NEAPOLIS – When Scott and Beth Robertson decided to create an upscale golf destination in downtown Neapolis, they found backing from a team of fellow Anthony Wayne graduates – including their six grown children and Clarity.Golf co-owners Carson and Wilson Bales.
“I think it’s great that we’re two locally-owned businesses supporting each other to bring something to the community,” said Beth, as she welcomed friends and family for a preview of Robertsims Indoor Golf last week. “Now we have a place for community to gather.”
When the former pizza place in downtown Neapolis closed last year, the Robertsons were brainstorming with friends to come up with ideas for enhancing a community that’s been home to both of their families for generations. Immediately, a golf simulator business emerged. After all, their children – Joseph, Kitty, Jane, Ellie, Charlie and Ted – all golf and have worked for nearby White Pines, where Ellie is still a manager.
Ted was a member of the General’s state winning 2023 golf team, while Charlie played in the state title-run two years prior. While playing golf for Lourdes University, both regularly used golf simulators to improve their game, and have extensive knowledge on the benefits of different types of software.
in the meantime, Carson and Wilson Bales moved Clarity into a Waterville warehouse last year, as they expand a business they co-founded with their father, Bill Bales, and two other representatives based in other states.
Bill is known as a pioneer in the golf simulator world, having previously founded AboutGolf in 2001. AboutGolf paved the way for many simulator technologies, including camera-based systems.
Clarity represents the next generation of the Bales’ efforts to further these technologies – utilizing advancements in camera processing and artificial intelligence to ensure golfers have accurate instructional feedback and a realistic experience when stepping up to the tee. Clarity customizes its installations to the needs of customers, ranging from the do-it-yourselfer who wants the basics for a basement, to full build-outs with the best equipment for golf professionals or businesses.
“It really is a lot more accessible, whether you want the high end with the bells and whistles or a tracker in your garage,” Carson said.
While Clarity has customers as far away as Cyprus or England – where they transformed a former squash court in a private school into two sim bays last year – many more are closer to home.
“Over the past few months, I’ve put in two in Whitehouse. With the prices coming down and with people having pole barns and larger houses, people have room for them,” Wilson said.
Each one is unique – whether it’s adapting the layout for an odd-sized room or coming up with technology to meet specific needs. One customer, who had been in an auto accident and has difficulty reaching down to pick up a ball or tee up, had the Bales’ install a special ramped floor with an auto return system, along with a machine to tee the ball up. For a nursing home, they added an interactive tablet with simple step-by-step instructors so that even those unfamiliar with technology could figure out how to play the game.
“There are some basic things we can use to create bespoke solutions for people,” Wilson said.
The Robertsons chose to build the four bays themselves, but called on Clarity to design and install tee pads, screens and ball trackers, using the Uneekor EYE X02 with GSPro software.
“This is a premium product,” said Joseph, noting that its three high-speed cameras provide a realistic experience as players hit into a 10-foot by 15-foot screen.
With the Uneekor and GSPro software, Robertsims has the best data in town, Wilson said. And that data can help all levels of golfers, from amateurs to PGA professionals, improve their game. It’s not just about hitting a bunch of balls – It’s using the information to practice the right way instead of reinforcing bad habits, Carson added.
“If you’re trying to get two more yards out of a club or you want a backspin to be 10 rpm higher, it’s hard to visualize on a driving range. With ball trackers, you can see if the adjustments you’re making are giving you the effect you want,” Wilson explained.
The more than 2,000 courses on the GSPro give players the option of hitting the links on some of the most famous locations – such as Pebble Beach, Augusta National and St. Andrews – or their local course, such as Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg.
“The GSPro software uses outside guys who build the courses. There are things on there that you won’t find anywhere else, like Bushwood, the course from the movie Caddyshack,” Wilson said, referring to the 1980 classic with Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield and Bill Murray.
During the friends and family weekend, Dominic Caraccio stepped up to the tee and swung a ball at the screen showing the fairway of Tobacco Road Golf Course in North Carolina.
“I like that you can play when it’s cold and rainy outside. And it’s a good group activity,” said Dominic, who was playing with his twin, Vincent, and friend, Brad Montion.
In the next bay, Sage Tansel and his cousin, Deion Tansel took some swings on Arcadia Bluffs. And in another, Jack Behnfeldt was hitting at Pebble Beach.
“When the weather’s good, it’s nice to be outside, but with a simulator, you can play any course, anywhere in the world, and get instant feedback on your numbers,” said Carson, a 2014 AW graduate who played on the high school golf team.
Sim golf has gained in popularity over the past decade, and Joe Robertson is working with sim golf leagues to book times in the new facility. With comfortable seating and adult beverages now available, he envisions Robertsims as being a regular stop for golfers of all ages, or as a community gathering space for families looking for something fun to do.
“This is exciting for our community. We want joy. We want fun. We want to bring something for families to do,” Beth said, adding that the next phase for Robertsims is to add an outdoor area with picnic tables, yard games, food trucks and entertainment.
Clarity is also gearing up for growth. As a business facilitator for a patent with the University of Michigan, the next offering will be a chip that goes into a ball to provide data on the ball’s path. It’s just one example of how Clarity works with academia, including the University of Waterloo, Queen Mary Institute and Washington State University, to develop new technology.
“A lot of what our dad focuses on is new technology. He comes to us to produce it and make those things real,” Wilson said, noting that the Clarity team also works on flight and racing simulators, including building models of the F-35, the Bell AH-1Z helicopter and the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey for the U.S. Marine corps to use in aviation officer recruitment.
For information on these two local businesses, visit Clarity.Golf and Robertsimsgolf.com – which includes online booking for tee times, leagues and private events – or call (419) 376-7594.
