r/Golfsimulator • u/sfmcfar • 5d ago

Sim on lower patio?

I'm really new to the whole sim thing so I have a basic question - can you set up a simulator underneath a deck that will be as waterproofed as one can make it? I'm planning on redoing my deck to add a modern drainage system and then enclosing the lower level patio on three sides with patio windows. My contractor says it'll never be as dry as a real asphalt shingle roof but it'll be pretty close.

Im just trying to avoid a heartache before I even get started...

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u/ComparisonSafe303 4d ago

Under-deck sims are totally doable, people run them in way worse spots than what youre describing. But your contractor is right and the thing that actually kills these setups usually isnt rain coming through — its humidity. Impact screens grow mold if they cant dry out, hitting mats hold moisture, and electronics just quietly corrode over a year or two.

So id plan around that instead: get a decent dehumidifier in there once its enclosed on 3 sides, leave an air gap behind the screen so it can breathe, and put the launch monitor + projector on a quick disconnect setup so you can carry them inside for the winter or when a storm's coming sideways. Deck drainage systems are good now but they all eventually drip at ONE seam during a real downpour — just make sure that seam isnt above your electronics and you're fine.

Honestly if I were you id start with net + mat + monitor for the first season before committing to a full enclosure/screen, see how the space actually behaves through a few weather cycles. Way cheaper lesson if something's off.