Topgolf set to become Special Olympics event beginning in 2024

Topgolf will be the first brand to become a medaled event through a new partnership.

Topgolf is set become an official sanctioned event for the Special Olympics beginning in 2024.

Special Olympics athletes will be able to compete as an individual or with a team through Special Olympics Unified Sports, which joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team for training and competition.

“We have a responsibility now more than ever to invite everyone into the game of golf, and our partnership with Special Olympics will help us further unleash the power of play and bring more joy to more people,” said Topgolf Chief Brand Officer Geoff Cottrill.

Local organizing committees for any Special Olympics event around the world –  including the Special Olympics USA Games and World Games – will be able to include Topgolf as a medaled event starting Jan. 1, 2024.

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics was created as a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. It delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and more than100,000 games and competitions every year.

“I’ve been at Topgolf for 14 years, and this partnership will go down as one of the things I’m most proud of,” said Topgolf’s Director of Charitable Initiatives Tiffany Brush. “Topgolf is changing the traditional definition of ‘golfer,’ and to see Special Olympics athletes so enthusiastic about Topgolf is a clear example of how we’re making the game more inclusive and open for all.”

Amy Bockerstette
Amy Bockerstette at Topgolf. (Photo: Courtesy of Topgolf)

But that’s not all. In May 2023, Topgolf will offer free practice sessions to Special Olympics athletes and Unified Sports participants.

And then there’s Topgolf’s “season of Giving,” a charitable effort held from Sept. 15 – Oct. 31 2023, where Topgolf players at venues in the United States and United Kingdom will have the opportunity to donate to the Special Olympics. Each venue has a goal to raise $10,000, with an overall goal of more than $500,000. U.S. and U.K. Topgolf locations will also host “Days of Giving” on Oct. 26-27.

“A partnership with Topgolf will help Special Olympics demonstrate to the world how inclusive sport training and competition is a catalyst for inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities,” said Lou Lauria, Chief of Sport and Competition at Special Olympics. “Special Olympics and Topgolf are completely aligned on the belief in the unlimited power of sport. What starts on the playing field extends into classrooms, workplaces and communities.”

Also in 2024, Topgolf will host the first Unified Fore Joy fundraising event, which will bring together Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners, professional golfers, celebrities and supporters at five of its U.S. venues.

Topgolf has 87 venues worldwide, 78 of which are in the U.S. The other nine locations are spread across Australia, Germany, Mexico, Thailand, the UAE, U.K. and Scotland.

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Photos: Official watch party for the new Netflix show ‘Full Swing’

Scottsdale was the place to be for golf and the premiere party for Full Swing.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When you’re ready to make a splash in the world of golf, why not do it at the biggest party in golf?

Netflix and Michelb Ultra threw an official Michelob Ultra and Netflix Full Swing Premiere & Super Bowl After Party at Topgolf in Scottsdale on Saturday night after the third round of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open.

The highly anticipated Netflix series documenting professional golf in 2022 will release in its entirety on Feb. 15 and take fans behind-the-scenes to see what life is really like for some of the best in the game.

teaser was released last month and included a surprise appearance from Rory McIlroy, as well as confirmation that the following PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars would be involved: Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Ian Poulter, Joel Dahmen, Matt Fitzpatrick, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Mito Pereira and Joaquin Niemann.

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WATCH: Official trailer for ‘Full Swing’

New England is finally getting its first TopGolf. Here’s where it’s being built

The project has been in the works for years, with Topgolf working closely with the town starting in 2018.

You don’t have to be a golf pro to enjoy the newest sports entertainment venue coming to Massachusetts.

Topgolf, the high-tech driving range, bar and restaurant, is making its entrance into the Bay State. Its first location is currently under construction in Canton, the company announced this week. The new location is expected to open in late 2023. Canton is about 20 miles south of Boston.

“We get asked all the time when we’re bringing a Topgolf to the Boston area, so we couldn’t be happier to finally have an answer to that question,” Topgolf Chief Development Officer Chris Callaway said in a press release. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to join the Canton community and can’t thank the town enough for their support along the way.”

The new three-story venue will feature 90 climate-controlled hitting bays and the company’s Toptracer technology, which allows players to track their ball’s speed, distance, height and more after aiming the ball at on-field targets.

Visitors can also enjoy a full food and drink menu, music, a rooftop terrace, outdoor patio and year-round, family-friendly programs.

Redevelopment underway at former Cumberland Farms center

Topgolf has been gaining in popularity and numbers, with more than 80 U.S. locations either already built or in the works. The nearest location is in Long Island, New York. Topgolf merged with the Calloway Golf Company in 2021, combining the iconic golf equipment brand with the technology-driven entertainment venues.

The Canton venue will be located along Dedham Street and I-95, at the site of the former Cumberland Farms manufacturing and distribution center.

The project has been in the works for years, with Topgolf working closely with the town starting in 2018.

The company bought the 15-acre property, which consisted of an empty trailer parking area, from Cumberland Farms for $6.2 million in 2019. The property was already zoned properly under the Limited Industrial District.

As part of the zoning approval, the company donated about three acres of land to the town, consisting of undevelopable wetlands located along and adjacent to both the Neponset River and the MBTA rail line. Town Meeting approved the donation in May 2021.

“It’s with great excitement and pleasure that I welcome Topgolf to our community,” Canton Select Board Chair John Connolly said in a press release. “This project will have a significant economic impact to the town of Canton through the creation of jobs and increased tax revenue to support our schools and municipal services, in addition to the environmental and aesthetic benefits of cleaning up a blighted site. It’s truly a ‘hole-in-one’ for Canton.”

According to the company, the Canton location will generate around 400 new jobs.

How Topgolf works

Topgolf is designed to be inclusive for all ages and levels, from first-time golfers to seasoned pros.

Customers can reserve one of the hitting bays online ahead of time, or walk in and wait. Each bay accommodates up to six players and is priced by the hour, with the hourly rate varying by day and time, plus a $5 one-time member fee for new players.

Everything you need to play is provided, including clubs and micro-chipped golf balls. Players enter their information on the screen and can choose from more than a dozen games — from the signature Topgolf game to an Angry Birds version.

The goal? Aim for the targets and score the highest points. The more accurate your shot and the farther the distance, the more points you earn. The microchipped balls track your speed, direction and points during each shot.

The venue also offers food and drink while you play.

Get a preview at Fenway Park

In 2021, Bostonians got a taste of Topgolf when Fenway Park served as a stop on the Topgolf Live Stadium Tour, in which iconic stadiums are converted into temporary Topgolf experiences. Players tee off from the stands, aiming at targets placed on the field.

Topgolf Live returns to Fenway Park Nov. 4 through Nov. 9, though only spectator tickets remain at this point.

For more information, visit Topgolf Live (complexse.com).

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Topgolf is coming to Jordan-Hare Stadium

Want to hit golf balls at Jordan-Hare?

Fans will be able to play Topgolf in Jordan-Hare Stadium in April. Auburn will be hosting the Topgolf Live Stadium Tour from April 21-24.

What is Topgolf Live? Here is how they describe it:

“Topgolf Live brings to life the Topgolf experience in truly immersive—and iconic—settings. Our stadium series converts America’s most beloved venues into temporary Topgolf-like experiences. You’ll score more points by hitting the giant targets on the field while Toptracer technology accurately traces your shots and shows you instant replays on the game screen in your upper deck hitting bay. Good food, drinks, music, friendly competition—all of that comes standard. Not a golfer? Neither are we. Our games are fun for all skill levels.”

Tickets will start at $40 for students and $80 for everyone else. You can also buy a spectator ticket for $10 if you do not want to golf. They will go on sale on February 9 at  http://topgolflive.com.

There is also the War Eagle Experience premium ticket, which cost $175. This ticket includes private access to the Harbert Recruiting Center, a locker room tour and photo opportunities, access to the Tiger Walk Club, a limited-edition Topgolf Live hat, a complimentary Topgolf Lifetime Membership and $10 off discount card.

Topgolf in Fort Myers, Florida: An inside look at new facility with Friday grand opening

Topgolf in Fort Myers has been accepting walk-ins since Monday, and has its grand opening on Friday morning at 9.

The new Topgolf facility in Fort Myers fully opens Friday morning.

But already, Eddie Parisi, the director of operations at the golf entertainment venue that has been taking walk-ins since Monday, said a significant point has been reached.

“We kind of knew this already — it’s getting more hyped up, the anticipation of us opening,” Parisi said Wednesday. “Everybody’s excited about it. People come in, and ‘Oh, you’re open, we can hit some golf balls.’

“(Tuesday) night was great — the first time we went on a wait, and it’s the second day of our soft opening.”

More: Long-awaited Topgolf Fort Myers location opening this week

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Parisi said so far a lot of questions that he’s been emailed have had to do with two things — the lighting, and whether it’s possible for people to hit balls over the nets surrounding the facility that are attached to poles 170 to 175 feet high. The farthest length inside the netting is 215 yards.

Ryan Angell hits balls at the new location of Top Golf in Fort Myers on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. The grand opening is on Friday but the location had a soft opening and patrons are able to hit in all the bays. Photographed with a fisheye lens

“Is it possible? It is possible, but does it happen that often? Not at all,” Parisi said.

He explained that the golf balls used don’t travel like normal golf balls because of the microchip in them. Golfers also must agree to terms of conditions — those are gone through with an associate at the bay before they start — and those include that the golfer is liable for any sort of damage. The balls also have a tracker in them, so if necessary, they can determine which guest hit a specific ball.

As for the lighting, Parisi said that was all cleared by the city after repeated visits.

“We had the city come here, we had the highway and they test out the readings of the brightness of our lights,” he said. “It’s not like ‘Here’s our lights, here’s what we’re doing.’ If you’ve seen Topgolfs, the majority of them are right next to highways.

“We had to test it. We wouldn’t be allowed to do it if it didn’t get tested and didn’t get the OK from the city.”

Ryan Angell hits balls at the new location of Top Golf in Fort Myers on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. The grand opening is on Friday but the location had a soft opening and patrons are able to hit in all the bays.

Gabe Luchetta and Ryan Angell were two of the golfers taking advantage of the walk-ins Wednesday morning.

“I think it’s something that, it’s fun and enjoyable for everyone,” said Luchetta, who already has a membership, and works for NeoGenomics, whose building is just down the road. “You don’t have to really be a golfer. You can come out here and enjoy your family and enjoy yourself.

“You can bring your team. You can do a lot of things that are really cool for team building, and I think that’s what Topgolf is really all about, and having fun obviously.”

“They’re super fun,” Angell said. “It’s a good way to catch up on work stuff instead of going the standard golf and play 18 holes. You come here and get fed and not have to move around and still swing the club.

“This place is going to get crazy busy.”

Gabe Luchetta hits balls at the new location of Top Golf in Fort Myers on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. The grand opening is on Friday but the location had a soft opening and patrons are able to hit in all the bays.

Parisi gave another example of what he says is one of the focuses for Topgolf.

“We create moments that matter for everyone,” he said.

One of those that’s becoming popular is doing gender reveals. When that’s set up, a target will be ready, and once a ball hits it, the lights will flash back and forth between pink (for a girl) and blue (for a boy), and then stay on whichever one it will be.

The food comes from a scratch kitchen, and there are a variety of alcoholic beverages, including some local craft beers.

Each bay has a screen that shows the points for each golfer in the variety of games that are available. There’s also a TV above the screen that can be switched to watch whatever the customer wants to watch. Each bay can accommodate up to six golfers.

Reservations can already be booked up to a week ahead of time, but those don’t start until Friday morning at 9 a.m., after an 8:45 a.m. ribbon-cutting that will feature county officials. But walk-ins are always available and not all of the 72 bays on two levels are set aside to be used for reservations.

Ryan Angell hits balls at the new location of Top Golf in Fort Myers on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. The grand opening is on Friday but the location had a soft opening and patrons are able to hit in all the bays.

Bays are $27 an hour from opening until noon, $37 per hour from noon to 5 p.m., and $47 per hour from 5 p.m. to close. That does not include gameplay or food and beverage. Tuesdays are half-price for gameplay.

Topgolf also provides its own clubs, with a variety of shafts, although golfers are allowed to bring their own clubs at no extra charge. The clubs, which are all made by Callaway, even have what yardages each travels marked on the bin. Each bay has its own bin with all kinds of clubs in it.

Parisi said the platinum memberships have a variety of levels, and include such perks as no wait time, access to upgraded golf clubs, and more. There’s also club fitting, and a PGA-certified golf instructor is on staff for lessons.

There’s an indoor/outdoor patio, event space that can be booked, bars on both levels, an apparel store, and a 40-foot-by-40-foot TV that can show one program or a few at the same time.

“Every day it’s just progressing, and the excitement from people walking in,” Parisi said. “You can tell this city’s been waiting for Topgolf.”

Greg Hardwig is a sports reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @NDN_Ghardwig, email him at ghardwig@naplesnews.com. Support local journalism with this special subscription offer at https://cm.naplesnews.com/specialoffer/

One in a million? Teen’s golf ball struck by lightning at Topgolf venue in Texas

Tomas Gomez launched a golf ball that, while in mid-flight, got struck by a bolt of lightning at a Topgolf in San Antonio.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all.

On Friday at a Topgolf venue in San Antonio, 18-year-old Tomas Gomez was hitting golf balls with his brother, sister and some friends while a storm was building in the area.

While hitting balls from a ground-level bay, Gomez launched a ball that, while in mid-flight, got struck by a bolt of lightning.

That really happened. You can see the video here.

Gomez’s friend Arlette Ibarra was shooting video on her phone and captured the one-in-a-million moment.

“I was just glad that it [lightning] hit the ball instead of me,” Gomez told Dailymail.com.

A visibly stunned Gomez falls back a bit before catching his balance. The Daily Mail reports that Topgolf didn’t clear the facility but did ask that everyone go inside.

Unfazed, Gomez said: “I will definitely be back as soon as I can.”

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A club with options: The Yards offers plenty of fun, challenges without time restraints

It’s a golf club with options. Check out Florida’s newest innovative club, The Yards.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Blessed by a King and backed by an energetic owner who could find a silver lining in a three-putt, The Yards is a modernized golf club with a creative eye on the future of the game.

Located within a monster Bryson DeChambeau drive of its more famous neighbor, The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, home to the PGA Tour’s flagship event, The Yards offers multiple alternatives to the traditional 18-hole route.

You want to play three holes? Six? Nine? Twelve? Fifteen? Eighteen?

Not a problem at The Yards.

In other words, options, options, options. The Yards is home to a 12-hole remodeled course that can play out to 3,695 yards with a par of 44 and a three-hole inner loop of short par 3s around water that are as fun to play as they are challenging.

The club is one of the latest models in a movement to offer golfers – young and old, high-handicapper or scratch, newbies and lifelong players – an alternative to enjoy and grow fond of the game that doesn’t demand six hours of your time.

Think Topgolf, putting courses, par-3 layouts.

Thus, variety is the spice of this refashioned track in northeast Florida, from a trio of par 3s that can play anywhere from 45 to 140 yards but are anything but pushovers, to a collection of par 4s that will test your mettle, to two par 5s that offer plenty of testing routes and let the big dog eat.

There’s even a par 3 with a bunker in the middle of the green. “Caution. This is the Black Hole. A surprise awaits you may not escape,” is carved into a rock tee marker at the par-3 fifth hole.

The Yards
A tee marker at The Yards. (Photo: Steve DiMeglio/Golfweek)

“I think the attention span of the average golfer is waning,” said David Miller, who in 2016 purchased the distressed course with a troubled past marked by legal battles despite never owning a golf course and, as he added, when rounds played in the U.S. were down 10 to 15 percent. But Miller is an entrepreneur whose glass is always more than half full. And he loves his golf – he has a 4,000-square-foot putting and chipping area in his backyard.

The course formerly known as Hidden Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Ponte Vedra Golf and Country Club, and Oak Bridge, originally was designed by Arnold Palmer and built in 1973. Back then it was an 18-hole, par-70 layout. But through the years, the course was often neglected, closed and desperate to attract golfers.

Still, Miller persuaded his current general manager and former PGA Tour professional, Mike Miles, to join him to transform the land. The two – who you would love to meet on the first tee and join at the 19th hole – saw potential and went to work.

There was hesitation, mind you, but Miller plowed ahead by thinking outside the box with the intention of renovating the property into an appealing lure for golfers of all stripes. So he started working on his blueprint, which included designs of putting surfaces drawn out on napkins and holes designed as a result of driving around in a cart with a beer in hand.

The result? Split by a residential street, the club features the refurbished original front nine that plays to a par of 35 that tips out at 3,190 yards and is known as the Front Yard, with six par 3s across the street and beyond the clubhouse that can play to 802 yards and are known as the Back Yard.

“This appeals to the average golfer who gets tired of getting beat up by tough courses. It’s a great beginner’s course, too,” Miller said. “There was a future here.

“To me, it’s like Topgolf meets TPC. It’s like, it feels like two scoops of ice cream. Like, you go to some places and one scoop isn’t enough and three scoops is too much. This feels right. You can get your golf fix in a lot of ways.”

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That includes working on your game at the driving range, which was expanded by 40 yards. Two short-game practice areas also are in the works.

Miller first had to deal with numerous legal roadblocks and convince residents of the Sawgrass Players Club and adjoining community that his plans would benefit the surrounding area. He got the OK and also received approval for a 99-year lease of much of the original back nine – 40 acres – to developers of a future assisted living center.

And Miller also needed the King’s endorsement. Miller is friends with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and asked him if he thought Palmer would support his intentions to transform an 18-hole traditional course to a 15-hole alternative course. Miller wrote a hand-written letter to Palmer that Monahan hand-delivered to the King in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Palmer gave his wholehearted blessing.

Monahan was glad he did.

“In today’s busy world, 18 holes is not always an option for any number of reasons – demands on people’s time, cost, and I think there can be a certain intimidation factor for beginners,” Monahan said. “But with 12-hole courses or par-3 courses becoming a larger part of the landscape, golf can be introduced in a friendly and inviting manner, can be less time prohibitive and more easily allows families and friends to spend time together.

“Facilities like TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, having recently relaunched the public par-30 Fleming 9 Golf Course, and The Yards have embraced the social aspects of the game and offer formats that may ultimately attract a more diverse group of participants, and perhaps some of those introductions will become lifetime players. Either way, these new efforts are overwhelmingly positive for our sport going forward.”

Added Miles: “Time is the No. 1 reason people cite when asked about why they may not play golf as much or take the game up. We want people to have fun here and not get caught up in what’s considered a traditional round of golf.”

Going about the redesign wasn’t traditional, either. Miles showed up one day and saw a bulldozer on the first hole and was told to start shaping a new outlook for the course.

Tapping into his vast golf background as a player, manager and teacher and spurred by his love for the game and architecture, Miles thought of playability, flexibility and diversity when he took a seat in the bulldozer.

“It’s a friendly course,” Miles said. “On the front nine, you can reach water with most every tee shot, but there is plenty of bailout options so you’re not shaking on every tee shot. There is a lot of risk-reward. The greens are big and challenging.

“And the par 3s in the Back Yard offer plenty of fun but will test you.”

Miller put around $10 million into the project. First off, the grounds had to be cleaned up. Then many trees and bulkheads were removed, 29 bunkers were taken out with a few new ones added in strategic places, and the irrigation system was rebuilt. Every green was redesigned – they are large and feature plenty of undulation and head-scratchers. Tees were lengthened that offer plenty of distance possibilities. The par-5, 534-yard sixth has a ridge splitting the fairway, the par-4, 335-yard first can be driven but has a lake guarding the green.

And then there’s the par-3, 179-yard fifth where Miles built a shallow bunker in the middle of the green and had it filled with crushed, black lava. You’ll have fun getting around it if you’re on the wrong side of it, but you actually can putt out of the bunker.

And Miles and Miller took up Monahan’s suggestion to elevate the tee and green on the par-3 11th to resemble short holes from his New England childhood, and the hole is now known as “The Commish.”

“There’s also very little rough. You can walk. This is a user-friendly place and can be played quickly, whether it’s nine or 12 or 15 or 18 holes,” Miles said. “You can play the inner loop in your bare feet if you want and a couple clubs in your hand.

“It’s fun but can be tough.”

And golf isn’t the only calling card at The Yards. The Oak Bridge Tennis Center is still in full swing, and 12 pickleball courts are being built. The maintenance building will be moved, and its current site will become a party pavilion. The clubhouse features the appetizing 3 Palms Grille that is open to the public and tees up an ideal dining and 19th-hole experience. The outdoor dining areas have been expanded and upgraded with large deck chairs and fire pits that overlook the pond that abuts the inner loop of par 3s. A long teeing area was installed and is perfect for closet-to-the-pin contests, mini-tournaments and outdoor gatherings.

“It’s a social club with a golf course,” Miller said.

The Yards
The Yards. (Photo: Courtesy of The Yards)

The Yards is a membership first club and is offering 200 private memberships: $3,000 for a single per year, $4,000 for a couple and $1,000 to add dependents to an individual membership or a couple’s membership. There are also an option for a youth membership at $1,500.

Members pay $20 access and down for greens fees and $15 cart fees per round.

There are also resort and public rates.

Miller wants to attract corporate outings and envisions skins games that lure large groups of players.

“Our focus is fun and reducing the time it takes to enjoy the game,” Miller said. “We saw the Topgolf phenomenon, and our goal was to marry this new, more casual and fun atmosphere with the traditions and existing elements of golf.

“You don’t have to shoot a low score to have fun at The Yards.”

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Blockbuster deal: Callaway announces merger with Topgolf

In an all-stock deal, Callaway is merging with Topgolf in an attempt to grow its business and become more attractive to new golfers.

Callaway Golf is one of the biggest and most well-respected golf equipment makers in the world. Topgolf has established itself as a brand that successfully combines technology, entertainment and sports, attracting golfers and non-golfers alike to its 58 locations across America.

On Tuesday evening, it was announced that the two companies are merging.

“Together, Callaway and Topgolf create an unrivaled golf and entertainment business,” said Chip Brewer, president and CEO of Callaway, in a release. “This combination unites proven leaders with a shared passion for delivering exceptional golf experiences for all – from elite touring professionals to new and aspiring entrants to the game.”

Brewer will run the combined company after the completion of the merger. Dolf Berle, Topgolf’s current CEO, will continue to lead the Topgolf business through the transitional period, then step down and leave the company.

Topgolf will join Ogio, Travis Mathew and Jack Wolfskin under the Callaway brand.

Topgolf
Topgolf

Callaway made its first investment in Topgolf in 2006 and already owned 14 percent of the company. The transaction announced on Tuesday is an all-stock deal. Callaway will issue approximately 90 million shares of its common stock to non-Callaway shareholders of Topgolf based upon an implied equity value of Topgolf of $1.986 billion.

Many people’s first exposure to golf has been at a Topgolf venue, attracted by the nightclub-like atmosphere, food and drinks, high-tech games and non-competitive environment. During a conference call on Tuesday evening, Berle said all Topgolf venues in the United States had re-opened by early September. Recent operating sales are back to 80-85 percent of 2019 same-location sales. He added that 33 new venues are in the planning stages and sees approximately 200 possible locations for Topgolf venues in the United States.

Topgolf not only owns 58 locations in the United States, but it also owns Toptracer. This technology is used during television broadcasts to allow viewers to follow balls as they fly through the air. That technology is also being rolled out at driving ranges in the form of Toptracer Range, allowing golfers to see their shots’ ball flight as they practice on screens, smartphones or tablets.

Toptracer Range
Toptracer video screen at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the 2019 U.S. Open

Brewer said that Topgolf is ideally suited to operate within the challenges COVID-19 pandemic during the conference call. Hitting bays are spaced far apart, usually with physical barriers between groups.

Topgolf was especially attractive to Callaway because, according to Topgolf, there were 23 million visits to Topgolf venues in 2019. Fifty-one percent of the people who went to a Topgolf facility last year identified themselves as a non-golfer, but 75 percent of those people said that after visiting Topgolf, they were interested in playing golf on a course. If Callaway can develop a relationship with people as they are discovering the game and learning to love it, it has a better chance of turning those people into Callaway, Odyssey, Ogio and Travis Mathew loyalists.

The merger is expected to be finalized in early 2021.

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Putt, pass and kick: New Pro Football Hall of Fame Village to add Topgolf Swing Suites

Topgolf Swing Suites will be part of Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Village promenade, announced Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment.

Another sports-related anchor has signed on to be part of the retail district planned for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls.

Topgolf Entertainment Group plans to have a Topgolf Swing Suites be part of the retail promenade, according to an announcement by Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment, the company developing the village.

It was the second major announcement from Hall of Fame Resort this week. The company also revealed that Shula’s Restaurant Group will be part of the retail center in Canton, Ohio.

Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls is a development that will wrap around the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The retail promenade is part of the second phase of construction. Other parts of the project — estimated to cost nearly $300 million — include a 180-room hotel, football-themed water park and office buildings. A third phase, also estimated at $300 million, could include residential development, along with more retail and attractions.

Adding Shula’s and Topgolf is part of an effort to create a destination entertainment center with the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the focal point, said Michael Crawford, president and chief executive officer of Hall of Fame Resort.

Topgolf will have a spot in the Hall of Fame Village retail promenade in Canton, Ohio.

The project is turning Canton into a preferred location for flagship brands, Crawford said in a news release announcing Topgolf.

“Much like our company, Topgolf is all about generating excitement and bringing sports fans together through an immersive and interactive experience,” Crawford said.

Topgolf Swing Suite is one of several sports entertainment options offered by Topgolf Entertainment. Technology developed by Full Swing Golf allows guests to play golf and other simulated sports on massive television screens indoors.

Swing Suite has locations in 28 states and four countries. Guests can play a variety of games tied to golf, including rounds simulated at some of the world’s leading courses. Zombie Dodgeball is a favorite game the company has developed, and there are games tied to baseball, hockey, soccer and — most importantly — football.

Fans can play the virtual games or use the screens to watch a favorite sports team in real time in a lounge seating setting, with hand-crafted cocktails and a full-service menu available.

Topgolf has golfing sites in suburban Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, but no Swing Suite locations.

A Topgolf Swing Suite, similar to this one recently opened in New Jersey, will be going into the promenade of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio. (USA Today Network file photo)

Ron Powers, president of Topgolf Swing Suite, said the company believes it is the “perfect complement” to plans for creating a sports destination.

“We are very proud to partner with the Hall of Fame Village and to have our virtual game technology entertain the loyal fans visiting this prominent and exciting destination,” Powers said in the release.

Hall of Fame Resort officials hope construction for the 82,000-square-foot retail promenade block will begin this year. Plans are for the structure to sit between the Constellation Center for Excellence — already under construction west of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium — and the hotel, which will be near Fulton Drive NW.

The building will provide rooftop views of the stadium. Developers believe it will serve as an active hub in the village and a spot fans might visit before and after events.

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TopGolf opens first-of-its-kind facility in Augusta, Georgia

Golfers in the Augusta area officially have a new place to practice their swings and hit some balls as TopGolf’s newest location opened.

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Golfers in the Augusta area officially have a new place to practice their swings and hit some balls as TopGolf’s newest location opened Friday.

The facility is a first-of-its kind prototype. The Augusta facility only has one story instead of multiple, but still has a lot of the same features and amenities from other locations, company officials said.

Nick Treadway, general manager of TopGolf Augusta, said it was important to have a presence at the home of the Masters Tournament. Treadway said they wanted to create a new concept just for the Augusta facility.

“We are trying to create an experience that is beyond golf. We are actually the first venue that is fully outfitted with our top tracer technology, other venues don’t have that necessarily. It allows us to stay innovative with our game creation,” he said. “We are trying to create something beyond that, so it’s a backyard, social setting, where people want to come and just have a good time.”

Inside TopGolf Augusta. (Photo: PRNewsfoto/Topgolf Entertainment Group)

The venue features a backyard-style outdoor area behind the tee-line, fire pits, picnic-style dining tables, a party patio with big screens and a mini-golf course.

Jason Newsome had been to a couple of other TopGolf locations in Atlanta and Charlotte and was a bit disappointed when he heard the design of the Augusta location was going to be different. However, as he played with his daughter, he realized that the new design fits well.

“Now that I’ve been here and played a little while, it’s actually a really fantastic concept,” Newsome said. “I’ve loved what they’ve done with it and I don’t see any way it’s inferior to any other location around the world.”

An aerial view of TopGolf Augusta. (Photo: PRNewsfoto/Topgolf Entertainment Group)

The facility was originally scheduled to open in April for the Masters, but was delayed due to the pandemic. Treadway said they are taking every precaution to ensure patrons and employees are safe including separating each of the 36 bays, wellness and temperature checking every employee and sanitizing equipment on a constant basis.

Parties are limited to six people per bay and social distancing is not really a problem with each tee at least 10 feet apart. He said employees are required to wear masks at and follow a strict sanitization requirement.

Newsome said he believes TopGolf Augusta has the potential to be something great.

“There are enough golfers in the community to support it, but I also think there are enough non-golfers in the community that is going to make it even better,” he said.

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