SEAN GILMORE wasn’t looking to start a golf business. He was already busy enough working in the start-up world and raising two kids with his wife. But when he realized golf simulators were getting better and better — not to mention accessible, easily more affordable than joining a private country club and plenty of fun — the idea came to him. Why not try to build a social club around that burgeoning technology?

In May 2022 he launched the Fescue Golf Club, a membership-only, community-focused golf group centered around — but not limited to — simulator golf. “Our members (now numbering 125 and growing) tend to come from the creative industries,” said Gilmore. “They come from very diverse backgrounds. But one thing they share in common is they’re all golf sickos to a certain degree. They all want to share that in a physical space talking with people and making golf a big part of their social lives.”

Those interactions take place in a 4,500-square-foot clubhouse in Mar Vista, almost hidden away at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Grand View Boulevard, which has served as the club’s HQ since last year. A second location may soon become a reality.

It’s definitely not your typical golf clubhouse, either. “Everybody says it’s a vibe when they walk in here,” Gilmore said. “Aesthetically and culturally, it feels very modern, very curated, very thoughtful, and that’s everything from the artwork to the furniture to the music to the colors you’re going to see. We wanted to find a place that felt like you were walking into a very cool house party every time you arrived.”

There are multiple simulators, a putting green, a bar and lounge, locker rooms, soundproof conference rooms that have turned into workstations and even a soundproof phone booth to make and take business calls. Lessons are available from two coaches: Michael Evans, PGA, and Sara Camarena, who is a content creator and the winner of the 2020 California Women’s Amateur Championship.

Of course, we’re never going to replace the smell of the grass or the feeling of an ocean breeze,” he said. “But you can get your competitive fescue’s mar vista clubhouse contains multiple simulators, a bar and lounge … even a soundproof phone booth . kicks, you can get better and you can play golf courses all over the world. And the technology is only going in one direction.”

There’s also a full slate of competitions, both indoor and out, on the grass at courses across Southern California, thanks to a partnership with the Pinecone Golf Club, a golf collective and event operator.

Doing some good while having fun is another part of the Fescue GC, as evidenced by the group’s recent donation to the SCGA Junior Golf Foundation.

“I always wanted this community to be mission-oriented and I’m a big believer in the power of community,” said Gilmore, a UCLA graduate. “We were always going to be a club that is hopefully some sort of beacon for good in Southern California.”

Gilmore believes that while golf is what brings people to the Fescue GC, it’s not what keeps them there. “What does that are the interactions members have with other members and guests,” he said. “I’m hoping that the impact we have as a part of the larger Southern California golf community is something that really gets people excited and invested to stay a part of our journey.”

Gilmore admits that journey might change along the way. “I think that from a sustainability standpoint, we are kind of at the forefront of something, some sort of revolution. Simulators may go the way of a trend tomorrow, but we believe our community is built to outlast that, and that we can adapt as off-course golf evolves.”

While the Fescue GC is still in its formative years, Gilmore is satisfied with what he has created so far.

“We’ve done our best to cover everything we could at this stage,” he said. “Honestly, the whole goal was to provide a country club-style experience, but to do it for a much more budget-friendly number. And, frankly, to do it for people who are looking for a more casual, convenient and modern cultural experience.”