Top Golf

Kirk had heard of this place called Top Golf that he wanted to try while we were around. At a glance it seems like just another driving range. But as it turns out it is much much more. Instead of just hitting the ball at an empty field, there are targets for you try to hit. They are kind of like greens, but each green is setup like a dart board with sensors. So if you hit into one of those targets, a computer can tell you where you hit your ball to and deduce how far and how close to the center of the target you hit. 

It's a pretty awesome system because that means it turns the driving range into more of a game. In fact they do have games. Some games are simple and you get the same points as long as you hit a target. Other games factor in more accuracy and distance into the scoring. Some games you can hit whatever target you like, and others tell exactly which target to hit.

Everything is setup a lot like a bowling alley. You pay for a "bay" instead of a lane, and you pay by time instead of by game. We went mid-weekday, so it was only $20/hour + a $5/person one time player registration fee. But once you get your "player card", you just have to cover the cost of a bay. Peak times at this place is $40/hour. 

Each bay has some kind of couch or table seating just like a bowling alley. A basic set of clubs are provided for those that don't bring their own. There's a touch screen to control the game. And most importantly, the bay comes with a place to hit the golf balls. There is a dispensing machine where a ball comes out when you wave your club or foot over a sensor. Each ball must have some kind of chip or something in it because that ball gets assigned to whichever player is up in the game. I'm guessing then that when that ball passes through one of the sensors in the target that's when the system knows where you hit. If you miss the target then as far as we could tell the system doesn't know if you hit or not and just leaves the score for that ball at zero. 

Me Top Golfing
You can see the circular targets that we're hitting at beyond where I'm hitting

We played several different games. One where you score better the closer to the center of any target. You get bonus points if you can hit two good shots in a row. We played another where the same thing happens, but the further away the target, the higher the score. And lastly we played a chipping game where 3 of the closer ranged targets were what you had to hit. 

We played just like you would at a bowling alley where you take turns after every shot. But since there were only three of us, this meant we were almost always on our feet ready to take our turn. We later figured out that it would have been better to hit a few in a row before switching out. In fact we screwed up a couple times and didn't properly tell the system who was hitting. We had to manually tell it which player was hitting. But the system had an easy way to move balls/shots to the correct player. 

They also have servers that come around. We ordered an appetizer and a couple drinks. Both were pretty reasonably priced. They weren't gouging us by any means. They really seemed to have thought of everything.

Kirk Top Golfing

Katie Top Golfing

They provided clubs for you to use.
They had mens' and women's driver, 3 wood, 3 hybrid, 5 iron, 7 iron, 9 iron, and sand wedge.

They're building in indoor skydive place next door

Happy Top Golfers

They also know how to get us to come back. They sent each one of us an email with $10 off our next visit. Well Katie and I were going to be up near there to drop Kirk off at the Tampa Bay airport. So we swung by again to get in another hour of play for only $10. We focused more on the golfing and didn't order any food or drinks. We also learned from our past experience and hit 4 to 5 shots each before switching out. This meant we got in a lot more shots. An hour was more than enough for the two of us. 

Katie during our second visit

So if you can't tell from my lengthy description of our visit at Top Golf, we were all very impressed. Kirk and I were talking and the whole concept seems genius. They probably had 200 to 300 bays. And at $40 a bay an hour, that's a hefty chunk of change if they can fill them up. And it sounds like they do. Kirk said that when he tried to come in the past there was a 2 hour wait to play. So not only were they full, but those that were willing to wait it out were probably at the bar or restaurant. But it makes sense. It's the perfect date night or small group spot. No one has to be a good golfer or ever golfed at all. Those that golf more can hit more if they like while the others socialize or eat and drink. They make it easy to split the cost up any which way the group likes. Like I said it was a lot like a bowling alley but perhaps even better. Katie and I will be holding onto our player cards and going back if we ever come across another Top Golf facility.