South Dartmouth has a golfing destination, and it's accessible and open to all

On a frigid February morning, golfers arrive at the green at the Pleasant-Woodside neighbourhood’s only golf course. Today most of them are seniors, and they’re ready for the sport: light, comfortable clothing, a few visors, bags of clubs over their shoulders.

If you’re wondering how anyone can golf in Dartmouth in February and where South Dartmouth’s golf course you’ve never seen is hiding, the answer to both is Spade Mashie.

Described as “your off-course golf course,” Spade Mashie is an indoor golfing facility atop the Value Village on Pleasant Street. Opened by Ken Bateman in 2024, Spade Mashie offers a simulated golfing experience from 8 a.m. to midnight every day. The entrance is on the side of the building that faces McDonalds.

If you’re not sure what simulated golfing looks like, picture a driving range meeting Star Trek’s Holodeck. Golfers stand in front of floor-to-ceiling screens and swing real clubs at real balls straight into a projected golf course. Before the screen softly catches the ball, a computer tracks its speed and angle, translating that motion to the virtual course. As with a real golf course, you can play alone or with a group. The experience may be virtual, but it is convincing. More than 2,000 courses are available for play, including local courses like Chester and Ashburn. “But if you want to play something in Iceland, we have something in Iceland," Bateman told the Post.

Anyone can play at Spade Mashie, which does not operate on a membership model. Golfers can book online or walk in, if bays are available. The 7,000 square-foot, elevator-accessible facility also features a licensed bar offering beer, wine, cider, and coffee. While the liquor license means you can’t bring your own bottles, prices are competitive with local bars. Light snacks are available at the bar, and Bateman invites golfers to bring in outside food, if they’d like to eat a meal while they golf. A lounge overlooks the harbour.

Bays can be booked for $45 per hour, with discounts available for those in emergency services and DND personnel. A private, VIP golfing bay can also be rented. From 8 a.m. to noon on Monday to Wednesday, seniors can book bays at $25 per hour. Spade Mashie’s accessibility makes it a popular choice for seniors; Bateman said a group of people in their 90s frequents the simulators. The facility can also be rented for corporate events and parties.

Clubs can be rented, so you don’t need to own equipment to play. The sole requirement is a pair of dry, indoor shoes, to keep salt and slush off the green. A non-virtual putting green and dart boards can be used free of charge.

Rates drop in the summer, when golfers are more likely to hit outdoor courses. Bateman said winter is busy for Spade Mashie, with an uptick in March, as well, as golfers get back into the swing of things for outdoor play.

While some virtual golfing locations operate on a turn-key model – people show up, enter a code, and play, never interacting with any staff – that is not the experience at Spade Mashie. Bateman said he wanted golfers to feel like they were arriving at their local course. Staff are on hand to answer questions or help with technical glitches. In addition, Spade Mashie works with two independent golf pros who can help players improve their game.

“That was our whole part of the business plan, we wanted to employ people locally,” Bateman said. “Our concept here was to be a part of the community. We do a lot of sponsorships with local hockey, with the Whalers, with the Wings.”

Bateman started Spade Mashie after retiring from the Toronto Police. Some of his family had relocated to Nova Scotia, and Bateman saw an opportunity to create a family business here based upon a model increasingly popular in Ontario, one that would combine his love of golf and interest in community and hospitality.

“I was looking for a legacy for my kids. You don’t really have one when you’re a cop,” Bateman said.

“I figured this would be a good place for them to learn business and move forward. They can take it over when I retire.”

This notion of family extends to the golfers who play at Spade Mashie, and is part of why there is no membership program. “We treat everybody like a member in the first place,” Bateman explained. “We want people to come in and feel like they’re a part of our family. That’s our goal.”