Play golf all winter!

Fri, 09/23/2016 - 8:00am

Story Location:
25C US Route 1
Edgecomb, ME 04556
United States

There's a new game in town.

Actually there are a couple.

The Sheepscot Harbour Village Resort & Spa, which already offers enough amenities to occupy you for a couple days, a week, or however long you choose to stay in one of its many rooms or cottages that line the waterfront in Wiscasset Harbor, has added two new “games” to its vacation package.

Owner Tony Casella wants to make sure you don't get bored while you're there, so he has installed a virtual golf venue that will knock your socks off — even if you're not an expert golfer.

The Virtual Golf game is in a room in the little mall across Eddy Road on Route 1. The room houses a large screen, covering a whole wall, and a virtual “green” to play golf on — hitting a real ball on a real golf tee as hard as you're able. There's matting behind the screen to absorb the impact.

For $35 an hour, players can choose a real golf course from among the best in the world.

Casella said it's great for pro golfers to practice their swings and for novices to learn how to swing.

“It's just like being on a regular golf course,” he said. “It has everything people are looking for in virtual golf — and training software that a lot of the pros use to become better golfers.”

There's a large computer screen in the room to get set up. You can choose to play a game or just practice, and at what degree of expertise.

It will be a great way for golfers and wannabe golfers to while away hours during a snowy winter, when the golf courses are closed and people want to practice their driving.

Casella said a few golf pros have played, and they loved it. “Mike Hines was here. He plays at the course in Boothbay. He had a fantastic time — it was just like he was on the golf course. He didn't want to leave.”

It's also a good place for pros to give lessons. The karate teacher in the space next door used to teach golf in Florida, Casella said. “He was here all day teaching two of his karate students how to play golf.”

Snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks will be made available to players.

And in a smaller room off to the side there's another golf game — the Golden Tee 2016 Golf live arcade — a high def pay-to-play video golf game. According to Casella, it's the most popular arcade golf game in the country. “It's for people who know how to play,” he said. “It's one of the most challenging golf games in the world.”

For $4 a game, players can connect and compete with others around the world, or with friends in the same room. You can play simply for fun or enter a contest to win $60,000. There are 50 18-hole courses to choose from.

Casella's plan is to make his resort all-inclusive — a “destination location.”

“When I added Waters Edge Banquet Center it changed the whole area,” he said. “In season I do three weddings a week, bringing in 450 people weekly who have never been here. I want them to have something to do when they come to this destination resort.”

The virtual golf and arcade are located at 25C US Route 1 in Edgecomb. Call 1-800-437-5503 or 207-882-4200.