By fall 2018, people roaming around Polaris on the northern outskirts of Columbus will have the new Topgolf entertainment center to visit, where they can eat, drink, play virtual games, watch Topgolf TV, and even hit the high-tech driving range. https://youtu.be/z9RbicVav-k Topgolf estimates the Polaris location will host 450,000 guests annually, and as over half of their typical guests self-identify as “nongolfers”, you don’t need to wear past attendance badges for Muirfield to go have fun at Topgolf. Finding the 15-acre Topgolf in the sprawling Polaris area is a snap, as they are neighbors to the enormous 350,000 sq. ft. of IKEA. IKEA sits on the old amphitheater site to the east of I-71; visible to the west from I-71 is Cabela’s, the 1.6 million sq. ft. of Polaris Fashion Place mall, and the surrounding combined retail space totaling 4 million sq ft. Furthermore, the Polaris area is becoming quite the sportsman’s retail destination zone as it supplies the beforementioned Cabela’s, a Dick’s Sporting Goods, also Field & Stream, and now Topgolf.
image courtesy of Topgolf
Let’s talk Topgolf’s golf. Within the Polaris location’s 65,000 sq. ft. entertainment golf-themed center there is a multitude of diversions to enjoy. First, there is the high-tech, giant driving range, where micro-chipped golfballs are hit into a bay, with an instant video display of the results on giant screens. Next, there is the programming within, showing the golfer distance, accuracy, and other nifty calculations. If the golfer has the Topgolf app (with an astonishing 11.3 downloads), then historical data and venue leaderboards can be analyzed. Music and climate control are in the multi-level bays for groovy comfort year round.
image courtesy of Topgolf
If you want
lessons or classes in golf, then Topgolf’s Certified Pro staff can help get the obsession started. Social
leagues at Topgolf are open for all levels.
image courtesy of Topgolf
There are even
competitive tours available for teams of two people, at all levels of play. The tour culminates in a
Las Vegas, all-expenses-paid competition for the 20 Regional Tournament
champion teams seeking to win the Topgolf Tour title and $50,000 cash. Parties, pop-up social events, corporate team building, and all manner of other
events are welcome at Topgolf, including fundraisers. Let’s get to the not-so-golf stuff. There is a chef-driven “bar food” menu and top-shelf drinks to create an upscale yet relaxed experience. Golf at Topgolf is not beer-exclusive, as players can sip a merlot or cocktail without batting an eye. If
virtual next-gen gaming is called for at Topgolf, then the
Swing Suite experience is there for lounging and playing while enjoying food and beverage service.
KidZone is the area where kids entertain themselves with interactive video games, pool tables, giant Jenga, swimming pools, and more, depending on the location. Let’s talk Topgolf’s economic impact for Columbus. Each Topgolf venue creates 500 local jobs (full-time and part-time), which will add to the estimated 40,000 people working within Polaris now. Topgolf’s press release said that a third-party audit states the Polaris venue will have an output of over $264.5 million over the first 10 years. Topgolf serves as an “anchor” tenant to retail areas, which strengthens the popular Polaris area with more traffic. Now, everyone may sigh thinking of the obvious connection of recently increased traffic headaches with IKEA opening, I know, I know. At least when your friends and family get lost in IKEA for hours and their line for Swedish-meatballs is miles long, you can slip next door and find comfort in hitting some balls and watching Topgolf TV.