Who are you and what you do at Five Iron Golf?
My name is Angelo Errico, and I’m the league coordinator at Five Iron’s flagship location in the Flatiron District of Manhattan
Can you give us an understanding of what the 5i golf leagues are?
The 5i golf league is a weekly opportunity for girls and guys to play the game they love after work on Monday and Tuesday nights. It may be indoors, but it’s just as fun and competitive as an outdoor round.
In your opinion, what makes the 5i golf league unique?
It’s competitive golf without the frill and unwanted intensity of playing on a real course. All skill levels are welcomed, and every lie is perfect. You’ll leave our simulators feeling satisfied you made the most out of your golf game, while enjoying the many other services we provide like food, drinks, and tremendous customer service.
Would you describe the league as competitive? Explain why.
No matter if your team is full of 20+ handicappers, or a team of former college golfers, every week is competitive and different. We play an array of formats–like stableford, scrambles, and hogans–to keep every week interesting and allow for lower skill level teams to jump up the leaderboard. Plus, winning the league isn’t just for simulator golf glory. If your squad wins at their home location, they win a free event for thirty people and an open bar! They also get to play in our National Championship, where they play against the winners our other location leagues.
Do you feel like playing in the league allows players to improve?
I’ll always say that simulator practice is the best practice. Every shot you hit, you see all your numbers–distance, carry, spin rate, etc.–and, whilst competing, you can use these numbers to dial in your yardages, and this allows players to be confident and creative in hitting shots they wouldn’t want to actually try on the real course.
Have the leagues changed much in the time you’ve been at 5i? If so, how?
Every year the leagues keep growing and become more and more competitive. As we transition into making our simulator golf league national, the sky’s the limit.
What’s your best memory of the leagues?
During a playoff round, our team known as “Grip It and Sip It” had a thirty foot, left-to-right” putt to extend the round to a THIRD extra playoff hole. Both competing teams were looking over as Grip It’s captain stood over to make his stroke, and, although he hit his ball perfectly, it lipped out of the hole and the round ended with all players’ jaws on the ground.
What’s the best team name you’ve seen in your time managing the leagues?
“Ball Not Detected”, which is inspired by how if a ball in one of our simulators is not read by our detection lights, it makes a note on the screen saying “Ball Not Detected.” Jokes on us!
What do you think keeps teams coming back season after season?
Teams come back season after season because our league is just another dose of what the game of golf provides better than any other recreational activity, comradery.
