RUFF Golf Heanor golf simulator in Heanor

Heanor's Market Street is home to the original Bunker indoor golf venue, which is now part of the Swedish RUFF Golf group. It is a welcome thing for a market town to have: a place to keep your swing ticking over through the winter without driving into Derby or Nottingham.

The bays run on TrackMan simulators, and the booking system lists five of them. What makes Heanor stand out from many simulator studios is its teaching side. A PGA professional is based here, offering lessons with video swing analysis and custom club fitting, so it suits golfers who want to improve as much as those who just want to play. Junior programmes are also on offer, which is lovely to see in a town-centre venue.

Clubs are available if you do not have your own, and food and drink are part of the RUFF offer, with a menu due soon. Regular players can take out a membership.

Like its Nottingham sister, Heanor is a gateway to the European Indoor League, which starts on 1 November and is free to play at RUFF venues. You play your rounds on TrackMan whenever suits you within each two-week window, and the division system means you are matched against golfers of a similar level as the season goes on.

RUFF's website says golf starts from £9 an hour, but Heanor's exact rates and opening hours are best checked on the booking page. As the rebrand is still being rolled out, you may also see the venue referred to by its old name.