Business Spotlight: Golf at the Winter Games? Kapco has it covered

Located off of 15th street in Spirit Lake next to the Wal-Mart, Kapco Indoor Golf is a hot spot for golf enthusiasts during the winter Tom Chavez, owner of Kapco Inc. has installed two, large Full Swing Golf Simulators along with a full bar.

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Tee times are booked at the Kapco Spirit Lake location, which is located next to Walmart off of 15th Street. Owner Tom Chavez enters his third winter of big screen, state-of-the-art Full Swing golf simulators.

The location has an abundance of seating, flat screen TVs and a full bar.

"I don't consider this a bar. It is a golf facility that happens to have a bar," Chavez said. "I try to make it a lot of fun. It's a really friendly environment."

The indoor golf facility is open seven days a week during the cold months, typically late October to late April or early May. The hours Monday through Friday are from 7:30 a.m. until the last golfer leaves at night. On Saturday golfers begin teeing off at 9 a.m. and on Sunday the facility is open at 11 a.m.

Rates for adults are $15 for nine holes and $24 for 18 holes on evenings and weekends. Student rates are $11 for nine holes and $18 for 18 holes seven days a week.

There are also reduced rates during the week as well. Before 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, it is $13 for 9 holes and $20 for a round of 18.

Each year, the facility also hosts a couple of tournaments. Last year's University of Okoboji Winter Games two-person best shot drew 50 teams. Chavez is expecting an even bigger turnout for a two-ball, nine hole scramble played on Mauna Kea Golf Course.

Registration is $40 per team. An additional $5 enters participants into the three-swing closet to pin contest. The tournament will be flighted and payouts are based of the number of entries. In addition, the bar will be in use throughout the tournament and snacks are also available. Walk-ins are welcome depending on the availability of tee times and the tournament will be played throughout the weekend.

In all, Chavez has provided a selection of 42 professional, and real golf courses throughout the world for players to choose from. The simulator can even customize weather conditions and is activated through touch screens.

"Most of the courses we have available have hosted a PGA Tour event," Chavez said. "Recently, we added Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay."

From tracking the flight of the ball to the ball speed and trajectory, the Full Swing simulator can be an immensely helpful tool.

It's not uncommon for customers to use the driving range feature at a cost of $12 for 30 minutes. The simulator will document each and every shot the golfer takes. There are also memberships available for families, singles, couples and even youth.

"I get a lot of comments from golfers saying they are ready to go once spring comes around," he said. "They say they are shooting closer to their handicap earlier in the season."

The simulator was originally housed in Kapco's Spencer location.

"We had some space in the facility here and decided to make the move," Chavez said. "We also made it a little more golf-friendly. The Spencer customers understood and they still even come here."

Chavez originally put together the simulators for personal reasons.

"I love golf and I wanted something for some buddies and I to do on the weekends," he said. "I never thought of it as a business venture."

A new game that Chavez incorporated within the last year has been golf darts. The game follows the same rules of normal darts but instead of throwing darts the competitors chip a golf ball at the dart board on the simulator.

"It's really a fun game," Chavez said. "It helps work on your short game and is something different."

Chavez hopes to add a third simulator. For now, he recommends getting tee-times booked in advance because business really starts to pick up after the new year.