Read this article this morning regarding the closing of an old local course. Golf is growing in non traditional venues so the seem to say.

"..And while young people might not be as inclined to spend three or four hours at a traditional golf course, they’ve flocked to a new concept: Topgolf. The driving range-like game, where a tracking system scores players on their aim as they hit balls toward glowing, multicolored targets, has drawn big crowds and long waits at Steele Creek, where it opened last year. Topgolf is gearing up to open its second Charlotte location in University City.

Topgolf promotes its food, music and drinks almost as much as the golf-like game, drawing millennials willing to wait hours to play. Counting Topgolf and other similar establishments, the NGF says an additional 8.2 million people played golf last year outside of traditional courses..."

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article198512794.html

    I've been to a Top golf a few times for private party events. It was fun. Wings, music, football on big tv. I would not sub it for the game, tho.

    For many
    Top Golf = fun
    Real Golf = no fun

    Ive said before in another thread, to survive golf courses are going to have to incorporate this golftainment into their program offerings. Some already are moving that way, albeit slowly.....ive seen things like wifi on course, music being broadcast outside clubhouse and on range. Frizbee and foot golf on courses, even night golf with music . ( although played night golf in Myrtle 30 years ago)

    Stay tuned, more to come im guessing

    Nothing like top golf in my area. A guy opened a place with nice simulators and a bar area with beer and pub food, didn’t last a year. The two chip and putt courses closed down and at least two driving ranges folded up. Land is too valuable in a metro area for 5 bucks a bucket driving ranges. Golf courses need to go back to basics. 35 dollar golf with a little grass on the fairway, rough cut down and decent greens. 5 bucks for a beer and a dog.

    There are simply no easy answers for the sport to sustain continuous growth.

    The industry has gone through a several-years period of trying to reinvent the concept.... Whether it was "bigger holes", "foot-golf" for the soccer fans, or "playing it forward" in an attempt to make the game easier and more enjoyable for those who would otherwise not consider the sport as a pastime.

    Top Golf has undoubtedly done more, with their relaxed attitude and throwing the typical social norms related to traditional golf lifestyle to the side to generate interest. Food, fun, music... a relaxed atmosphere that welcomes friends and family.

    It's a different culture now. A different generation that is faced with a lot of demands that go above and beyond the financial and time-investment demands from the generations prior. Priorities have changed, which means the game has been forced to at least embrace a different subset of the game that has long been accepted as time-consuming and expensive.

    And that doesn't mean the traditional game that most of us are familiar with has been taken away from the diehard players... but rather that the industry is finally recognizing that perhaps the growth of the game requires a different perspective/outlet for those who would otherwise never consider it. Top Golf can definitely meet a need here for the industry. They have the ability to plant seeds and get people hooked on golf later on when time and disposable income allows.

    I like the concept. I think whatever can be done to grow the game, whether or not it respects the social norms, in the end has the ability to introduce people to the game on a more traditional level.


    I like that Top Golf gives the clowns a place to go that isn't the golf course I'm currently playing. 🙂

    Top Golf also charges by the hour... There's your solution to slow play!

      Natpharm

      none. I do think it makes some sense and could potentially attract those who might just want to go play for an hour or 2 , say on lunch or on the way home from work etc.

      certainly on a busy course they would need to structure things in a way that the hourly rate isn't going to be more than a green fee by having hourly rate and a maximum rate , sort of like parking lots have now. eg $10 an hour , maximum of $45.

      here is one course that is doing it
      https://www.golfdigest.com/story/a-pay-by-the-hour-greens-fee-is-genius-and-slightly-diabolical

          Weirfan

          It's an interesting concept with all kinds of potential benefits and drawbacks. Playing at a time when few on are the course and you can zip around quick might mean cheap(er) golf. Like you say, time for just a few holes, pay only for the time taken to play what you can. Round going south quick or caught in a bad situation (it's going to take forever to get around), stop early and pay less than 'full price'. But I can also see the possibility of more agressive attitudes, getting hit into, etc.

              Martee Topgolf promotes its food, music and drinks almost as much as the golf-like game, drawing millennials willing to wait hours to play

              Yeah, Top Golf is the perfect stoners environment, the same ones who transfer Top Golf to the course by filling a cart with beer and blaring their boom box.

                Top golf is like put put, nothing to do with real golf.

                  They're building a TopGolf here in St. Louis. I drove by it the other day. Unfortunately, they tore down an ice complex to build it (two rinks). The Blues used to practice there.

                  Tinker

                  You obviously have not been to a Top Golf, its far more than putt putt.
                  Revenue and growth have been incredible. Plans are to add 10 facilities a year and to expand beyond the current model. While traditional golf courses wither and die a slow and painful death from annually reduced participation over the past 30 years, Top Golf is booming. Its taking all the millennials away from the traditional courses. Its also attracting a huge corporate retreat and entertainment piece, something golf courses once did.

                  I have zero doubt that "traditional" courses will begin to incorporate entertainment aspects the likes we see in Top Golf into their agendas.

                      Top Golf opened its first location in Dallas/Fort Worth about 10 years ago. There are 3 locations now. I have noticed people who play zero golf come back from Top Golf saying they had fun.

                        MidwayJ Yep. I live in Allen which is very near to Dallas, and we have a Top Golf. Many folks who do not play golf claim to like Top Golf. It seems to be a way to sit around and drink and eat food, but calling it "Top Golf" instead of sitting around eating and drinking and not occasionally swinging a club sounds less lazy. For most of these folks the golf aspect is irrelevant.

                        And that's fine. I like the walk and the scenery of golf. I like the solitude to an extent. I'm glad that people who want a trivial golf-like diversion while they're eating and drinking have a place to go that isn't the golf course now.

                          Weirfan
                          "I have zero doubt that "traditional" courses will begin to incorporate entertainment aspects the likes we see in Top Golf into their agendas."
                          Good Lord, I hope not

                              Thinking more about this...

                              Imagine you're a business man. You can get $40/hr for a 10x10 stall (and have about 100 of these) which require some initial investment but very little upkeep. You can generate revenue from the majority of these stalls all year regardless of weather. You can also sell food and drinks very effectively. You can have this business on 20 acres, and you can even operate at night.

                              Compare that to a golf course: far less revenue, far more land required, far more upkeep, basically worthless on rainy days, cold days, and in darkness. If you owned a golf course and didn't really love the traditional game, wouldn't you be an idiot not to sell off 80% of the land then change the other 20% into a Top Golf facility?

                              Sad, but economical.

                              Natpharm

                              Yea, I don't see this working . Especially on a busy weekend. Has anyone here ever met a golfer who admits he's a slow player? It's always someone else. I could see arguments and fights galore.

                                This concept is not new. Back in the day it was called "bowling".😁