Michael Di Cenzo says people like to tease him that the real reason he opened the Year Round Golf Center in Wallingford was to sharpen up his own game. But Di Cenzo insists that's not true.

Players hit shots into a large, soft viewing screen that displays a full-color picture of the hole as the player would see it for each shot. An electronic device measures clubhead speed and angle of contact between the clubhead and golf ball, and plots the path of the shot to its landing area. An overhead view of each hole and yardage measurements to the flag is also displayed. Up to four players can play at a time, and the computer keeps a running score for each participant.

The simulators feature such well-known courses as The Legends at Shanty Creek in Michigan and Arizona's famed Troon North. The areas around the simulators have the look and feel of a real golf course, with benches for players to sit on when they are not hitting and even red ball washers.

The center also has two practice hitting bays that can each accommodate two golfers. The bays use digital video analyzers that measure swing information, then display it on a screen and store it on video tape for future reference.

"I settled on the equipment I have because of the photo-real aspect of the simulators and also because of the swing analysis aspect," said Di Cenzo, who took up golf several years ago. "It is recreational and educational at the same time."

Di Cenzo's goal is to make his facility a year-round learning center, a place where golfers spend 30 minutes on a swing analyzer and get much more feedback than they would on a driving range."

Di Cenzo said the simulators are what initially attracts customers. "The third time in, people start booking time on the swing analyzer. I knew it would be the simulators that bring people in and hoped that the educational aspect of the center will keep them coming back, especially when the warm weather arrives and people can play a real course," he said.

Since opening in November, Di Cenzo said, the center has been steadily busy. "When we started out, our hours were from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Now we are going from 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, and we're still turning people away," he said.

Di Cenzo said he's invested about $200,000 in the facility, including $40,000 apiece for the golf simulators. He hopes to eventually offer simulated play on two dozen courses. Simulator fees are $14 a person for 18 holes and $7 for nine holes. Di Cenzo said golfers should call ahead for reservations. The center also offers instruction, club fitting and repair services, a pro shop and a small putting green.

The center attracts golfers of all levels, from beginners to college players and professionals. "Having the low handicappers and pros use the center is a kind of validation for us," said Di Cenzo, who said the true test of success will come in the spring and summer when real courses are open.

"We're hoping golfers will come here either before a round to warm up or after a round to work on an aspect of their game that they are having trouble with. We've had some interest in creating night leagues, and seniors have mentioned they would like to come in during the summer during the day when it's real hot outside. We're optimistic about the warm weather months, and I think we won't have as bad a downturn in business as we thought we might."