A new virtual golfing spot opens in SLO County. Here’s how it works
A father and son stood looking at the view of Yellowstone Club, an exclusive, championship golf course in Big Sky, Montana.
“This is such a great activity,” the father said as he looked out at the vast expanse of green.
But he wasn’t actually at Yellowstone Club — he wasn’t even in Big Sky.
He was actually at Paso Par, the first indoor virtual golfing experience in northern San Luis Obispo County.
Located at 102 Niblick Road in Paso Robles, Paso Par is a 500 square foot space that provides acres upon acres of golf terrain, all at the push of a button.
How it works is using a Trackman golf simulator system, which uses a projector, sensors, and radars to create a realistic golfing experience at a reported 99% accuracy. Golfers hit the ball using actual golf clubs at a projected screen that simulates one of Trackman’s 400 real courses throughout the world.
The system even accounts for the course’s actual elevation.
It was Steven Salazar who had the dream to open up shop. Alongside his wife, Amalia, the two made that dream a reality when opening Paso Par last month.
Steven started golfing about 14 years ago with his friends, Amalia said. They’d visit courses all over the state. But his friends were better at it than him.
“But he was learning. And he’s an athlete, so he was excited to learn,” she told The Tribune. “So then he started getting better. He would go out and play, and he started beating them.”
But his friends continued to get better, eventually surpassing him once again.
Their secret? Indoor golfing. That had Steven thinking, “I need one of those,” he said.
That was about two years ago, and since then, other indoor golfing facilities did emerge before Paso Par, like Ready Golf Club at 3000 Broad St. in SLO and Swing Time at Dairy Creek Golf Course.
But Paso Par is the only facility of its kind in North County.
Steven said the golf simulation’s been a success in its first month of business. Some locals have even already enrolled in a monthly membership.
Memberships are tiered, starting at $101 a month and offer a range of visits per month, guest access, and additional discounts, although they aren’t required.
Eager golfers can also drop in for an hour starting at $40 a session and available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. With Paso Par’s single bay, it can currently host up to four golfers at a time.
Steven and Amalia said they want Paso Par to be a place for all levels of players to connect with each other.
“There are a lot of really good golfers in Paso Robles in our North County,” Steven said. “There are some beginners and there’s going to be a lot of juniors, a lot of kids that come in. And so, we’re finding our identity to be, this is a family-oriented place.”
Ellie, Steven and Amalia’s 14-year-old daughter, said her game’s improved since her parents open the indoor golf course.
“I was struggling a lot with my full swings and everything, and so (my dad) gave me a few little pointers here,” she said. “We did that for like an hour. Then a few days later, I went on to the course, and I was like, ‘Wow, that really helped.’ she said. “So it’s a really cool transition to see that what I was doing here really helped me on the actual course.”
Whether Steven’s swing has improved was up for debate, he said with a laugh. He’s been so busy with opening the shop he hasn’t had time to get out on the actual course.
“I’m going to plan something for Memorial Day weekend to play with friends,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, hopefully I do a lot better, because pressure is going to be on, let’s see if this thing is really working for me.’”
Eventually, Steven and Amalia would like to expand the company, and they hope to provide more services like serving food and drinks.
But for now, Steven said they plan to settle into the community and host smaller events, like an upcoming Father’s Day tournament in June, encouraging dads and their kids to golf together.
For more information about Paso Par visit pasoparindoorgolf.com.
