Topgolf, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour create strategic alliance to grow golf

By BRIAN HURLBURT SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

Beau Ventling of Las Vegas drives the ball at Topgolf during a family and friends day ahead of the official opening in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Topgolf, which spans four levels and 105,000 square feet, opens to the public on Thursday. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow @csstevensphoto

A man hits a ball at Topgolf during a family and friends day ahead of the official opening in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Topgolf, which spans four levels and 105,000 square feet, opens to the public on Thursday. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow @csstevensphoto

Part of the driving range at Topgolf is shown during a family and friends day ahead of the official opening in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Topgolf, which spans four levels and 105,000 square feet, opens to the public on Thursday. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow @csstevensphoto

Golf clubs are shown at Topgolf during a family and friends day ahead of the official opening in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Topgolf, which spans four levels and 105,000 square feet, opens to the public on Thursday. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow @csstevensphoto

People play and relax at Topgolf during a family and friends day ahead of the official opening in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Topgolf, which spans four levels and 105,000 square feet, opens to the public on Thursday. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow @csstevensphoto

Topgolf Las Vegas has arrived and is the latest location for golf’s newest phenomenon. The Topgolf concept is like darts for golf but with a nightclub vibe. In Las Vegas, it is played in a four-story, state-of-the-art facility located behind the MGM Grand.

The local venue is the largest Topgolf in the United States and United Kingdom, where it was created. Vegas amenities include two pools, several bars, a concert stage, a presidential suite, cabanas, upscale food offerings, couches in each bay and hundreds of TVs, including four huge screens at the end of the hitting area.

Most exciting for the golf industry is that the overall Topgolf concept is bringing potential new players to the game in great numbers. According to reports, 8 million people played at a Topgolf in 2015, and more than half had previously never taken a swing.

Those staggering numbers have golf power brokers enthused over so many new players being introduced to the game. PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and Topgolf executives recently announced a strategic alliance to capitalize on the Topgolf craze.

“This is a game changer,” LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan said. “We’ve seen nice momentum of late between golf’s major organizations in growing the game, and this alliance is something the whole golf industry should be excited about. Topgolf venues are bringing new people to the game, and many of those people are then also taking up the game in the traditional sense on golf courses.”

New initiatives include utilizing Topgolf as a catalyst to PGA Tour, LPGA and PGA Tour Champions tournaments, distribution of PGA Tour, LPGA and Topgolf content via each entity’s platforms and new opportunities with junior golf organizations.

Topgolf Las Vegas hitting bay rental rates start at $30 per hour and are $75 in prime time. Bays can hold six people.

Coaches vs. Cancer

The crowd gathered at the Coaches vs. Cancer kickoff event Sunday night was as quiet as the patrons surrounding the 18th green at Augusta National on Sunday of the Masters. Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffrey — with his wife, Margaret, at his side — was discussing the moment they shared the news with their 13-year old son, Patrick, that Patrick had cancer.

The excruciating conversation came one day after an Iowa loss in the NCAA Tournament.

“Talk about perspective,” McCaffrey said. “It was probably the only time in my coaching career I was glad we lost a game, because if we had won, Margaret would have had to tell Patrick by herself.”

The golf and VIP event has raised $2 million to fight cancer, including $500,000 this week. According to Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger, the goal next year is to raise $1 million.

Freman honored

Former Faith Lutheran golfer Annie Freman recently was named All-West Coast Conference for the second time. Freman, a junior at Santa Clara, is the program’s career leader in stroke average and tournament wins.

Deal of the Week

Father’s Day gift idea or good for all: Buy a bundle of 10 rounds for $99 at TaylorMade Golf Experience. Add a cart for $10 on each date of play.

Buy one, get one PGA Tour tickets

Through June 3, PGA Tour fans can buy two tickets for the price of one to the PGA Tour Shriners Hospitals for Children Open from Nov. 3 to 6. The Hill daily and weeklong tickets are available. Tickets to The Hill allow guests access to the 10,000-square-foot pavilion with perfect views of the final three holes as well as tournament grounds. Daily tickets are $35, and weekly tickets are $99. Visit tinyurl.com/SHCOTickets and use code “Bogo” or call 702-873-1010.

Stars on, off course

• New UNLV basketball coach Marvin Menzies and North Carolina coach Roy Williams were among 40 coaches supporting the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament at Shadow Creek and Southern Highlands.

• Rappers Drake and Lil Jon took swings at Topgolf from the presidential suite.

Ace in the hole

Longtime Las Vegas Country Club member Judith Taggart made a hole-in-one on the 14th hole, her first ace.

The golf notebook appears each Thursday. Freelance writer Brian Hurlburt is a two-time author who has covered golf in Las Vegas for more than two decades. He can be reached at bhurlburt5@gmail.com or @LVGolfInsider.