Fore! Field of Greens Golf Tees Up for Fall Opening in Hudson

Soo Line by Soo Greiman 

Although commercial indoor golf simulators have only been around for about 15 years, the  buildings soon opening as Field of Greens Golf in Hudson are much older—by more than a  century.  

Located at 323 5th Street, the two joined historical structures have undergone dramatic  transformations. Their history includes stints as The Neighborhood Grill, an Ethiopian church, a  bridal shop, antique store, Siech’s Drug Store, Karl and Ada Zellhoefer’s Community Service  Store, and Mary’s Café. With that kind of background, this newly remodeled site seems  destined to hit full swing offering golf, cold drinks, and televised sports.  

“Construction underway in Field of Greens Golf currently involves completion of three separate  golf bays, each with its own bar-seating section, a bar ordering area, hospitality seating  surrounded by TVs, and new restrooms,” said Doug Fabry, the owner and developer, who  added that the business is looking to hire employees.  

Fabry, a Waterloo resident and engineer at John Deere, shared more about his life and vision. A  native of a Green Bay, Wisconsin suburb, Fabry played college football at Michigan Tech,  located in the Upper Peninsula.  

“Of course, I’m a diehard Cheesehead and believe in the Green Bay Packers,” he said with a  grin.  

As for how Field of Greens came to be?  

“Four years ago, I bought the buildings thinking they would work well as rental space—and for  a while, they did. Later, because we love to golf, my wife Amanda and I decided maybe this  would be a good place to develop a golf simulation business. We thought it could be a place to  work on your skills when the weather isn’t ideal. And we believed it’d be good for Hudson to  have something like this in town. So I’ve been working here on my days off.”  

Even while balancing his engineering job and this new venture, Fabry is gearing up for a whole  new chapter—he and Amanda are expecting their first child in February.  

During a recent visit to the site, electricians from Chapman Electric were checking outlets,  while two workers from TruGolf were installing simulators. The setup is sophisticated:  • Simulators feature mats that mimic the feel of real turf  

• A launch monitor tracks ball speed, spin, launch angle, and path  

• A powerful computer runs the simulation software and 3D golf courses  • Customers can choose among top courses such as:  

• Augusta National  

• Pebble Beach  

• Pinehurst No. 2  

• Oakmont  

• Bandon Dunes  

• Kiawah Island  

Players are welcome to bring their own clubs or rent a set from the on-site store. 

“We’ve focused on making sure the simulators are easy to use and that customers have plenty  of room to swing,” Fabry said. “We also want others to have space to socialize. That’s  important. We’d like it to be a place of fun, athletic aims, and time with friends.”  

New windows are already installed, and Fabry says more updates to the building’s exterior will  come soon.  

“We’ll be posting updates on the board out front, so watch for more info on our opening,” he  added. “Another place to check is our Facebook page, Field of Greens Golf Simulator.”