Indoor golf simulators aren't easy to set up, and they aren’t inexpensive. It starts with a home cinema projector, but you also need a wide, open space for swinging clubs, a backdrop with netting, and a gaming laptop or desktop to run the software.

I was on a mission to see if I could do this much more cheaply with an affordable projector. I accomplished my goal successfully by building around the Optoma GT2400HDR short-throw projector. I skipped the most expensive components, like the backdrop and the clubs. Instead, I used a gaming laptop and controller I already owned, and played EA Sports PGA Tour, which is included with my PC Game Pass Ultimate account.

While the projector isn’t a bad option for playing golf at home on the cheap, it’s not ideal for watching movies and TV shows. It also struggles with high-octane games, and it doesn’t even include a smart TV platform.

Made for Indoor Driving Ranges

Optoma describes the GT2400HDR as a laser-based short-throw projector designed for gaming, entertainment, and golf simulation (the latter being my main intention). It can project a screen size from 30 to 300 inches at Full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution. My goal in creating an indoor driving range was to keep costs as low as possible, so I planned to use my Xbox controller with a gaming laptop and play on a 100-inch screen while still feeling like I was out on the links. For a golf game, you can get by with a midrange computer or even use a golf sim app on your iPad. (To do that, you’ll need to cast to a device that supports AirPlay or connect through HDMI via an adapter.)