing for the first time. Here’s what it was like
As someone from a middle-income life, I’ve always regarded golf as a sport you can only do if you’re not afraid to burn a hole in your wallet. But thanks to indoor golfing, I realized that you don't have to break the bank to enjoy the sport and how much I've been missing out on the fun.
Our team at PhilSTAR L!fe was recently invited to try our hand at the recreational activity by Quantum Golf Philippines, a complex specializing in indoor golf that’s located in Ortigas Center at the heart of Pasig City.
One of the largest facilities of its kind in Metro Manila, Quantum Golf boasts two areas where you can kickstart your golfer era.
Its main room is located on the topmost floor, and it houses 10 spacious hitting bays where you can test out your swings and receive data on how well you did in terms of speed, accuracy, and more.
Quantum Golf full-time coach Norman Sto. Domingo told L!fe that their Foresight Sports Golf Simulators are effective in mirroring reality to help improve your skills on a professional level.
“You would see ‘yung club speed mo, makikita mo ‘yung carry ng bola mo kung gaano kalayo. Makikita mo ‘yung angle of attack. If you’re a golfer, you will appreciate that kasi matatantya mo lahat,” he explained.
But as my co-workers and I didn’t have any history nor experience with golfing, we instead spent our time trying out their Quantum Mini room located on the floor below. From its name, the area features 18 mini golf courses that are perfect for beginners looking to ignite their passion for the sport.
As we entered, we were greeted by a dazzling glow of neon colors that quickly set a fun and vivid atmosphere. The Quantum Mini has lots of roomy seats to cater to big groups of friends and families, and you can also order a variety of drinks at their bar as well as finger foods to keep your energy up while golfing.
Game on!
Before playing, we first got familiar with the rules of the sport. For the uninitiated, mini golf sees each player take turns putting, and the goal is to get the ball into the hole with the lowest number of strokes.
As a newbie, I didn’t know how much a golf club weighed until I had it in my hands. It was expectedly heavy, but it was a good challenge for me to learn how to balance my swings if I wanted to win our game.
Despite the first course appearing easy, attempting to reach the goal in just one stroke was next to impossible for any of us, and the more we moved through the next courses, the more difficult they became. In fact, we even had to skip the second course because we just couldn’t get past the terrain, to our frustration.
Each stage introduced new challenges that made winning even sweeter if you manage to get past them either through luck or skill (but mostly luck). These range from steep slopes that get you back to where you started, complicated curves that prolong your strokes, and barriers that can leave you in a tough spot.
But even if you’re just a few inches away from the hole, victory may still elude you as the ball can miss the goal if you’re not careful with your strokes. This has happened quite a few times during our play, which resulted in a lot of frustration and amusement combined into one.
To add some spice to the game, Quantum Mini’s scorecard also has a “Swing & Sip” twist where players must take a drink if they ever complete an objective.
Is indoor golf a must-try?
With the right company, a slow-paced activity such as mini golf can get you carried away in the excitement. I can’t count how many times I squealed whenever I just barely rolled the ball into the goal, or how many times I laughed whenever my teammates and I failed spectacularly on our swings.
Considering the Philippines’ scorching weather, Quantum Golf provides a way for veteran and newbie golfers alike to enjoy the sport and exercise their mental and physical capabilities within the confines of an airconditioned room.
More than anything, the facility prides itself on being more affordable to the public.
For its main room, walk-in customers can get access to one bay where a maximum of four people can play for only P700. For the Quantum Mini, rates start at P400 for nine holes or half the course, P600 for the complete 18 stages, or P999 if you want to have an unlimited round.
The establishment is also open for memberships that cost P5,000 to P50,400. Depending on the package, you are entitled to up to one to 12 months of membership, eight to 96 consumable hours in the facility, gym access, and priority in booking for reservations.
But if you’re still a bit hesitant to try the sport yourself, Sto. Domingo highlighted that golf is an ideal activity to engage in as “anybody can learn and enjoy the games.”
“Papalo ka lang. Tamaan mo lang, kasi that’s the start of it eh ‘pag natatamaan mo na. Now, ‘pag nagpa-coach ka na ‘yon na yung start ng medyo on the serious side,” he said.
So, in virtual mas okay dito kasi nga makikita mo lahat siya, you can go sa driving range, you can go sa golf course. Meron din kaming mga games, lahat ng gusto mo meron. And we are complete with coaches, kung gusto mong mag-hire ng coach meron din kami,” he continued.
Quantum Golf is open on Mondays to Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm, Thursdays to Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 am, and Sundays from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.