It’s November in Ontario. The courses are closed, snow is coming, and I’m trapped indoors until April. As a casual golfer who actually loves the sport, that 5-month hibernation used to drive me insane. Then I discovered Golf5 VR on my Quest 2… and suddenly my living room became my personal golf laboratory.
Why I Even Tried This (aka: The Winter Problem)
Winter in Ontario basically means:
- No real golf
- No real swings
- No real grass
- Just me staring out a frosty window like a disappointed golden retriever
So I turned to VR—skeptically, of course. Because as every good Mad Scientist knows: everything sounds great in theory… until it explodes in your lab, but I was willing to take a chance.
But wow. The game is addicting. If I ever find that perfect club attachment (my “golden unicorn“), VR golf might get dangerously close to the real thing.
For now, I swing with just my right hand. And honestly? It’s helped me work on timing, short-game feel, and that addictive “just one more shot” sensation. Snap on the Quest 2 during a cold winter night, and suddenly you’re standing in a tropical paradise instead of your freezing Canadian basement.
I’ve been playing Golf5 for about a year and a half now, and here’s my honest, slightly unhinged, Mad-Scientist-level review.
WHAT IS GOLF5 VR?
Golf5 is a VR golf game for the Quest 2. Download it straight from the store—super easy. You start with three courses:
- A tropical course
- A forest course
- A hillier, more rugged course
And the fun part? You can play real PGA courses when they’re featured on tour.
When the British Open was at St. Andrews, the game released it. I downloaded it instantly. Seeing the real elevation changes was wild—TV does NOT show the ondulations properly.
There’s also:
- A driving range
- A swing path analyzer (it shows a red line for your actual club path)
- Tournaments (haven’t tried them—when I enter VR, it’s “Sean Time,” not “Social Time.”)
Golf in peace = therapy for me.
HOW IT WORKS
You swing your controller like it’s a club—BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD secure the wrist strap. I nearly launched mine into my work computer. Almost created a $3,000 “learning experience.”
If you use Kiwi grips, even better. Solid grip, more confidence, less chance of putting a hole in your drywall.
After every swing, you can look down and see a red swing path line. It shows:
- Swing direction
- Clubface orientation
- Whether you came over the top like a man chopping wood
As a self-appointed Mad Scientist of VR Golf5 VR, I approve of this technology. Physics! Who knew it actually works?
You can play 9 or 18 holes depending on how much time you have… or how loud the snowstorm outside is.
THE GOOD — WHAT I LOVE
A) Realistic Swing Mechanics
I was skeptical. But Golf5 VR tracks your swing surprisingly well:
- Fast = long
- Slow = accurate
- Bad face angle = slice city (trust me, it hurts your soul here too)
The game forces you to square the clubface. It’s shockingly real…
B) Real Course Selection
The base 3 courses are great, but the real magic is buying famous ones with tokens. St. Andrews? Absolutely unreal. The Road Hole? Absolutely a child’s dream.
Only complaint: I wanted to walk across the Swilcan Bridge. But the game teleports you to your next shot. Minor detail—but come on, that’s a bucket-list experience!
C) Winter Golf Solution
It’s -15°C outside. I’m golfing in a t-shirt. That alone is worth $20.
- No tee times
- No lost balls
- No $80 green fees
- Just instant winter happiness.
D) Training Tools
Driving range, target practice, putting drills—everything you need to dial in consistency.
My short game got noticeably better. That 30-yard pitch shot? Thank you, VR Matrix.
E) Multiplayer (If You’re Into Humans)
There are tournaments and online play. I personally haven’t tried it. This is my sanctuary, not a social club.
THE NOT-SO-GOOD — HONEST DRAWBACKS
A) Space Requirements
You need around 6×6 feet of space. I’ve been millimeters away from punching a wall on my backswing. And again—STRAP YOUR CONTROLLER. Do not create airborne electronics.
B) Club Attachments = A Disaster Waiting to Happen
Remember when I bought that cheap club attachment? Yeah… it flew off mid-swing and almost murdered my computer. (Read about that disaster in my 3 Costly VR Fitness Mistakes article) Most attachments = garbage. Stick to the controller + Kiwi grips until I find the golden unicorn of secure club attachments.
C) Not Quite Real Golf
Let’s be honest: It’s not the same as being on a real course. You don’t feel the:
- Grass
- Wind
- Sun
- Angry geese
The ball physics are good but not perfect. Can’t replace real golf, I mean we can all agree on that, but if you’re in the dead winter, it’s a good replacement. It complements it, doesn’t replace it, it’s just to solve that itch on cold nights. Better than nothing in winter!
D) Learning Curve
First round I shot 120. Took 3–4 rounds to figure out the swing mechanics and stop shanking everything. This is not the real swing, you have to learn the physics of the game. The putting, it’s like you’re putting on the stimp meter 15. But it’s like when you started to play—you had to learn to swing. It brings you back to those days. But you see your distance control on pitching will transfer on the real course. I guarantee it!
EQUIPMENT YOU NEED
Minimum Setup:
- Meta Quest 2 – $349 (if you ever try the QUEST3 leave a comment bellow)
- You already have this!
- Quest 2 is perfect for VR golf
- Don’t need Quest 3 unless you have budget
- Golf5 App – $20 Canadian (one-time fee)
- Download directly from Quest store
- Three courses included
- Buy additional courses with tokens
- Kiwi Design Grips – $20
- Better grip = more confidence
- Less chance of controller launch
- Essential for full swings
- Clear 6×6ft Space
- Measure your play area
- Move furniture (trust me!)
- Check ceiling height for backswing
Total Day 1 Cost: $389 (Quest 2 + Golf5 + Grips)
Optional (But Helpful):
- Exercise Mat – $30-65
- Protects hardwood floors
- Defines your stance area
- Adds comfort for long sessions
- Microfiber Cloth – $5
- Wipe lenses after sweaty rounds
- Essential for clear vision
- Yoga Mat – $20-40
- Alternative to exercise mat
- Comfortable for longer sessions
NOT Recommended:
- Cheap Golf Club Attachments – Save your money!
- Most fly off mid-swing
- Nearly destroyed my computer
- Stick with controller + Kiwi grips until the “golden unicorn” exists
WHO IS GOLF5 FOR?
✅ Perfect for:
- The Mad Scientist
- The Golf Nut
- People staring out winter windows wanting to swing a club
- Casual golfers who miss the sport during off-season
- Anyone who wants to practice their short game
This game is for the person who just wants the feeling of a swing of a golf club for an hour or so.
You can really practice your swing with your right hand; it helps you practice delivering the clubface square.
I play at night, like after an episode of Seinfeld, or when I watch Good Good on YouTube. I just want to swing a golf club—it helps me with that.
❌ Not for:
- People expecting to shoot their usual score
- Those looking for a 100% realistic golf simulation
- Anyone without adequate space (seriously, measure first!)
This game is not for people thinking they will shoot their usual score, or looking for a real real golf game, but the immersion is very nice. You’re on actual golf courses.
But… you do need the space. I would say it’s like if you were at the driving range—you know that area you need to practice? Imagine that.
It’s for having a good time, maybe add in a drinking game in there with your buddies. Oh I will think of that, come up with something. Let me go into my labs and come up with a recipe.
DOES IT IMPROVE YOUR REAL GAME?
My honest take:
What it helps with: ✅ Tempo and rhythm ✅ Short game (especially that 30-yard pitch shot!) ✅ Clubface awareness ✅ Distance control on pitching ✅ Keeping the golf itch satisfied
It will help you with your tempo. I would not say your golf mechanics, but I would say tempo yes. And the pitching—you know that 30 yards? That I can say helped me a lot. I am closer to the hole from 30 yards in the real world, so yeah the Matrix has helped me.
What it doesn’t help with: ❌ Real grass feel ❌ Wind adjustment ❌ Pressure under real conditions ❌ Physical fitness of walking 18 holes
MY VERDICT
Rating: 8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PROS: ✅ Play golf year-round ✅ Real courses (St. Andrews!) ✅ Good swing tracking ✅ Multiplayer available ✅ Cheaper than real golf ✅ Perfect winter solution
CONS: ❌ Not quite like real golf ❌ Needs significant space ❌ Learning curve (expect bad first rounds) ❌ Club attachments are mostly garbage
Bottom line:
For a one-time fee, I get unlimited golf in my living room during 5 months of Canadian winter. That’s worth it to me. If you’re a golfer stuck indoors, Golf5 is the best VR golf experience available.
Final thoughts:
Golf5 won’t replace real golf, but it’s a damn good substitute when the courses are buried in snow. It keeps me connected to the sport I love. Honestly, having the chance to play St. Andrews one time—it was a fun experience.
My Recommendation: ✅ Worth it for serious golfers in cold climates ✅ Best winter golf solution available ✅ Try it—it costs like $20 ❌ Skip if you’re not a real golf enthusiast
CALL-TO-ACTION
💬 YOUR TURN!
Are you a golfer using VR to survive winter? What’s your experience with Golf5 or other VR golf games? Let me know in the comments!
And seriously—if you’ve found that golden unicorn club attachment, PLEASE TELL ME! I’m still searching! 🦄
🔗 MORE VR FITNESS CONTENT:
Want to see my full VR fitness setup? → My Hybrid VR Kettlebell Routine – How I combine VR boxing with real strength training
Avoid my mistakes! → 3 Costly VR Fitness Mistakes I Made – $50 wasted + an injury. Learn from my pain!
📧 QUESTIONS?
Email me: newstartvr.2025@gmail.com
I read and respond to everything!
One More Round! 💪
— Sean
newdayfitnessvr.com
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