by Lisa Schauer
An old customer of Berkeley Floral walked into its former location on North Washington Street, looked around, and quickly realized things have changed since owner Lynda Bradley retired last fall after 37 years in business.
Inside, the ceiling has been raised 12 feet high to accommodate an 18-square-foot digital screen in a large bay outfitted with the latest golf simulator technology.
A putting green sits in the lobby next to a TV monitor playing golf highlights. An extra bathroom was added during an extensive remodel. Two more indoor golf bays are already under construction adjacent to the building.
Mountaineer Birdies, the area’ s first simulated golf arena, opened here recently at 160 N. Washington Street in Berkeley Springs. Parking is available on site.
For the uninitiated, a birdie is a score of one under par, a standard score set for each hole based on its length and the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected take to finish. Most holes are par three, four or five.
A bogie is one stroke over par. In golf, the lower your score, the closer you become to a “scratch golfer,” one who has a handicap of zero. Handicaps are used to level the playing field in golf matches.
Players at Mountaineer Birdies can choose from over 300 different golf courses around the world, including Pinehurst in North Carolina and St. Andrews in Scotland, to perfect their game in an indoor environment.
Realistic graphics and accurate data collection contribute to a virtual golfing experience that feels like being on the course. Golfers can compete against each other and against others worldwide in real time.
Once the new bays are completed, tournaments will be held at Mountaineer Birdies, according to owners Scott and Leslie Swink of Berkeley Springs.
“Indoor golf is growing in bigger cities, but there was nothing close to here. With the high school and middle school having golf teams now, we wanted to help promote the sport,” said Scott.
“We want to get more kids involved,” agreed Leslie, who said their son Cayden, 13, was the inspiration to open the business.
Cayden Swink, a member of the Warm Springs Middle School golf team, has been golfing since second grade, with dreams of joining the PGA tour one day. His passion for the sport makes him want to play as much as possible.
“I like the practice,” Cayden said, landing a powerful tee shot straight down the green.
“We’d been looking for a place, then everything started lining up,” said Scott, who started the renovations last fall, when his mother-in-law retired.
Leslie’ s parents still own the building, paving the way for the Swinks to realize their goal of business ownership.
Simulated golf participation is on the rise and here to stay, according to the National Golf Foundation. Golf simulators can help golfers improve their swing, body position, and grip by providing feedback and recording every angle.
Many golfers prefer the convenience and comfort of year-round indoor golf simulators over a traditional outdoor course. Some don’t care about their score. They just want to have fun and hang out with their friends.
According to Forbes magazine, more than six million Americans have experience with a golf simulator, up 73% since COVID, and that number is expected to climb by at least 10 percent over the next five years.
“It’s a sport you can play at any age,” Scott noted. The Swinks’ younger son, Finley, 6, enjoys playing animated interactive games on the golf simulator.
“It keeps them active, and there’ s something for everyone,” said Leslie.
Birthday parties are welcomed. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Food and alcoholic beverages are not served, but customers are free to bring their own, as long as they are respectful of others, and clean up after themselves.
In addition to the new bays under construction, and the promise of league tournaments, future plans at Mountaineer Birdies include golf lessons, and custom club fitting.
Anyone interested in more information or reserving a bay can call Mountaineer Birdies at 304-258-4498 or go to www.mountaineer birdies.com. Tee times are available by appointment between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
While a lot has changed in the building, the phone number has stayed the same. Leslie likes the old number, an homage to her mom, the retired florist who allowed her family’s dreams to bloom.
