Sea Isle City adds two "cool" attractions to $21 million community center

There are no golf courses in Sea Isle City. Even if there were, it’s probably too darn cold for even the most hardcore of golfers to get out on the links at this time of year.

But soon, golfers in Sea Isle will be able to work on their games year-round – or at least pretend to.

A new golf simulator room is being added to Sea Isle’s $21 million community recreation center, which is now in the final stages of construction.

City spokeswoman Katherine Custer said the golf simulator is expected to be a popular attraction.

“We’ve heard some positive things about the golf simulator. Plus, there are a lot of golfers in Sea Isle,” she said.

Among the high-tech features, it can be programmed to simulate playing on famous golf courses, including Pebble Beach in California, Custer noted.

Another new high-tech attraction in the community center will be a “wall ball room.” It will simulate a variety of physical activities and games that can be customized for people of all ages – from children to senior citizens.

Essentially, the interactive system transforms a wall into a game board using a projection screen with high-precision sensors to track the movement of the players and balls. Players will use a real ball or their own movements to interact with the wall.

Soccer, football and bowling are just a few of the simulated games that can be played in the wall ball room, Custer said.

The golf simulator and wall ball room will add $188,554 to the cost of the community center. No other additional costs are expected with the project, Mayor Leonard Desiderio said.

    The flooring of the community center's elevated walking track is being installed. (Courtesy of Sea Isle City
  

Sea Isle officials decided to include the golf simulator and wall ball room after construction began to create even more attractions for the multiuse community center.

“They’re both going to be cool,” Custer said. “When the project went out to bid, they were not in the plans. But as you do with any big project, things evolve.”

Earnest Bock & Sons Inc., the lead contractor building the community center, added the golf simulator and wall ball room by converting what was originally supposed to be storage space on the second floor.

The building’s overall design reflects the facility’s dual role as a community center and recreation facility. There will be a large gymnasium, basketball court, indoor walkway and workout space for sports and recreation. The building will also include space that local community groups may use for meetings, events and other activities.

“Every room is basically a multipurpose room” Custer explained.

She noted, for instance, that the furniture in the building’s lobby could easily be moved to create extra space for something like an art exhibit.

In a final push to complete the project, an army of construction workers has descended on the building to put the finishing touches on the exterior and interior.

Custer said construction is “coming along nicely” and the hope is to finish the building by the end of December.

Sea Isle officials previously said they would like to welcome the arrival of 2026 in grand style by holding a New Year’s Eve bash in the community center to serve as the building’s first official event.

“It’s an exciting thing. We want the building to be perfect when we open it up. It will be the start of a new era for our town,” Custer said.

    Decorative tile and wallpaper accents are shown in the building’s main corridor. (Courtesy of Sea Isle City)