Indoor Holiday Party Ideas for Baton Rouge Companies That Want More Than a Buffet
The simplest way to give a Baton Rouge company holiday party something to do is to bring the activity indoors. A mobile golf simulator sets up in an office, plant break area, warehouse bay, or rented hall with power, 15 by 20 feet of floor space, and 12 feet of ceiling clearance. Guests rotate through between food and a short program, and rain does not cancel it.
TLDR:
- December rain and early dark in Baton Rouge make an indoor activity the safe bet.
- Pick the format first: office party, shift-friendly lunch, client night, or family day.
- A simulator runs alongside food and a short program, not instead of them.
- Quick contests keep non-golfers in the game and the line moving.
- Prizes and a running leaderboard give the night a story people retell.
- Holiday dates go first, so lock the date before invitations go out.
Every fall, whoever gets handed the holiday party hits the same problems. Half the team golfs and half does not. Second shift cannot make a Friday night. Nobody wants to drive across town in December rain to stand around a rented room.
That is the gap a mobile simulator fills for companies from Denham Springs and Baton Rouge to Gonzales, Prairieville, Hammond, and the Northshore. We bring the game to your building, so the party happens where your people already are.
Planning a November or December party? Tell us the date, the location, and roughly how many people are coming. We will come back with availability and a quote.
Why an Indoor Activity Matters in a Louisiana Winter
A Louisiana December is not cold for long, but it is wet, and it gets dark early. That combination quietly kills outdoor plans and long drives to a venue.
The National Weather Service’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Baton Rouge put average December rainfall at 5.32 inches, up from 3.90 inches in November, with an average December low of 43.3 degrees. Some years run far wetter. The NWS list of the wettest Baton Rouge Decembers shows 14.86 inches in 2009.
Our own booking and weather FAQ puts it plainly: the weather does not affect indoor events. Outdoor setups can be paused by rain, high wind, or lightning. For a party you have planned for six weeks, indoors is the version that always happens.
Four Holiday Party Formats That Work With a Simulator
The format decides almost everything else, from the time of day to the food. Start here before you look at dates.
The after-hours office party
The classic. Clear a large conference room, lobby, or open floor, set out food, and let people drift between the buffet and the simulator. Guests can play for ten minutes or two hours, and nobody is locked into a tee time.
The plant or shift-friendly lunch session
For plants and industrial employers, an evening party leaves out whole shifts. A daytime session in a break area or warehouse bay lets each crew rotate through during its own lunch window. Our mobile golf simulator for corporate events is built for exactly these spaces: warehouse bays, large conference rooms, lobbies, and covered outdoor areas.
The client appreciation evening
A holiday thank-you for customers, vendors, or partners does better with something to do than a plated dinner alone. A closest-to-the-pin contest gives a client and your sales lead a reason to talk that is not about the next order.
The family day
Some companies invite spouses and kids. If the guest list skews young or mixed, our Feral package adds 14 simulator games beyond golf and handles up to 8 players at once. Plan on parents or other adults supervising children, because our team runs the simulator, not childcare.
Not sure which format fits your team? Tell us your headcount and how long you have, and we will suggest a structure.
How a Simulator Fits Alongside Food and a Short Program
The simulator should not be the whole party. It works best as the thing people do between eating, talking, and the part where the boss says thank you. Here is one sample four-hour evening to adjust.
Keep the buffet and the bar away from the swing area, since our event safety and liability terms ask hosts to keep the hitting area clear of hazards and foot traffic. Schedule the program at a natural lull, after people have eaten. Then run the contest finals once the room is warm and people have had practice swings.
Our team handles the simulator side from start to finish: the screen, the hitting area, the clubs and balls for right- and left-handed players, and the rotation itself. Your side is the food, the program, and the guest list. Our Corporate package starts at $2,100 and is quoted around your event. Add-ons cover extra play time, premium audio, a power backup, and the Feral games.
Keeping It Fun for People Who Do Not Golf
Your holiday party is not a golf outing, and plenty of your people have never held a club. The goal is a room where nobody feels like they are slowing things down.
A simulator helps because a first swing gets an immediate result on screen. Short formats help even more. Closest to the pin takes one shot and is easy to score, so a beginner can win it on luck alone. We go deeper on this in our guide to golf for people who have never played.
A few habits keep it inclusive:
- Pair across departments. A scramble that mixes the front office with the floor crew beats any icebreaker.
- Give a first-timer prize. It rewards the people who tried.
- Keep open play running. Watchers can join when they feel like it.
- Add Feral for mixed crowds. Non-golfers get games that are not golf at all.
Contest and Prize Ideas for a Company Holiday Party
Contests turn a fun activity into a story people retell in January. The first three are formats we run at corporate sessions. The last two are easy twists you can layer on, with prizes you supply.
| Contest | How it works | Prize idea |
|---|---|---|
| Longest drive | Everyone gets a few swings, best distance holds the leaderboard | A traveling trophy that sits on the winner’s desk all year |
| Closest to the pin | One shot each, quick to play and easy to score | Gift card or first pick from the white elephant pile |
| Team scramble | Mixed teams, each player hits, the team plays its best shot | Team lunch on the company |
| Department cup | Each department’s best scores add up | Bragging rights and a banner for the break room |
| First-timer award | Best shot by someone who has never played | A prize equal to the top one, so trying pays off |
Prizes are yours to pick and do not need to be expensive. Announce them early, so people play for something. For why golf works for teams in the first place, see why a golf event works for corporate teams.
A Booking Timeline for a November or December Party
Holiday dates are the first to go. Our FAQ advises booking as early as you can, especially for a weekend or anything in the holiday stretch.
Step three is the one that matters. Do not send invitations or book a hall around a date we have not confirmed in writing. When you reach out, settle these up front:
- Headcount and party length. We build the rotation around both.
- The space. Send photos if you are unsure.
- Power. If the spot has no outlet, our pricing page lists a power backup add-on.
- Travel. Distance past a certain point can add a fee, so give us the address early.
- Payment timing. A 50% deposit holds the date, and the remaining balance is due 7 days before your event, so build both into your purchasing process.
Alcohol and Safety Notes for the Host
A bar at the holiday party is fine. It just changes a few things for the host.
We do not serve or supply alcohol. Under our event terms for parties with a bar, serving, licensing, and following alcohol laws sit with the host and the venue. Our team may decline to let a guest swing when intoxication creates a risk of injury or damage, and that call is final. Only one person swings at a time, and closed-toe shoes are a good idea.
If drinks are on the menu, plan the ride home the same way you plan the food. A few prepaid cab rides or a designated driver list costs far less than a bad end to a good night.
Holiday Party Questions From Baton Rouge Companies
These are the practical questions that come up when a company books a simulator for the holidays. If yours is not here, call (225) 335-8279, and we will talk it through.
Can a golf simulator fit in our office or plant?
Usually, yes. We need access to electricity, 15 by 20 feet of floor space, 12 feet of ceiling clearance, a reasonably level surface, and a clear path in, including doors and stairs. Warehouse bays, large conference rooms, lobbies, and covered outdoor areas all work. Send photos and we will confirm.
How far ahead should we book a December party?
As early as you can. Weekends and the holiday stretch are the first dates to go. Your date is held only once you sign the agreement and pay any deposit. Check availability before you book a hall or send invitations. Short notice is still worth asking about.
What happens to our party if it rains?
If the simulator is set up indoors, nothing. Weather does not affect indoor events. Outdoor setups can be paused by heavy rain, high wind, or lightning, which is why we recommend an indoor space for a December party in the Baton Rouge area.
Do our employees need to know how to golf?
No. A first swing gets a result on screen, and quick contests like closest to the pin are easy for anyone to play. We bring clubs and balls for right- and left-handed players. For mixed groups or families, the Feral package adds 14 games beyond golf.
Does Riverside Fairways serve alcohol at company parties?
No. Serving, licensing, and alcohol law compliance are handled by the host and the venue. Our team may decline to let a guest swing when intoxication creates a safety risk. Keep the bar away from the hitting area and plan rides home in advance.
How much does a corporate holiday party with a simulator cost?
Our Corporate package starts at $2,100 and is customized around your event. The final quote depends on the date, location and travel distance, how long you want play to run, and any add-ons such as extra time, premium audio, or a power backup. Call or send your details for a quote.
Can you come to our New Orleans or Northshore office?
Yes. We are based in Denham Springs and travel throughout Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the Northshore are regular territory. Travel past a certain distance can add a fee, so share the address, and we will confirm before you book.
Get your holiday party on the calendar before the dates are gone. We set up before your guests arrive, run every round, and pack out after. No surprises, and nobody on your team has to manage the activity.