- Fairway Bays, a virtual golf business with three simulator bays, opens in Tioga Town Center on June 22, offering advanced AI swing analysis and over 400 courses.
- Memberships cost $30 to $400 monthly, with 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. access, guest privileges, and partnerships for food delivery from The West End Tavern.
Fairway Bays, a membership-based virtual golf experience with three simulator bays, opens in Tioga Town Center on June 22.
Brothers Stephen and Zach Courson decided to open the business after seeing several local golf courses shutter in their hometown.
“I fell in love with the game of golf at West End Golf Club, which is right across the street from our location,” Zach said. “I moved to Jacksonville for 10 years, and then when I moved back in 2024, Gainesville had closed down three golf courses.”
The exact business idea, though, came from Stephen’s visit to another brother in Atlanta and the golf sim club where he was a member. Stephen brought the idea to Zach, who also works in real estate, and they found the Tioga location (13085 SW 1st Lane, Ste. 50, Newberry) in early 2025.
The 2,400-square-foot space offers three bays that can host six players at a time. One bay is for only right-handed players, due to space constraints, but the other two are dual-handed simulators. One of the simulators has a moving platform that allows golfers to experience the topography of the real-life courses.
Depending on the popularity of the moving platform, Zach said they may install the same technology on the other two bays in the future.
“On top of over 400 courses, we have an AI swing analysis that really breaks down parts of your swing,” Zach said. “It is a great tool to help coach yourself without having one present. Golf nerds will absolutely love it – from ball speed, attack angle, club speed – there’s just so much data.”
The $30 per month membership package allows members to book ahead and bring up to five guests at an hourly rate, while the $400 a month Pro package comes with eight hours of bay time monthly, league discounts and other perks. Members can book ahead on the website and access Fairway Bays year-round, including holidays, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Players are allowed to bring food and drinks into Fairway Bays, and The West End Tavern nearby has also entered into an agreement with the business to deliver directly to customers there.
The business will host one last public event before its official opening, a Father’s Day weekend watch party of the U.S. Open on June 20-21. The event will feature a “Closest to the Pin” competition, with the winner taking home a new putter. Members will also be able to compete for a new driver in a “Longest Drive” competition.