How to run an unmanned 24/7 golf simulator venue

By Golf O'Clock Team · Built on data from 200+ indoor golf venuesUpdated October 8, 2026

To run an unmanned 24/7 golf simulator venue with Golf O'Clock, you connect four things: online booking, payment up front, door access and the simulators themselves. Customers then book, get in and play with nobody on site.

Demand isn't only in the evenings. In Golf O'Clock booking data from July 2025 to June 2026, 9 AM to 4 PM carried about 57% of weekday bay hours. Running unmanned lets you sell those daytime hours, plus early mornings and late nights, without paying someone to sit behind the desk.

The pieces that make it work

• Online booking with payment up front. Customers book and pay before they arrive, so there's no balance to chase.
• Door access tied to the booking. With a smart door lock from Kisi, Avigilon Alta (Openpath), RemoteLock or Rhombus, a confirmed customer unlocks the door from their phone, only around their booking time.
• Bay screens that lock and unlock themselves. With Screen Marshal on each bay, the simulator is locked between sessions and opens for the customer who booked it.
• Walk-ups that book themselves. A locked bay shows a QR code. Someone standing in front of it can scan, book, pay and start playing.
• A remote view of every bay. From your phone or laptop you can see what's happening on each screen, and lock, unlock or message a bay.

What your customer experiences

1. They book and pay online.
2. Their confirmation email and text include a single "Getting in" link.
3. When they arrive, that link opens the front door and their bay.
4. When their time is up, the bay locks again, ready for the next booking.

Setting it up

1. Require payment at booking for the hours you're unstaffed.
2. Connect your door lock provider and add your doors.
3. Set up Screen Marshal on each bay.
4. Turn on booking confirmations by email and text, and alerts for yourself.
5. Make a test booking and walk through it as a customer.

For the business side of running without staff, read how unmanned venues work and our guide to unmanned indoor golf.

Common questions

Do customers need to download an app?

No. Everything works from the booking link in their browser.

Can I be staffed during the day and unmanned at night?

Yes. The same setup works with staff on site, and you can require payment up front only for the hours you're unstaffed. See hybrid facilities.

Which door locks are supported?

Kisi, Avigilon Alta (Openpath), RemoteLock and Rhombus, plus other locks that offer a secure web connection.

Can customers add more time without staff?

Yes, if you allow it. Customers can extend their session from their booking.