What years ago seemed to be a distant dream for many golfers in having access to a golf simulator has become a common tool used for many players both in the competitive sphere, and the commutative hobby perspective. At Waynesburg University, the opportunity for players, students, coaches and the community to use the Swing Lab at the Greene County Country Club for their golfing needs is something that has been an asset to both the men’s and women’s team’s..

Now, after a year since the grand opening of the Swing Lab, the opportunities that the lab has brought to those who use it have been tremendous. Maeve Hanley, junior and golfer for Waynesburg University believes the lab has been a great benefit, especially for herself. 

     “The lab provides more opportunities to practice when the weather isn’t the best. The simulator also provides feedback on your swing so that you know what you’re doing, and maybe give some insight on how to improve. It is my personal favorite way to practice and improve my golf game.” Hanley said.

Head coach, Mike Cipoletti believes in the continued repetition of play, notably during rough conditions outside as alluded to by Hanley. 

     “From a swing of the club standpoint, it’s huge. The capabilities that all the players can have, it has had to double or tripled the amount of practice time they are able to participate in, especially because of that flexibility which allows them to be more efficient student-athletes,” Cipoletti said.

On the women’s team, three of the four players on the roster are nursing majors at Waynesburg University, in which discussion with both players and coaches takes up many hours within their day, and has impacted the times where they can properly get the work on and off the course they desire.

With the addition of the swing lab, the opportunities it has brought for recruitment has been worthwhile.

      “[Alan] Tarolli is in there all the time, we have to drag him out of there sometimes. Being a golf and swing junky, it does pay off for him, as we’ve seen in this past season. Abigail and Julia, the two freshmen for the ladies, are always there together as well. I don’t think we would have landed those three fully if it weren’t for the facility and its opportunities,” Cipoletti said, who also talked about the transfer players possibilities, with noting the example of junior Cesar Will Lapid, who has seen improvement to his handicap index in large part due to the swing lab according to Cipoletti.

When it comes to the facility, hours are very flexible, with it being available Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. On Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the facility being closed on Monday according to the Waynesburg University webpage under subsection “Swing Lab.” Three different bays are available, with the three different sponsors of Baily Insurance, Iron Senergy and Fox Ford. Four people are limited in each bay with rates going for $32 an hour and $25 an hour for students of Waynesburg University using code “STUDENT” when booking and providing a student ID at check in. There is also an availability for the bays to be switched to the Multisport Simulator where games of football, baseball, soccer and others are able to be played alongside golf.

The facility is equipped with the most state of the art simulators on the market according to the website. Using the Uneekor Eye XO Launch Monitor and Simulator, the simulator can analyze swing and ball flight with provided analytics of every swing. 300 courses worldwide to play on such as Augusta National and Pebble Beach Golf Links. “Basically, it is a TopGolf right down the street and it has been great for the community and the university,” Cipoletti said.