[Richard Choi]

I just saw this interesting article, but I have never heard of TopGolf people. Is there anyone with more info around here?

http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/bank-of-america/archive/2012/08/on-the-upswing-topgolf-takes-a-shot-at-growth/261449

Seems to be some sort of a combination between a mall and making driving range more of a game. Has anyone tried it? Is this the future of golf?

[Kalen Braley]

Richard,

Looks like its something to cater to the Justin Timberlake crowd.

Show up with clubs in tow with friends.
Have competition with buddies to see who can get the most points.
Eat lots of food and drink even more beer.

From thier FAQ section...

http://topgolf.com/company/faq/

"How does the game and technology work?

Our technology is top secret, but the game itself is quite simple. Think of it almost like bowling or darts, but for golf! Just hit one of our quality golf balls, each containing a personalized microchip, into one of the 11 targets ranging from 25 to 250 yards away. Every section of every target has a reader that detects the microchip in your clever golf ball. That reader then sends a score to your bay screen based on the accuracy and distance of each shot. No pencil and paper needed to keep score in this game!"

"Do you serve alcoholic beverages?

Yes, but as such, we should tell you that drinking said tasty beverages will only make you play better, or at least make you think you’re playing better.

[PCCraig]

I've been to the one in Chicago. It's pretty fun in the winter as you can get drinks and hit a few balls at computerized targets.

[Tom Culley]

I live half an hour away from the Top Golf centre in Watford.

At the facility there is a two story driving range, a bar/restaurant, an 'American Golf' superstar, and also an outdoor mini golf course.

TopGolf is a good concept and a great way to bring people in to the game. The closest thing i can describe it to is ten pin bowling, the ability to cater for parties is great.

The centre in Watford now opens late at night and is a popular spot for young people to go before heading out on the town.

I also believe that you can play TopGolf competitively in a league which would be a fun way to spend winter evenings.

Cheers,
Tom

[David Cronheim]

Anything that lets more people play the game is a good thing. I'm surprised the reaction here is so negative from a group that seems so gung ho about other "less than real golf" alternatives like par-3 courses. Would it be my cup of tea? No. But I won't look down on anyone who enjoys it.

[K. Krahenbuhl]

We'll have one shortly here in Houston.  It's a fun way to enjoy the game and a few drinks with people who aren't as serious about golf.

[Sam Morrow]

We'll have one shortly here in Houston.  It's a fun way to enjoy the game and a few drinks with people who aren't as serious about golf.

Was by there the other day, it's moving very quickly. Not sure if it's my kind of thing but I've heard the ones in DFW are highly successful.

[John McCarthy]

I go in the winter.  It is like bowling and it lets nonserious players have a chances
  Beer is cold,  wings are hot and the girls that work there are cute. 

[Mike Nuzzo]

I thought it was a bar.
They make their money on the booze.

[David Cronheim]

Golf bowling seems like an apt description. Take it for what it is and I think it's fine - beer and whacking a few balls.

[Kalen Braley]

Anything that lets more people play the game is a good thing. I'm surprised the reaction here is so negative from a group that seems so gung ho about other "less than real golf" alternatives like par-3 courses.

David,

I'm curious which post in this thread you would consider negative?  Was it my reference to Justin Timberlake?  I got nothing against the guy, its just a way to define his generation of young kids who like to have fun.

If there was one close by I would sure as hell give it a try....

[Pete Balzer]

Playing in Member -Guest in Austin, went to TopGolf last night. 2 hr wait for bay. all 3 tiers packed. Quite a diverse crowd, great to see.
Top deck had a band. I think it has been open for almost a yr, still going strong.

[jeffwarne]

Sounds like a great idea to me.
Combine nightlife and golf and can be played in otherwise not golf season.

a lot better idea than bastardizing greens with massive holes, and doesn't require a bunch of corporate suits promoting and sponsoring it under the guise of growing the game

[Jay Mickle]

Went to one i n Alexandria, VA on a 27 degree day with snow on the ground. There were probably 80 heated bays on 2 levels. All of the targets must be heated also as they were clear of snow. It was a lot of fun and perfect for the ADHD golfer. I wonder who the Donald Ross of Top golf design will be. It will bring more golfers to the sport but will it also change the sport?

[Adam Warren]

Was talking about this with our GM at my club.  We believe it could be really successful in our Metro Louisville area.  There was a terrible course in a great area of town (if the place had a decent design at all, it should have done great, but instead had bad management and design and shut down this winter) that we think would be perfect for such a place.  The area is not only short on good driving ranges, but would likely draw from a great golf crowd, looking for a place to hit balls, or the crowd that would find something fun to do at night.  It is close to shopping, restaurants, businesses, residential, etc.

Anyway, I think it could also be a great way to draw to the game.  You get some people participating in something like a TopGolf facility a couple times, then they decide they want to try to play the game.  I can't imagine it taking anything away from the game and really only being a positive.  I am in on TopGolf.  I have never been to one, but will definitely try one when I am in an area with one and would love to see one around here.

[Tony_Muldoon]

It can be fun but ...it ain't golf


I know lot's of kids who go with friends as an alternative to bowling etc, don't know any who've got keen on Golf as a result.


I used to work 800 yards form the second one.  It's no good for practicing because you stop thinking about what you should be praciticng and jsut start playing one of thier games. Also it's expensive for regular visits.


So I'm not negative about it, but I think it's not relevant to golf  at all.


(The only counter argument I can come up with is each of the British ones have a large golf store attached - must mean something).

[Josh Tarble]

I would love to try one.  I've been meaning to try to get up to one of them in Chicago, just haven't.  To me this is much more intriguing for bringing new players into the game vs. any dumb 15" cup idea. 

The hardest part of golf is the full swing, this is clearly encouraging players to hit full shots.  Plus, anything with booze can't be a bad thing.

[Bryan Icenhower]

I went to a function / outing / party at the Chicago one as part of the Ryder Cup.  There was a group of about a dozen or so of us, some serious golfers, some non golfers, mix of male and female. We had a great time. So much so that one in our group inquired about franchises. 

And it was packed as many above have noted.

[Paul Jones]

I took my family to the Houston West location on our way home from vacation - it was a Monday afternoon and the place was busy.  Here are some pictures from their website.

[Mark Smolens]

I have filled in several times on a buddy's team from the leagues they run. It is a lot of fun, and a great way to get a club in your hands when there is snow on the ground. Wind from the wrong direction can be a problem if it's really cold, but there's a place for Top Golf in the world for those of us who would like to see the game thrive.

I also have friends whose kids love it. It's like a video game with golf clubs. They try to hit the ball into the correct targets -- but the targets are large holes in the ground that frankly are difficult to miss (maybe this is part of the 15" hole's appeal?).

The first time I went there, I was having a bit of trouble hitting it off the hosel. After shanking 3 hybrids in a row -- and that's hard to do! -- I gave the rest of my bucket to my buddies and went inside to watch football, drink beer and eat wings.

[Sean_A]

I mentioned this before, but I think this business is far enough removed from golf that I am struggling to see how folks transfer into playing golf.  If the prices for this gig are that high, I fail to see the incentive for any such business to look for ways to graduate customers people into golf.  Why provide the real thing when its an expensive and risky venture?  Bottom line, I thinks folks are deluding themselves if they believe this sort of thing will increase the number of golfers by any measurable degree.

Ciao

[Bryan Icenhower]

I mentioned this before, but I think this business is far enough removed from golf that I am struggling to see how folks transfer into playing golf.  If the prices for this gig are that high, I fail to see the incentive for any such business to look for ways to graduate customers people into golf.  Why provide the real thing when its an expensive and risky venture?  Bottom line, I thinks folks are deluding themselves if they believe this sort of thing will increase the number of golfers by any measurable degree.

Ciao

Not sure that is the aim of the business model. Can it hurt though? Does it drive more to play of more away from the game?

[Brent Hutto]

It has about as much to do with playing the actual game as does video golf, a standalone driving range, a Putt-Putt course or the Big Break. It's not totally unrelated to golf but the relationship in tangential and there's not much of a causal relationship between the popularity (or not) of those activities and the popularity (or not) of the actual game.

[Matt Bosela]

They don't have TopGolf here in Canada and I can't profess to know whether it will bring more people into the game.

But I can say that I think the idea is absolutely brilliant and I'd love to see the business plan to see how quickly each location starts turning a profit.  I think it would be wildly successful in select Canadian locations simply due to our long winters.  And hell, it would still be wildly popular in the summers as well.

If I'm ever in one of the cities that has a TopGolf facility, I'll definitely visit and try it out.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Can it hurt though? Does it drive more to play of more away from the game?

Good question.

On the whole no I don't think so,  it's pretty much a good thing.

Even though I feel it is a different game that happens to bear some similarities one should note you'll learn nothing at about how to play Golf.  I'm thinking about things other than hitting balls like etiquette, pace of play, the value of walking etc.

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