Stepping onto a golf course for the first time can be intimidating, but TopGolf in Fishers, Indiana, provides a golf experience for both beginners and professionals.
Until a day out with my friends last spring break, I never knew how many types of golf clubs there are.
Standing under the neon blue lights at TopGolf in Fishers, Indiana, it was my turn to pick. I grabbed the club that seemed most familiar: a slim, shiny one that looked like something I’d used in mini-golf.
My boyfriend, who’s been golfing since he could walk, stifled a laugh. I’d picked a putter, which was probably the worst option. This wasn’t a mini-golf course: It was a three-floor, 102-bay driving range.
TopGolf made its debut in Fishers on Oct. 13, 2017. With a full food and beverage menu, event spaces, and an elaborate rooftop terrace, it’s sure to be a great time even if you don’t know a putter from a wedge.
TopGolf got its start in the U.K., where its first venue opened in the year 2000. After major success at the first three locations and investments from brands such as Callaway Golf Company and WestRiver Group, TopGolf expanded to the United States.
Now, 14 years later, TopGolf has opened 53 venues in the U.S., U.K. and, more recently, Australia.
A 2015 survey by the National Golf Foundation revealed that an estimated 23 million games have been played at TopGolf venues. The survey also found TopGolf has a good chance of attracting people who don’t usually play golf. For example, the attraction has exposed a lot of new demographics—such as younger generations, women, and minorities—to the sport.
For college students who might not tee off on an average weekend, TopGolf puts an entertaining twist on the game and makes it more of a social experience.
Groups might visit TopGolf for a variety of occasions, such as company outings, birthday parties, and casual hang-outs. The bright lights, colorful course, comfortable couches, and inviting staff all add up to make TopGolf a more welcoming environment. And for when the Indiana winters drag on a little too long, the Fishers location includes overhead heaters in each bay and warm beverages on the menu.
The cost varies depending on the time, day, and number of people in the group, but it averages about $40 an hour for one bay, which holds up to six players. For some college students, an hour of golf might not be worth the cost. But the TopGolf in Fishers has students covered, with a “college night” special each Wednesday from 8 to 11 p.m. At the event—which is less than an hour drive from Ball State University’s campus—students from any university can pay a $15 cover fee for unlimited golf play, bays reserved especially for college students, and special deals on food and drinks.
