Where Can You Play Pebble Beach on a Golf Simulator in DFW?
You can play a virtual round at Pebble Beach at Golf Center of Arlington, 1301 NE Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006. Toptracer Virtual Golf runs on the screen in all 18 covered bays and 28 grass hitting areas. It is not an indoor simulator box: you hit real balls onto the outdoor range.
People searching for a way to play Pebble Beach in Dallas–Fort Worth usually picture a dark room, a hitting net and a projector. Golf Center of Arlington offers something different and, for a lot of golfers, better. Toptracer Virtual Golf puts famous courses on the screen in an open-air bay while you hit real golf balls onto a real 12-green range. This page explains exactly how that works, which courses are available, what it costs and who it suits.
Is Toptracer Virtual Golf the same as an indoor golf simulator?
No, and it is worth being clear about the difference before you drive over. An indoor simulator is an enclosed room. You hit into a screen a few feet away, sensors estimate the shot, and software shows the result. Toptracer Virtual Golf at Golf Center of Arlington is the opposite arrangement. You stand in a covered bay or on a grass tee that opens onto the range, hit a real ball as far as it really goes, and camera sensors track the actual flight. The screen in your bay then places that real shot onto the virtual hole.
Toptracer Virtual Golf here
- Outdoor range bay, covered and heated, open to the air
- Real ball flight tracked by cameras, not estimated from a net
- Watch the ball fly and land on the range, then see it on the hole
- Priced by the bucket; walk-ins welcome
Indoor simulator box
- Enclosed room with a hitting screen
- Shot is calculated from a few feet of flight
- You never see the ball travel
- Enclosed space limits how many can watch and play
If your question is really "Is Toptracer a simulator?" the honest answer is that it does what a simulator does in one way, mapping your shots onto a famous course, while keeping the part of golf a simulator cannot give you: watching a real ball fly. Our comparison of shot tracking and swing data across Toptracer and TrackMan goes into the technology in more depth, and if you are weighing simulator-style options generally, is TrackMan the same as a golf simulator answers the other half of that question.
Which courses can you play on Toptracer at Golf Center of Arlington?
Virtual Golf on the Toptracer screen includes more than 20 courses. The headliners are the ones golfers ask for by name.
- Pebble Beach, the California coastline course everyone recognizes from the U.S. Open.
- St Andrews, the Old Course in Scotland and the home of golf.
- Torrey Pines, the cliff-top public course in La Jolla.
- Royal St. George's, the Open Championship links on the English coast.
- Additional courses in the Virtual Golf menu, with the full list on the bay screen when you sit down.
Because the course library lives in the Toptracer software, you choose it from the touchscreen in your bay. There is nothing to reserve in advance for a specific course. Pick a bay, buy a bucket, open Virtual Golf and scroll to the one you want.
How does a virtual round work from an outdoor bay?
The mechanics are simple, and first-timers usually understand it after one hole.
- Buy a bucket and pick a bay. Any of the 18 covered Power Tee bays or 28 grass hitting areas will do; all of them have a Toptracer screen. A medium bucket is 60 balls for $21, large is 90 for $28 and extra large is 120 for $35.
- Open Virtual Golf on the touchscreen. Choose your course and set up the players. A group takes turns in the same bay.
- Look at the hole, then look at the range. The screen shows the tee shot in front of you. You hit a real ball out onto the real range at Golf Center of Arlington, aiming roughly where the fairway is on screen.
- Watch the shot land twice. The ball lands on the range, and a moment later the traced shot appears on the virtual hole with its carry, distance and accuracy.
- Play the next shot from where it lies. The screen tells you the remaining distance. Pick the club, hit again, and keep going through the green.
Because you are on an open range, the covered bays matter. They are heated in cold weather and keep you dry in the rain, so a round at Pebble Beach does not get cancelled by a Texas thunderstorm. The range is also lit at night.
Ready to tee it up at Pebble Beach from an Arlington bay? No membership required and walk-ins are welcome every day.
Book a Range BayWho is Virtual Golf best for?
Three kinds of visitors get the most out of it at Golf Center of Arlington.
Groups and date nights
A bucket, one bay and a famous course give four people something to do together for an hour. Nobody needs a handicap, and the screen keeps score so nobody has to.
Leagues and events
Toptracer golf leagues run at the facility, and Toptracer packages for corporate and private events use virtual golf games, skill challenges and leaderboards. No golf experience is required.
Golfers who want course practice
Hitting a driver, then a 6-iron to a green, then a wedge is how you actually play golf. Virtual Golf turns a bucket into that sequence instead of 60 identical swings.
For a company outing or a fundraiser, the same bays that host your virtual round can be booked as part of an event package with the bar and the indoor private event room. Details are on the corporate team-building guide and the golf leagues page.
What does it cost to play a virtual course?
Virtual Golf is one of the modes built into every Toptracer screen, and range pricing at Golf Center of Arlington is by the bucket. Current pricing is always on the price list.
| Bucket | Balls | Regular | Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | 60 | $21 | $15 |
| Large | 90 | $28 | $20 |
| Extra Large | 120 | $35 | $25 |
Regular bucket prices are 30% off from 9 AM to 6 PM every day; mention the special at check-in. From 8 to 9 AM the range is self-service from the ball dispenser at member pricing. Membership is $18 per month or $129 per year and includes the lowest bucket price every time plus double rewards points. New guests can take $10 off a first visit by joining the email and rewards list. Every bucket also includes the free short game practice area with its putting green, chipping green and bunkers, which is a good place to sharpen up before you tackle the 7th at Pebble.
Prices as published on golfcenterofarlington.com; subject to change.
What else does the Toptracer screen offer besides courses?
Virtual Golf is the mode people search for, but the same screen runs a full menu. Warm Up shows ball speed, launch angle and distance on every shot. Closest to the Pin, Approach Challenge and Points Game score accuracy. Long Drive and Driving Challenge reward power. Go Fish and Angry Birds keep kids busy. Toptracer30 is a 30-shot skills assessment, and My Practice stores stats club by club over time. Sessions sync to the official Toptracer app so your club data and history follow you.
New to all of this? Start with what Toptracer is and how it works, then see the complete overview on our Toptracer range page. Beginners in particular should read why Toptracer suits beginners before a first visit.
Golf Center of Arlington is family-owned, has served Arlington since 1986 and is about two miles north of the Arlington Entertainment District. Hours are Monday–Saturday 8 AM–11 PM and Sunday 8 AM–10 PM, with the last bucket sold one hour before closing. Questions about a group visit: call 817-469-9005.
Frequently asked questions
Is Toptracer Virtual Golf indoors?
No. At Golf Center of Arlington you play from a covered, heated bay or a grass hitting area that opens onto the outdoor range. You hit real balls the full distance and cameras track the flight, then the bay screen places each shot on the virtual hole. There is no enclosed simulator room; the cover keeps you dry and warm while the range stays open to the air.
Can a beginner play Pebble Beach on Toptracer?
Yes. No golf experience is required, and the screen does the scoring, distances and hole selection for you. Beginners often enjoy Virtual Golf more than plain bucket-hitting because every shot has a purpose. If you want a gentler start, use Warm Up mode first, then open a course. Bring your own clubs if you have them, or ask staff about options when you arrive.
How many people can share one bay for a virtual round?
Virtual Golf is set up for players to take turns in the same bay, so a small group can play one bucket and one round together. Walk-ins are welcome every day and no reservation is required for individuals or a few friends. Groups of about eight or more should call 817-469-9005 ahead of time, and groups of 15 or more should reserve.
Do I have to book a specific course or time?
No. The course library is on the Toptracer touchscreen in every bay, so you choose Pebble Beach, St Andrews, Torrey Pines, Royal St. George's or another course after you sit down. Range pricing is by the bucket, and the range is open seven days a week, Monday–Saturday 8 AM–11 PM and Sunday 8 AM–10 PM.
Does the virtual round work at night or in the rain?
Yes. The range at Golf Center of Arlington is lit for night play, and the 18 covered bays are heated in cold weather and keep rain off you, so Virtual Golf runs day and night, rain or shine, year-round. The grass hitting areas are open-air, so on a wet day choose a covered bay.
Grab a bay and start swinging
Covered Toptracer bays, grass tees and a free short game area. Walk-ins welcome every day at 1301 NE Green Oaks Blvd.
Golf Center of Arlington · 1301 NE Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006 · 817-469-9005 · Open Mon–Sat 8 AM–11 PM, Sun 8 AM–10 PM