Topgolf opened its doors for customers Monday morning in Fort Myers.
The golf driving range and entertainment center, at the southwest corner of Interstate 75 and Colonial Boulevard, has an address of 2021 Topgolf Way. It’s accessible from Six Mile Cypress Parkway and Dani Drive, just south of Colonial. Topgolf is having a soft launch through Thursday. Customers can show up without reservations, which won’t be taken until Friday.
Each bay can accommodate one to six players. The bays cost $27 per hour from 9 a.m. to noon; $37 per hour from noon to 5 p.m.; $47 per hour from 5 p.m. to close. Each bay includes an unlimited number of golf balls. The hourly cost of each bay can be divided among the number of players hitting together.
Topgolf is open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays and until 11 p.m. every other day. It’s open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.
At 8:45 a.m. Friday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held.
But just after 10 a.m. Monday, Steve Guild, vacationing from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, walked inside with his friend Erin Grimm and her neighbor, Lisa Remus. They were greeted by cheering Topgolf servers and associates, about a dozen of the 400 employees expected to work there.
“I didn’t know that was going to be the case,” Guild said of being the first customer. “But it was a lot of fun when we walked in. They were really excited to see us.”
After checking in, they were escorted upstairs to one of the 72 golf bays at the facility, which has a driving range of up to 215 yards and protective netting that rises 170 to 175 feet. There are 36 bays upstairs and 36 downstairs. There are also multiple bars and an events room that can be reserved for parties.
“This is a tremendous day,” said Topgolf director of operations Eddie Parisi, who has been with the company for four years and previously managed a Topgolf facility in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “Not only for our entire team here. We’re going to bring something new to Fort Myers. The culture that we bring here. The energy and the passion that everybody brings to the table. We’re very excited. We’re looking forward to great things here.”
Topgolf has a resident pro in Bryan Snyder, a PGA-certified teaching professional.
But Parisi said Topgolf caters to more than wannabe professionals.
“It’s for all ages, families, groups, events,” Parisi said. “Not only can you hit some golf balls, but you can just come here and order some food. Watch some golf on TV. Lots of TVs. Every bay has its own TVs. We have a lounge area with one of the biggest TVs in the Fort Myers area.”
That television appeared to be about 20-by-20 feet. It can show up to 12 different games at once, or it can show one game on the entire screen.
“When our guests come in here, they’re going to get that ‘wow’ factor right away,” Parisi said.
GLF Fort Myers Fl Landlord LLC purchased the land in December 2019 for $4.9 million.
“They know how to pick ‘em,” Parisi said of Topgolf’s real estate team. “It’s like a rocket ship. This is the last one they’re opening this year, but they’re planning on opening eight to 14 next year.”
