Dream hangout at Andreas' place!
There are plenty of golf nerds out there, but some are more dedicated than others. Like those who have brought the golf course home - and can never get enough. We took a trip to Andreas Wikström's home in Kumla to check out his combined home cinema and golf studio.
It wasn't a big deal at all. Just a small project. Like moving a bathroom, scrapping a bedroom and maximising the building permit down to the millimetre to accommodate as large a screen as possible. Fortunately, Andreas isn't the only golfer in the Wikström family. And when the plan also included equipping the newly built home studio with soft sofas, a sound system that makes the neighbours' kitchen rattle, and the ability to watch cinema at home, there was no hesitation.
How did the idea come about?
– It started when I first tested a golf simulator at a friend's house, who had a SkyTrak in his garage. It was incredibly fun, so we played quite a lot during that time. I had also seen Dormy's old feature about someone who had a home studio, and immediately felt that I would love to have one of those.
Initially, the idea was to build something separate out in the garden, but after some consideration, it ended up being an extension to (and minor renovation of) the house.
– It works very well acoustically, as we've kept the exterior wall. So there's good sound insulation to the rest of the house, since we have a cinema here too. I love sound so we have good speakers. The only thing you can hear a bit when we play is the drivers.
What was your thought process when choosing the system?
– I got quite lucky. When I was building, I had actually planned to have a Trackman, so I had installed power outlets under the sofa for that. But at a family gathering, I happened to hear about a company here in Örebro that was planning to open bowling alleys, golf studios and other simulators, mainly for businesses. But this was during the pandemic, so I managed to buy a complete setup from them, completely unused screen, simulator, grass, felt, projector and cage. I had only laid the foundation and started with the frame at home, but when I began measuring, it was like a puzzle - it fit perfectly. Since then, I've upgraded to a better 4K projector, added more felt along the walls, complemented with blackout curtains and such, but it turned out really well right from the start.
ANDREAS ALSO strategically built sliding doors along the back wall that can be opened completely. Leading straight out to the patio where there's a large grill, a pool and a jacuzzi.
– It's become quite a nice hangout spot actually, there's a queue of guys wanting to come here and play, haha. We always have a really good time!
Andreas Wikström
Do you have anything you're particularly proud of?
– I raised the floor, so you can strike down into the hitting surface without hurting your elbows or shoulders. There's a layer of grass, a foam mat, plexiglass on the hitting surface, and then bolts at the bottom that adjust the height. What's great about this is that if you hit it fat, it's genuinely a fat shot. A range mat tends to be more forgiving, so you learn better here.
What would you say your studio cost to build?
– I paid around £16,000 plus VAT for the complete package, but if you Google it, I think the monitor is actually more expensive. I got a good deal when I bought everything from the company. If I include extending the house, moving a bathroom, and buying all the furnishings, it probably landed at just over £85,000 in total. Since then, I've upgraded the projector to a better one, but that's mostly for watching films. And now I pay for the E6 Apex subscription, which costs around £500 per year.
What's the best thing about having a home studio?
– You always have something fun to do, and you avoid that depression when the season ends in autumn. Since we also have a cinema here, we use it extensively. Someone from the family is here almost every evening. It has also made me much better at golf as I don't have to start from scratch each season. I'm almost at my best when I get out on the course in spring.
We put on some golf inspiration on the TV screen in the background and start a round on one of Andreas' favourite courses, Lofoten Links. After playing with the weather settings, we get to feel how the softer hitting surface feels, test the short game, and hear the Norwegian waves lapping through Andreas' sound system. But there's one last thing to test before we head home.
The cinema experience.
Andreas finds an impressive scene from Iron Man, turns up the volume, and it doesn't take many seconds before smiles form on our lips. The picture is razor-sharp, the bass rumbles in our chests, and when Tony Stark launches his missiles making the walls vibrate, we waver for a moment about whether we should write about golf or cinema.
Andreas' Top Tips for the Builder
1. Consider the space
– It requires its space. Especially ceiling height. Of course, you can have less than what I have, but you need plenty of room to make it work properly. Also calculate the space behind the screen so that your shots don't hit the wall behind.
2. Make more of it
– If we only had golf here, we might play a few times a week, but now that we also have a cinema inside, we use it loads. If it's not golf, it's movies.
3. Think long-term for your body's sake
– Installing this type of floor solution that makes it softer to hit is actually a really good investment if you plan to practice frequently. Anyone who spends a lot of time on the range knows how taxing it can be on your body. If you're thinking long-term, this is an excellent tip. I also find that it improves my ball striking out on the course since it's not as forgiving as a range mat.
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