LoftLinks - Upper East Side Golf

I’ve held off on writing this for a while -- mostly because back when I was a regular here, I was usually playing hooky from work and didn't want my manager seeing a public record of my mid-day activities. But now that I’ve moved on, I feel like I need to be honest: I really feel like I got ripped off. I hate saying that because the front-desk staff (mainly talking about Vivian and Sydney), are genuinely great people and are both so nice! The facility itself is clean and the technology is fine (though personally, I don't think their tech is as good as Trackman). If you just need a one-time spot that's close by or a specific coach, it's okay. But beyond that, I don't see any reason to choose this over a place like Five Iron, which is also in the UES. My biggest issue was the membership experience. I started at the $300/month "off-peak" tier, but that limits you to the times when most people are supposed to be at work, so it was hard for me to get my membership's worth. So i eventually upgraded to the $500/month "anytime" membership. Even at $500 a month, they strictly limit you to 90 minutes. There were multiple times I’d be there on a weekday with nobody else in the entire place, and they would still kick me out the second my 90 minutes were up. I confronted the owner, Mark, about this several times. The first couple times, he’d claim someone had the bay booked right after me -- which was clearly a lie. I even remember overhearing another member asking to stay longer, and Mark gave him the same "someone else has it booked" excuse. Sure enough, every time after that member left, no one ever showed up. I eventually called Mark out on this, and he actually admitted that no one had the bay after me. He then explained that their policy was that if I wanted to stay longer, I’d have to pay him even more money -- even though I was already paying $500/ month and the place was empty. It was an ultimatum: leave the empty facility right then or pay more on top of my membership. In my opinion, that’s just not how you treat a loyal customer. When I left LoftLinks, I wanted to test out my options, so I tried one-month memberships at Sswing, iGolf, Hack Shack, and Five Iron. None of them kick you out if the bay is empty... They actually value your membership. LoftLinks feels like an office environment where they nickel-and-dime you for everything, even water (which is free at those other places). The atmosphere at the other places, especially Five Iron, is just significantly better. It’s cheaper, they don’t watch the clock like hawks, and you actually feel welcome. Fast-forward one year: that other member Mark kicked out made the same decision I did. I never spoke to him at all when we were both at LoftLinks, but I now see him regularly over at Five Iron. The first time I saw him there, we laughed about how we both made the same decision independent from one another. Bottom line: unless every other golf simulator in NYC is completely booked, save your money and go to Five Iron UES instead.

I’ve been a member here for about two years and have nothing but good things to say about it. Mark and his team do a terrific job. Everything is easy and professional. I’ve taken two lessons from the pro (Beau) and my goodness they were beneficial. Terrific mom and pop style simulator with immaculate, state of the art facilities and a personal touch you won’t get at 5 Iron. No notes.

Beau has been a fantastic instructor for me. He was able to simplify my approach to the game in just a handful of lessons, with small changes that have me hitting with more confidence and with a better understanding of what each type of shot is doing. Truly grateful.

Super welcoming when I went solo, when I went with a partner, and for all levels. I didn’t realize how “real” simulators are- it feels like you’re at the range! And a plus that the temp is manageable for December and it’s very easy to get to. The owner was incredibly helpful with getting me set up. The experience is well worth it and nice touch having Sunday football playing in the background.

Great facilities! Beginner golfer with first time using a simulator. Simulator shows pictures of your club impact each time which gives way more feedback than a regular driving range. Clean place, good tunes, friendly staff. Privacy from curtained rooms is helpful for concentration. Clubs felt comfortable as well. Doing a trainer now. Super friendly, had a major before and after with my first session. Can't recommend this place highly enough! Definitely check it out.