CLICK HERE if you are having trouble viewing these photos on a mobile device
ROSEVILLE — Hitting a golf ball pure and down the middle never felt so overlooked.
Instead of delivering congratulatory cheers, my playing partners were too busy having their own fun behind me. They sipped cold drinks, devoured surprisingly tasty food and humored themselves rather than admire or scorn my super shot.
Welcome to Topgolf, where an often maddening sport transforms into a rollicking hour or two of social entertainment.
So this is how golf is modernizing itself for the next generation?
Not necessarily. Topgolf is its own entity. It can be as sporty as you like or as party-centric as a nightclub. Heck, this venue in Roseville even has hosted a wedding.
It’s definitely not just another driving range. Of Topgolf’s 49 U.S. locations, this is the only one in California — at least until San Jose’s opens next year on North First Street.
Encased by skyscraper-tall nets, Roseville’s three-story fun house neighbors Highway 65, with the governor’s office 20 miles down the Sacramento valley.
My in-laws live close by, so they served as my accomplices in a recent Topgolf introduction. We brought along our kiddos to confirm this can be a family-friendly field trip, where any age and level of golfer can score points while experiencing the ego-boosting highs and humbling lows that come with a 4-iron.
If you want to work on your single-digit handicap, go elsewhere to find a quiet refuge. This oasis is intended for those seeking a spirited time with friends, families, co-workers and fellow golf hacks.
Here’s what you need to know before you go:
Equipment: Topgolf supplies men’s and women’s clubs – no putter or sand wedge needed, yippee! – but you can bring your own or rent premium Callaways. Balls disperse one at a time onto the tee mat, then a microchip tracks their escape toward the circular pods for automated scoring, much like a bowling alley.
The setup: With more than 100 “bays” spread across the three levels, there’s plenty of room to swing away or safely chill on couches and chairs while awaiting your turn. Each bay accommodates eight people, and up to six can play each game, although a foursome might be best to maintain your high-stakes action rhythm. You pay per bay; depending on time and day, that can range from $26 to $50 per hour.
Pregame: Newcomers will need to sign up for the $5 lifetime membership, which can be tedious to do with a whole group. But you can do the paperwork ahead of time online or via Topgolf’s app. Also, book a reservation, er, tee time so you don’t wait two or three hours at weekend peak times.
Games: The goal is not to aimlessly spray golf balls, but even if that happens, they’ll likely ride the sloped turf into a pod for points. Of the nine game options, the signature Topgolf is likely best. Yes, you’re on a shot clock for as long you initially booked the bay, but you can extend the time (for a fee) without irking the friendly staff.
Food: A whatever-you’re-in-the-mood-for menu surpasses usual sports-bar fare. The three flatbreads ($11-$13) we ordered — margherita, steak and farmhouse — drew raves.
“The burgers are the best,” my sister-in-law said, as she starred down an avocado and bacon-topped masterpiece ($11 plus $2 for each upgrades).
The beef sliders ($9) looked great, but the bacon jam scared off my finicky son, who could have ordered off the kids menu, but the chicken-and-waffle sliders ($9.50) worked. We passed on the recommended wings ($11.50) — sticky hands and golf don’t mix.
Cocktails: Drink up with every conceivable cocktail and hard-alcohol label, from the fruity and colorful to spiked-up margaritas and the rum-punch “golfbags” — $16 for a large cocktail served in a take-home glass mug. When a modern-cosmo martini ($12) proved too sweet for one of our golfers, the bartender tried to top it with water, to no avail, so the wine list then came in handy.
Beer: When in Rome, er, Roseville, support a local brewer. Cheers to Knee Deep’s Slooow Mo IPA and Crooked Lane’s Crooked Haze IPA ($7 each), which were our hoppy choices over Sierra Nevada. If craft beer isn’t your thing, mix and match a bucket of the usual suspects of domestic, Mexican or European brews.
Bars: Maybe they should call it TopBars. The main, second floor has an expansive bar with TVs galore. The third floor has its own bar and outdoor patio. Local DJs come to spin their magic, which gets piped through the venue.
Course knowledge: I’ve golfed the sacred grounds of Pebble Beach, done a loop at St. Andrews and even made par at Florida’s TPC Sawgrass island green. Now I can check Topgolf off my bucket list. I now know how it all works and I’ll do it again — the seductive combo of golf, drinks, food and fun, all without the 18 holes and five hours of hard labor.
IF YOU GO
Topgolf Roseville: Open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 1700 Freedom Way. Prices are by bay, not per person, and range from $26 per hour for morning play to $50 for Friday and Saturday evenings. Find more information and reserve a bay at https://topgolf.com/us/roseville.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/05/06/topgolfs-mix-of-golf-cocktails/
2019-05-06 15:00:00Z
CAIiED-dXM0d321GAvPYOynS-5UqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowmODeCjCp1dYBMIeipwM
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Topgolf’s mix of golf, cocktails, food and fun — who needs 18 holes? - East Bay Times"
Post a Comment