SKYTRAK recently celebrated a decade of innovation, marking ten years since Don Thorup and his partners set out to transform at-home golf.
Driven by a bold vision, Thorup aimed to bring the experience of a country club directly to golfers' living rooms. However, there was one major challenge. At the time, professional-grade golf simulators cost as much as a luxury car – often priced between $35,000 and $70,000.
In 2012, Thorup and his team saw an untapped market in home users, and set out to develop a launch monitor with the same accuracy at a much lower price point. For two years, the team chased that vision, barely keeping their head above water.
“We should have been bankrupt seven times easily,” Thorup said. “But we kept going. I don't know whether I was too afraid or too stupid to stop, but I didn't want to fail.”
Thorup and his team’s idea came to life when the SKYTRAK hit the market in 2014. In its first weekend, SKYTRAK sold 11 units – a modest start, but one that hinted at the potential for widespread success.
Sales grew rapidly after the first year, but it wasn’t until the pandemic when the product really took off. As six-feet-apart orders swept across the country, many golf courses closed their doors. Golfers found themselves unable to play on traditional courses and interest in home golf simulators skyrocketed. For 18 months, every shipment that came into SKYTRAK’s distribution center was already sold.
Vision for the Future: The Next Decade of SKYTRAK
As SKYTRAK continues to evolve, Thorup is excited about the next phase: enhancing the user experience. With more competitors entering the market and hardware becoming commoditized, the future is all about creating immersive, high-quality experiences that make practicing at home enjoyable and effective.
The 2022 acquisition by GOLFTEC, a leading provider of golf lessons and club fittings, strengthened SKYTRAK’s focus on improvement-driven technologies. With innovations like GOLFTEC’s Optimotion, which tracks body movement, SKYTRAK is set to push the boundaries of virtual golf, offering golfers new ways to refine their skills from anywhere.
Celebrating a Decade of Innovation: SKYTRAK’s Anniversary Sale
To celebrate and thank our customers for their continued support, SKYTRAK is offering a 10th Anniversary Sale with savings up to $2,000 on select products.
Visit our SKYTRAK website today to take advantage of these fantastic deals and find the perfect SKYTRAK product for your game.
About SKYTRAK
SKYTRAK is golf’s most popular consumer golf simulator and launch monitor solution. SKYTRAK provides accurate, real-time feedback, making it a complete practice, play, and entertainment system for golfers of all skill levels. An excellent solution for consumers, teachers, club fitters, and PGA Professionals, SKYTRAK is a high-quality simulator that captures and displays precise data to reflect actual performance—providing golfers the opportunity to Get Better. Anytime. Anywhere. For more information, visit skytrakgolf.com
About GOLFTEC
GOLFTEC is the world leader in golf improvement, with a global presence of more than 260 locations worldwide and a dedicated team of more than 1,000 Certified Personal Coaches. Founded in 1995, GOLFTEC has been unwavering in its mission to help golfers unlock their potential with innovative instruction - informed by proprietary game improvement technology, including OptiMotion. GOLFTEC’s innovative system has helped millions of golfers improve by an average of seven shots and gain more than 20 yards off the tee. In 2023, GOLFTEC expanded its portfolio with acquisitions of SKYTRAK and 24/7 Golf. For more information, visit golftec.com