Virtual Fairways is an indoor golf simulator venue with three 4K bays on Lingfield Way, Darlington; bay hire is £13.50 per 30 minutes (£27 per hour) per bay*, and up to six can share a bay, so a family plays for one price.

Why a family golf simulator beats a wet Saturday.

Real clubs, real balls

This isn't a screen with a plastic controller. You hit a proper ball with a proper club into a high-definition screen, and the bay tracks the shot and flies it up the fairway. Kids get it instantly; so do grandparents.

Games first, golf second

Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive take a minute to explain and an afternoon to settle. Nobody has to know the rules of golf to win one, which is why the youngest player so often does.

2000+ courses, none of them waterlogged

Pick a course everyone's heard of and play nine holes as a family, or hand the sim to the junior golfer who's outgrown the putting green. Warm, dry and indoors whatever the North East is doing outside.

What a family hour looks like.

Park up outside, walk straight in, and we'll set the bay up while everyone picks a club. Nothing to bring and nothing to prepare — our first visit guide covers it if you'd like the detail in advance.

First 15 minutes. Closest to the pin, everyone in, one shot each. It's the fastest way to get a nervous seven-year-old or a sceptical grandad swinging.

The middle. Nine holes on a course the golfer in the family recognises. Three or four players get round nine in about an hour, taking turns in the same bay, so an hour is a comfortable first booking.

Throughout. Juice, soft drinks and fresh coffee come to the bay, so the grown-up who's spectating spectates properly. Anyone curious about the numbers on the screen can read what they mean between turns.

A player mid-swing in a Virtual Fairways bay in Darlington while a friend watches from the bar ledge

One bay, one price.

Bay hire is £13.50 per 30 minutes or £27 an hour per bay*, up to six a bay.

Daytime and weekend slots

We open at 10am on Saturdays and Sundays, and from 3pm Wednesday to Friday — see this week's hours. Weekend afternoons go first, so book ahead for the slot you want.

Billed in 30-minute blocks

Book an hour and extend on the day if nobody wants to leave. Full rates, packages and memberships are on the pricing page.

A present that gets used

Gift vouchers cover bay hire for whatever amount you choose — a good answer for the grandparent who's stuck for a birthday idea.

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The practical bit.

Clubs & kit

Club hire is £10; balls and tees are included in your bay hire, along with the tech. Prefer your own clubs? Bring them along. If you're wondering what will suit a smaller player, message us and we'll advise.

What to wear

No dress code. Wear whatever makes you comfortable; trainers are completely fine, and every bay suits left- and right-handers alike.

Food & drink

Drinks, yes, and snacks rather than meals. The bar runs from Prosecco and beer through to juice, soft drinks and fresh coffee, all brought straight to your bay.

Parking & finding us

Unit 30, Evans Business Park, Lingfield Way, Darlington DL1 4QZ, a couple of minutes off the A66 with free on-site parking right outside. Directions & map.

The parents' questions.

Can I bring children? Is there a minimum age?

Kids are always welcome, and it's a good way to get them into the game. Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. Not sure whether yours is ready for a club? Message us and we'll advise.

How many people can play per bay?

Each bay comfortably fits a group of up to 4–6 players, making it ideal for friends, families or work outings.

Can I bring people who aren't playing?

Of course, spectators are very welcome. We're fully licensed, so anyone not playing can settle in with a drink and a bite and cheer the rest of you on.

Book the family in.

Tell us how many of you and roughly when, and we'll book you straight in. No TrackMan account needed.

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Kids and family golf in Darlington, rain or shine.