Topgolf opened the doors to its Orlando venue this month on Friday, October 20. The new threelevel, 65,000-square-foot venue is the company’s 36th location worldwide and first location to open with Toptracer technology – which tracks the flight path of each golf ball hit and displays its path in video. Guests at Topgolf Orlando see an instant replay of their golf shots on a HDTV screen in their hitting bay. “The beauty of Topgolf is that you don’t have to be a golfer to have fun – but the Toptracer technology adds a fresh element of interest and interaction that we believe will inspire a whole new appreciation for the game,” said Topgolf Entertainment Group Chief Technology Officer Andrew Macaulay. “Playing at Topgolf Orlando will be like being a part of a video game come to life.” The facility is located about a mile from the Orange County Convention Center and will undoubtedly be a hotspot during the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show.
Another new indoor facility is opening up in Colorado, as well. X Golf is slated to open its Grand Junction franchise to the public with a grand opening celebration Nov. 4. However, the golf simulator and bar business had a soft opening Saturday and will be open the rest of the month. This is X Golf’s first Colorado location and three more could open in the state depending on the success in the Grand Valley. The company is based in California and has locations in Texas, Michigan and Louisiana. The 4,400-square-foot facility is built around four golf simulator bays where players can hit golf balls against a visual screen alone or in a group to simulate a driving range or a round at a famous course around the world such as California’s Pebble Beach.
Continuing the trend of indoor facilities, Turning Stone Resort – which has hosted PGA Tour events as well as the PGA Professional Championship in the past – opened its 17,000 square foot indoor facility specifically for players to work on their short game. It’s located just across the hallway from the Golf Dome, that Turning Stone has operated for years. The short game facility offers an expansive variety of shots, including the ability to practice chipping off an 8-foot incline. There’s even sand in bunkers. The facility is the only one of its kind in the northeast, it’s thought to be the largest in the nation.
