Since mid-April, five friends have brought their love of golf indoors to share with the community at Blade Bros Golf, a 24 hour indoor family-friendly golf club, with membership and non-membership options.

“We have met a lot of cool people and made great friendships on the golf course,” said Brandon Lancelle, who initiated the idea to bring professional quality golf simulation to Sequim.

It’s been in development for over two years, he said.

“Golf is a lifelong sport that can be played by people from 5 to 105 and we think that is pretty cool,” Lancelle said. “We wanted to bring a place where the community could gather, make friendships, and also learn the game of golf, which can be very intimidating for the beginner.”

Located at Rock Plaza, 10171 Old Olympic Highway in Sequim, Blade Bros utilizes two “About Golf” brand simulators, each in its own 16 foot deep bay, with real balls and clubs to give a golfing experience minus the variables of weather and daylight.

A user can select a golf course from over 75 choices, which is projected on a 15-foot-by-9-foot screen. On a man-made green, the golfer hits a specially marked ball under a sensor and three cameras, which combine to read the spin, speed and direction of the ball and depict its course and landing on the screen.

“We also offer three miniature golf courses on the sim, along with golf based games that can be played by golfer and non golfer alike,” said Lancelle.

Each bay has a computer that records and compiles the statistics of each golfer. After thoroughly researching their options, the Blade Bros highly rated About Golf’s simulation technology.

“It is state of the art,” said Lancelle. “PGA uses their simulator.”

“This system seems to be as accurate as you can get,” said Adam Shantz, who discovered the joy of golf eight years ago while living at Sunland.

He said that he met Lancelle on the golf course and became friends with him; playing golf was how four out of five of the Blade Bros met.

“Brandon told me,” Shantz recalled, “to ‘start playing tournaments and you’ll improve.’”

The Blade Bros say that golf simulation is another way to improve.

“It rains eight months a year,” said Derek Moore, another Blade Bro, “and when it is 27 degrees out in January you can still come in here in shorts and a T-shirt.”

“Golf is a perishable skill,” Shantz said. “If you don’t stay up on your skills you’re going to loose them and come back rough.”

Blade Bros hosts its own weekly tournament that golfers can participate in when convenient for their schedule; users can also participate in About Golf tournaments.

Blade Brothers have four different types of memberships available on their website at https://bladebrosgolfclub.com, including a limited time introductory membership and a corporate membership. Members can use the club at any time of day or night.

“We wanted to make it autonomous,” said Lancelle.

For non-members, tee times are 3 p.m.-8 p.m. all week, reservations preferred (hours may change, see website). The $40 an hour charge is for the bay, rather than per person.

“If you’re a pretty good golfer and you keep your pace about it, you can play 18 holes in an hour or less,” said Lancelle.

Blade Brothers Golf Club is also available to rent for private parties.

The interior of the club is cozy, with tables, chairs, a couch, digital television, two bathrooms and Bluetooth for music. Snacks and drinks are available in vending machines, which may be switched out at a later date for snacks and drinks that members pay for “on their honor”.

Members and party hosts are welcome to bring their own food and drinks. There is a small refrigerator.

Blade Bros has a “virtual pro shop” at https://bladebrosgolfclub.com/shop. Lancelle and Moore refurbish old golf clubs and give them new life.

“Old clubs are just as good as new ones,” said Moore. “Sometimes better.”

“We can refurbish people’s clubs with new ferrules, sandblasting, and custom coloring via a variety of heat treatments or ceramic coating processes that we use,” said Lancelle. “We also restore the grooves and pretty much return the club to new or better than new condition. We believe that if you love the golf clubs that you are playing, then you will just play a lot better in general, or at least look good doing it.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen Heidi Shantz instructs her daughter, Ida on putting at a simulated miniature golf course in the new business, Blade Brothers, 24 hour indoor golf club, located at Rock Plaza, 10171 Old Olympic Highway in Sequim.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Derek Moore hits a real ball with a real club into the grass of a screen showing a simulated golf course at Sequim’s new golf club, Blade Brothers, an innovative operation run by friends with a love of the game. Moore is one of the founding members of the business, which opened in April at 10171 Old Olympic Highway.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Blade Brothers Brandon Lancelle and Derek Moore refurbish old golf clubs as well as co-operate Blade Brother’s Golf Club with three other golf buddies at 10171 Old Olympic Highway in Sequim. They say that old clubs are as good as new, and sometimes better.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen Mae Shantz receives some instruction from her father, Adam Shantz, as she plays indoor miniature golf at Blade Bros Golf Club at the Rock Plaza, 10171 Old Olympic Highway in Sequim. Adam is one of five friends who enjoy playing golf together and created Blade Bros to provide 24 hour a day access to golf practice for the local community.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Heidi Shantz instructs her daughter, Ida on putting at a simulated miniature golf golf course in the new business, Blade Brothers, 24 hour indoor golf club, located at Rock Plaza, 10171 Old Olympic Highway in Sequim.