‘Topgolf’-like experience to open soon at Southern Delaware Golf Club

Jarek RutzBusiness, Headlines

The viewpoint of golfers as they are hitting out on to the range from under the cover of the new experience.

The viewpoint of golfers as they are hitting out on to the range from under the cover of the new experience.

A premier golf club in Milford is adding a technological experience that has swept the golfing community in recent years and will increase access to the sport.

The Southern Delaware Golf Club, located off Rehoboth Boulevard, is adding its version of Topgolf

It’s not affiliated with the Dallas-based golf entertainment company and is not using its technology, but it will model its features and atmosphere. The closest Topgolf locations are in King of Prussia, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.

“That’s been the easiest way to describe it to people,” said Stewart Fisher, the club’s director of golf. “You can rent a bay; we’re going to have a launch monitor and a TV that you can see your ball, play games, and then behind you is going to be a seating area with tables, chairs, bar stools, TVs for you to watch games.”

New golf experience

The project adds an entertainment element to the athletic component.

It cost about $250,000, and construction began in June.

The club hopes to have it active for use sometime in December, or early January at the latest. 

“The success of non-traditional golf has seen three new Topgolf facilities built in the Philadelphia region, with two in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey constructed in the last 10 years,” said Steve Latos, director of member services at the Golf Association of Philadelphia, which merged with the Delaware State Golf Association in 2021.

In 2023, 18.4 million people participated in exclusively off-course golf activities, Latos cited.

RELATED: Stewart Fisher named Director of Golf at SDGC

“It’s really a brainchild of our owners, they’ve had this in their thoughts since they bought the course and started renovating it,” Fisher said. “It’s meant to upgrade the range, give folks in the area somewhere they can still come hit balls all winter, even when it’s cold or the weather’s not great.”

While it won’t be fully indoors, the new feature will have a cover to protect the golfers and the green against the elements.

It also will have space heaters installed to ensure golfers can comfortably enjoy the sport even if it’s snowing or a blistering winter day.

On top of the year-round access, Fisher expects the project to lead to more golf-fitting events,  which involves tailoring the clubs to fit golfers’ unique swing and body measurements, which can improve their game.

The golf club will also be launching a winter league.

Leagues include a 9-hole shotgun available to the first 80 golfers to register. A “shotgun” in golf is a tournament format where players tee off simultaneously from different holes.

The club’s management is in the process of finalizing the prices to play the new feature. 

Inside the building where dining tables and chairs will be for food and drinks from Big Oyster Brewery. There will be a gas fireplace as well as TV's and open bay doors for natural light and air.

Inside the building where dining tables and chairs will be for food and drinks from Big Oyster Brewery. There will be a gas fireplace as well as TV’s and open bay doors for natural light and air.

Fisher said there’s a DoorDash-style system where patrons can hang by the dining tables, scan QR codes, and get food delivered from Big Oyster Brewery.

He said it’s almost like a bowling alley atmosphere but for golf.

“With no Top Golf range in Delaware, Southern Delaware Golf Club building this type of range should fill the demand in the state for this type of golf experience, hopefully encouraging some new golfers to take their game to the course,” Latos said.

It is unclear whether this is the first club in Delaware with this experience, and calls to a few golf clubs across the state for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday.

Fisher said he is aware of other courses in the state that have covered hitting bays with launch monitor technology, but he doesn’t know if they have the entertainment features like TV’s, seating, and food and beverage options.

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