(Photo courtesy PopStroke)
BY AAGD STAFF
May 17, 2020 —Golf is evolving, turning into something many of us never thought would be. Historically teeing up on breezy, wind-swept bent grass-laden courses was the norm, now we find ourselves in a pre-fabricated ‘Top Golf’ kind of world, where beer runs cold on-tap along with a menu of crabcakes, chicken wings, pizza, salads and more, all just a few feet away at any time.
Yes, this is the new normal for golf, where music and entertainment meet the motion of the golf swing, friends can hang out together all while enjoying the golf ‘gaming experience’. The new term for this leisure activity is “gamification” and it’s making its way around the nation faster than a speeding bullet. And with Topgolf now serving more than 20 million customers annually, the concept may be around for a while. Recent reports have disclosed that TopGolf has reportedly selected banks for an IPO that could value the company at around $4 billion.
Getting in on this new action segment of the game is 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, who is positioning himself as a chief architect of enjoyment. His aim is to complete the development of his PopStroke facility that will serve the golf masses with a recreational space that all ages can enjoy. “Some of my happiest memories are spending time with my pops on the golf course having putting contests. I’m looking forward to others enjoying time with their kids at PopStroke,” says woods on the PopStroke home webpage.
Woods’ first PopStroke venue opened its flagship location in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in 2019. Self-described as a “technology-infused golf-entertainment concept featuring professionally designed putting courses and exceptional food and beverage,” the facility has become a successful venture.
The venue is situated on the east coast of Florida and has become a huge hit in replicating the Topgolf and Drive Shack concept of gamifying golf by pairing it with food, craft beers, cocktails, and entertainment. This first putting course was meticulously laid out by Jackson Kahn Design.
Here’s How it Works
At PopStroke, there is no Bermuda or bentgrass to tee up on, rather, players putt on a synthetic turf golf course that looks and feels like the real thing, minus the sea breeze and salt air. There are no ball-washers, no golf carts, no flowing streams or ponds with quacking ducks, no scurrying rabbits, or mosquitos to contend with. Instead, this putt-putt course faces you with bunkers, undulation changes, and palm trees—all things very familiar for a miniature golf course. So, while you’re strategizing your next shot, you can also keep an eye out for the waitress, arriving with your lunch or dinner order, beer, cocktails, or snacks.
(Photo courtesy PopStroke)
PopStroke offers a lot of pleasure for its customers. There are simulator bays that give golfers ample opportunity to use every club in the bag, all while large flat-screen TVs, 15 of them around the facility, display various live sports from soccer to baseball to tennis and golf.
PopStroke is driven by the use of technology. It’s “iPutt” ball platform transmits a player’s score onto the PopStroke app, where they can easily keep score while competing against other players. The ball is also preparing to soon launch at all current and future PopStroke locations where a jumbotron leaderboard will be fed all of the scores.
(Photo courtesy PopStroke)
PopStroke founder Greg Bartoli has a right to be really excited about the proprietary PopStroke app which will communicate with the golf ball, he said to LinksMagazine.com. “The leaderboard will help engage all the players throughout the day, to really compete against each other. Someone who played at two o’clock in the afternoon can compete against someone who putted at ten o’clock at night.”
Expansion Plans
PopStroke is gearing up for expansion that is planned for Fall 2020. The means behind this is that PopStroke Entertainment Group has teamed up with TGR, Tiger Woods Ventures in announcing that the 82-time PGA Tour champion will be the designer of all of the upcoming putting courses for all future PopStroke locations.
“This is a natural extension of my golf course design philosophy and my TGR Design business,” said Woods on the announcement of the strategic partnership. “Our goal has always been to design courses that bring people together and are fun for golfers of all abilities and ages.”
(Photo courtesy PopStroke)
This collaboration of Woods with the PopStroke concept will no doubt bring a surge of interest to golf fans while giving a huge boost to the company’s expansion plans to open locations in Fort Myers, Fla., and Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2020 with additional sites planned for next year.
“Tiger has had the biggest impact in the world when it comes to growing the game of golf,” says Bartoli to LinksMagazine.com. “These are courses that are designed by golf architects and the greatest putter of all time in Tiger Woods. They are designed to be challenging but fun and to give people a real putting experience.”
