TopGolf

Topgolf is a global sports entertainment community headquartered in Dallas, Texas with locations throughout the United States and the UK.

Overview

Topgolf operates 29 venues worldwide, employs more than 10,000 Associates and serves 13 million guests annually. The Topgolf games can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels, and the microchipped golf balls score themselves, providing players with instant feedback on each shot's accuracy and distance. Players aim for 11 giant dartboard-like targets on a 215-yard outfield. The farther the shot goes and the closer to the pin, the more points the player receives. Each Topgolf venue features climate-controlled hitting bays for year-round play, food, beverage, music and hundreds of HDTVs on which various sports games are shown, such as football, rugby and boxing as well as golf. Topgolf also offers golf lessons, leagues, tournaments, corporate and social events and more.

History

Topgolf was founded in Watford in 2000. Top Golf was made by Two brothers, Steve and Dave Jolliffe, were practicing their swings on a driving range and began brainstorming ways they could liven up their range experience and improve their skills at the same time. Throughout the years, the Topgolf experience has evolved to include new games, food, drinks, music, apparel and more. Today, Topgolf serves millions of Guests annually and has the world’s largest digital golf audience.^[1]

The Jollifee brothers and a licensee developed the first three Topgolf locations in the United Kingdom beginning in 2000.

The U.S. licensee, with WestRiver Group as the lead investor, brought Topgolf to the U.S. in 2005 with the opening of Topgolf in Alexandria, VA. WestRiver Group was founded and is run by Erik Anderson, Co-Chairman and CEO of Topgolf International, Inc. dba Topgolf Entertainment Group (TEG).

As the company expanded, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) became an investor in 2006 and Thomas Dundon in 2011. Also in 2008, the company was incorporated as Topgolf International, Inc.

In 2016, TEG created three new divisions. Topgolf, the golf entertainment venues in the U.S. and U.K., Topgolf International, the division focused on Topgolf's international expansion, and Topgolf Media, the division focused on enhancing the Topgolf experience through advanced digital media, strategic partnerships and sponsorships. Additionally in 2016, Providence Equity Partners made a sizable minority investment in TEG.

Today, WestRiver Group, Callaway, Dundon and Providence Equity are four of the lead investors.^[2]

On June 23, 2016, it was announced that Village Roadshow Theme Parks would open a venue next door to its popular theme park, Warner Bros. Movie World, in Oxenford, Queensland in Australia. This will be the first Topgolf venue outside the US and the UK. ^[3]

Pricing

Depending on the venue, guests are charged per hour or per game. The U.K. locations and venues in Alexandria and Wood Dale are the only venues that charge per game. Guests are required to have a membership which allows them to play. Information such as high scores are linked to this membership.

Locations

There are currently 42 Topgolf locations, 36 in the United States and three in the United Kingdom.^[4]

United States

• Arizona: Gilbert, Scottsdale
• California: Roseville
• Florida: Tampa, Jacksonville
• Georgia: Alpharetta, Midtown Atlanta
• Illinois: Wood Dale, Naperville
• Kansas: Overland Park
• North Carolina: Charlotte
• Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
• Ohio: West Chester
• Oregon: Hillsboro
• Tennessee: Nashville
• Texas: Allen, Austin, The Colony, Dallas, Houston Katy, San Antonio, Spring, Webster
• Virginia: Alexandria, Loudoun County, Virginia Beach
• Colorado: Centennial
• Nevada: Las Vegas
• Utah: Midvale

United Kingdom

• Chigwell
• Surrey
• Watford

References