Welcome to an all-fitness edition of Talking Shop, a biweekly column on retail trends in the Greater Boston area.
Golfers looking to keep their swing sharp in the frigid winter months now have a gym to call their own: The Lynx Fitness Club just opened in the former David Barton space in Back Bay.
You’ll find many of the trappings of other elite clubs at this high-end fitness facility: just 1,200 memberships, top-notch trainers, and cutting-edge equipment for workout regimens like TRX, and Peloton bikes. But what distinguishes Lynx from other clubs is its virtual golf facilities, says co-founder and chief executive Bill Najam.
Lynx is the first outpost in New England to feature Topgolf Swing Suite simulators, which let users virtually play dozens of exclusive courses around the world. “They’re the same simulators that Tiger Woods or Jordan Spieth use when they’re practicing indoors,” Najam says. Members can pay $150 for a basic monthly gym rate, or $275 a month for both the fitness club and golf.
Lynx has three simulators on site where golfers can take a full swing toward a massive screen, then wait as cameras and high-speed sensors measure the direction and speed of the ball. PGA-certified golf trainers will be on hand to help members work on their form.
And for those who see golf as more of a team outing than a personal workout, the lounge-like simulator areas can be rented for private events, with…
