Life + Style

From Meatballs to Golf Balls

When it comes to golf, Long Beach Island, NJ does not mind getting teed off.

Year round it is home to several hundred residents who play the game. Come summer a few thousand additional golfers visit LBI ready to power walk the greens of local outdoor private and public courses and golf facilities.

There are 9 golf courses within 20 miles of Beach Haven, including 4 public, 3 municipal, and 2 private courses.

With the opening of Shot Shaver LBI, the island’s first ever indoor luxury golf simulation club located in Ship Bottom, NJ. outdoor golf is about to go indoors.

It is a hole-in-one idea. Whether you are a pro or just an amateur who enjoys swinging a four iron, professional experts like Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) Master Professional Tim Cusick consider indoor golf simulators the course to play today and in the long run.

“Simulators are a major part of the future of golf, Cusick said, “Simulator technology gives PGA of America Golf Professionals real-time metrics. This includes shot tracking, ball flight, and club movement and 2D swing and impact videos, within a small footprint that fits nearly everywhere. It is also transforming instruction while giving the next generation of recreational golfers a faster, more social way to engage with the game off the course after work rather than playing nine or 18 holes.”

Phil Immordino, President of the Indoor Golf Alliance said the many advantages of indoor golf outweigh any minor disadvantages.

“To be honest, some people don’t like hitting off matts and onto screens,” he said. “You can’t replicate the feel of grass or being outdoors. But the advantages of indoor golf are too many to ignore. It’s the next big thing. Indoor simulators provide valuable tools for both pros and nonprofessionals alike as they rely on data technology to train. The numbers do not lie. Once you get the numbers you won’t want to learn without them.”

Cusick said indoor golf simulators like Shot Shaver LBI are going to redefine golf instruction.

“They are golf’s version of an MRI,” he said. “They map a player’s physical movements in real time, and combined with enhanced graphics and global multiplayer capabilities, the technology will offer smarter coaching and endless connectivity.”

Frank Gargano, owner and operator of the original Shot Shaver Golf in Staten Island, New York feels the data technology available with indoor golf simulators helps to take the guess work out of golf which can sometimes be a bit of a wakeup call for players.

“The one helpful thing about simulators is that golf is a numbers game,” he said. ‘The fact that you have that data at your fingertips well, you’re no longer guessing. It removes a lot of the grey area. You can tell someone not only what they’re doing wrong but how they can do it better.”

Gargano said taking the guesswork out of golf does come with its upsides and downsides.

“Someone will say yeah, on the golf course I hit my driver 300 yards,” he said. “On a simulator it’s 250 yards and then they say oh your simulator is broken. And I think that’s one thing that’s tricky for golfers. You do one thing outdoors and then indoors you see the numbers. That can be a little sobering but there’s that long term benefit of knowing that you know what you are doing and don’t have to guess any longer. We are by no means trying to end outdoor golf. All of us are golfers by trade. I want the real grass experience as much as possible, but when it comes to the practice portion of golf simulators are invaluable to your data and to learning with every shot that you take.”

Shot Shaver LBI Will be a Time Saver

In addition to delivering data, Shot Shaver LBI aims to be a time saver for golfers.

Gargano said he and his family have been vacationing on Long Beach Island, NJ for decades. He understands how valuable time can be for people during the summer. It was one of the motivating factors behind his decision to bring the franchise to Long Beach Island.

“On LBI there is always that time aspect,” he said. “One of the things between simulator space and actual golf courses is time which most people don’t have. An actual round of traditional golf with lunch before transportation, you are talking about a six-hour ordeal. People come down here for a weeklong vacation, and every hour of that vacation is valuable. Indoor golf gives you the option to play on the island where you can have this activity to do and then get back to your vacation. From this standpoint alone we thought we’d be a good fit here.”

Christine Mundy the owner of Dockside Diner (previously located in Beach Haven, NJ and now housed in Queen City Marina in Beach Haven, NJ) believes Shot Shaver LBI will fill a need in the community when it comes to the time required to play a traditional round of golf.

“If you want to go golfing, you must get a tee time,” she said. “You must drive to a course off the island and then back so that’s five to six hours minimum. When you are here on vacation with your family you don’t want to spend that time away. So, at Shot Shaver LBI we are not the same time commitment as going to the golf course would be.”

Friends, Famiglia and a Franchise

Local entrepreneurs Christine and Anthony Mundy, along with a small group of friends and family are the faces behind Shot Shaver LBI. Frank Gargano is also part of the group.

“How did I come up with the name Shot Shaver? That’s a great question. It is really what we do in the game of golf. The goal is to shave shots off your game.“
Frank Gargano, Owner and Operator of the original Shot Shaver Golf

When Christine Mundy took over Dockside Diner in 2022 family was uppermost on her mind. Everything she said, from her relationships with her staff and customers to items on the menu had to have a family feel.

“When we introduced dinner at the Diner we started serving meatballs,” Mundy said. “It was a no brainer. My grandmother would make meatballs every Sunday. She was from Sicily. It would be odd for us not to serve them.”

Mundy said her decision to move from meatballs to golf balls happened after a chance phone call to a friend got her thinking about Shot Shaver as a potential future franchise on Long Beach Island.

“Both the Dockside Diner and Shot Shaver LBI represent the idea of family.” she said. “Both happened organically. I don’t play golf. I have no background in golf, but I was talking to a friend, and I asked her about her kids. She told me about her son Frank and his franchise called Shot Shaver and how he was looking to open another. I’m a serial entrepreneur and I thought this could be a great business for me.”

When it came time to make the decision to invest in Shot Shaver and bring it to the island as a business Mundy said the concept of family was again uppermost in her mind.

“We are not a hedge fund or an investment group,” she said. “We are a small group of friends and family. It’s me, my brother, Frank, and the young people who work for me here at the diner. All are investing their life savings because they believe in it and want to be part of something. When we went before the community boards, we tried to emphasize that we wanted Shot Shaver LBI to be a place where whole families are comfortable to be coming to.”

Gargano said one of his favorite things about indoor golf simulators is the opportunity it provides for families and friends to spend time together.

“The cool thing about Shot Shaver for me is I can play golf together with my eight-year-old and my 80-year-old grandfather,” he said. “It’s the generational aspect that’s important. It creates a space for families and friends to be together. From the simulator aspect of things, we want people to come together, and Shot Shaver LBI is such a beautiful way to do that.”

Immordino said indoor golf simulators are a good place for families and friends to hit the links and have fun.

“You can’t beat the social experience,” he said. “The simulator technology in these facilities gives everyone a chance to either try golf, get better at it or just have fun with family and friends.”

Convenience. Comfort. Community.

When it comes to the weather, indoor golf simulator facilities offer golfers convenience by providing a climate-controlled environment. Every season comes with its challenges. You cannot keep your game on par whenever outdoor conditions such as rain, wind, heat, and cold temperatures are terrible. Indoor golf facilities take the worry out of weather.

“Indoor golf simulator facilities remove weather and daylight constraints,” Cusick said. “This technology turns golf into a 24/7 business while offering flexibility for players to practice their swing, play virtual rounds or entertain friends.”

Gargano agrees that weather is a critical factor when it comes to playing golf.

“Weather variables are a big thing,” Gargano said. “Indoor simulators like Shot Shaver LBI remove weather interruptions. We offer flexibility to players to practice swings, play virtual rounds and entertain your friends whatever the weather.”

Indoor golf uses advanced simulators that replicate real golf courses and playing conditions. It has become popular in areas where time, weather, family, friends and flexibility are major considerations for players.

“Golf is huge here,” Mundy said. “I realized Shot Shaver LBI is going to fill a need when it comes to the weather. If the weather’s not good, and just about everything on LBI has to do with good weather, and you want to go golfing you can’t. So, you can come here.”

Indoor golf simulators come with other comfort levels that go beyond technology or climate control.

“There’s a relaxed atmosphere to indoor golf facilities,” Gargano said. “There isn’t the pomp and circumstance you might have going to a traditional golf course. What do I wear? Am I in the right outfit? Will I look too new here? Everyone who shows up at a golf course for the first time is a nervous wreck wondering if they are doing everything right. If you are just getting into the game, it’s a nice place to start as opposed to playing on a traditional golf course.”

Mundy points out that indoor golf facilities like Shot Shaver LBI offer people of all skill levels a place to play golf or learn about it in a more relaxed welcoming environment.

“Here at Shot Shaver LBI, you can take lessons or you can just play,” she said. “There’s nobody judging you. You can come in and know nothing at all about golf. We are a way to make golf more accessible to everyone. It’s not just a rich white guy’s sport. And as a woman business owner myself I also want women to know they don’t need an invitation to come in. Everyone is welcome.”

A concern for the community of Ship Bottom is something Mundy takes very seriously when it comes to Shot Shaver LBI.

“I want people to get to know us,” she said. “We are not open 24/7 because we understand this is not a city. We will close at 11 pm for our last tee time. People cannot bring liquor in. There will be no golf hooligans barreling out of this place. At the diner we have a family type of relationship with all our employees. That family feeling is what we want to bring to Shot Shaver LBI. We will offer good products at a reasonable price. I want this place to feel like an extension of your island experience, coastal and warm, not just another golf simulator place. I want to give people another reason to stay local and spend money in Ship Bottom.”

Mundy would like members of the community to make money. Shot Shaver LBI, she said, will create more jobs for its residents.

“Absolutely,” she said. “We are going to be hiring instructors, managers and of course the young people who come for the season who can be part of our inhouse concierge service, caddies and instructors to help people navigate the software.”

In addition to peace of mind and job opportunities, Mundy said Shot Shaver LBI is also determined to give the community something beautiful to look at.

“We are doing something about the exterior of the building (formerly the site of Dollar General),” she said. “We have this big hulking 8,500 square foot building and we have hired Dan Koval, a professional mural painter who is going to make a beautiful piece of public art. The mural will be homage to Ship Bottom and its history which I love. This building is not just about golf. It’s also about bringing something beautiful to the community.”

“A big part of the project will draw from Ship Bottom’s history and character,” Koval said. “My goal is to create something authentic to the area that connects with both the locals and visitors. Everything we do is entirely done by hand and the work really creates a buzz.”

Gargano believes the mural will show the Ship Bottom community just what they can expect from Shot Shaver LBI as it becomes part of the neighborhood.

“I hope the mural will be evidence to the community that we have a ton of pride not only about what’s happening inside the building but on the outside as well,” he said. “I think a lot of people’s complaints about the building were that it looked like an old cement building without a lot of appeal. We are intent on making this building great visually. Even if you are not a golfer you can just drive by and see something to look at that is interesting.”

Mundy said the interior of Shot Shaver LBI will feature eight standard simulator bays and three additional private bays across two private suites, all powered by TrackMan technology that offers state of the art solutions to enhance performance for players.

“With lessons, leagues, tournaments, a pro shop, grip fittings and complimentary use of Shot Shaver LBI clubs there will be plenty of ways to get into the game,” she said. “No equipment or experience necessary. Our space will also accommodate celebrations, corporate gatherings, and private events big and small. Members will enjoy a complimentary coffee and beverage bar and priority parking.”

PGA professional Tim Cusick believes in a bright future for indoor golf sims.

“Simulators provide unmatched convenience for golfers at every level,” Cusick said. “From PGA Tour professionals keeping their swings sharp at home to everyday students, having easy access to play and practice away from the course is a major advantage.”

Gargano also feels the future is looking good for Shot Shaver LBI.

“Making the game accessible for many people is where Shot Shaver LBI is going to stand out,” Gargano said. “Older people who love playing the game but can’t do the golf course anymore because they can’t be out in the sun for 6 hours or they can’t walk up the hills, families with time constraints, kids that aren’t quite ready for the full golf experience.”

Mundy said the Shot Shaver LBI family is grateful for the support and friendships they have found here on the island.

“Our hope is simple,” she said. “We want to bring something special to the community while adding to the many wonderful experiences that already make LBI a place we all love. Come for golf. Stay for the experience.”

Shot Shaver LBI anticipates opening at the end of November 2026. A grand opening is scheduled for Memorial Day 2027.

Contact Information

Shot Shaver LBI

2400 Long Beach Blvd, Ship Bottom, NJ

800.882.3333

www.shotshaverlbi.com

Instagram: @shotshaverlbi

Founders:

Christine Mundy, Founder 917.288.3845

Anthony Mundy, Founder 646.533.2847

Frank Gargano, Founder (Shot Shaver Golf) 347.844.3992

PGA of America