By: Toby Martin-Kohls

Topgolf is an entertainment venue for golfers and non-golfers alike. The facility is a driving range with colorful targets, and guests can play various golf games from their bay. They serve food and drinks to your climate-controlled bay, and have TVs and golf ball tracking screens. They provide a variety of complimentary clubs, so no need to go buy expensive clubs. They also have spots in each bay for your golf bag if you do decide to bring your own clubs. They make a welcoming environment for people who want to try golf, or just want to have a fun night out with friends.

So, you’ve decided you want to go? Excellent. First, I would recommend you or someone you are going with download the Topgolf app. Once you play for the first time and make an account, you’ll be able to see all your visit and game history right in the app. If you go at a popular time, you can join book a bay in advance on the app, or join the waitlist. This is really helpful and I would recommend you do this every time so you spend less time waiting and more time at Topgolf!

Game play can be expensive. Prices are less on weekdays and more on weekends, and prices rise again for the evening and are cheaper earlier in the day. For first-time visitors, you’ll be required to buy a one-time lifetime $5 membership.

On weekdays, depending on what time you go prices range from $35/hr bay to $55/hr bay. This is also why I would recommend going with a group of friends. You can have up to six people in one bay and it makes the price much more affordable if you spread the bill around. I would also recommend going on Tuesdays, as their Tuesday promotion is half-price. 

Once you’ve arrived, if you’ve reserved in advance or gotten on the waiting list, a bay number will be texted to you. The Brooklyn Center location has three levels. My personal favorite is the 3rd level because it’s the highest, however, they will just assign whatever bay is open. They have right-handed clubs in the bay, so it’s important to remember that if you need lefty clubs, to ask at the front desk. There is no additional charge for these clubs. 

Once you get to your bay, you will all sign in with your phone numbers and select the amount of time you would like to play. Then it’s up to you to choose from the wide variety of games they offer. They have three HD TVs in your bay, one you can choose a channel and the other two are for a scoreboard and ball tracking technology. Your bay host/server will explain all the details if you haven’t been there before, and get you started with drinks. They do ask to put a card on file at the beginning, but you’ll be able to split the tab and pay separately at the end.

There are a couple of games Topgolf recommends, specifically for beginners. The first is the signature game “Topgolf”. In this game, the objective is to score the most points by hitting balls into any one of the colored targets. The more accurate your shot is to the middle of the targets, and the farther your shot goes, the more points you earn. Another one recommended for beginners is the Angry Birds mode. It is exactly what it sounds like, virtual Angry Birds come up on the screen and you try and hit targets with your golf balls. 

Topgolf offers a variety of food and drink options. My personal favorite appetizer is the cheesy macaroni bites, especially on a cold winter day. The burgers and chicken sandwiches are decent, and my friends and I really enjoy their Chicken Caesar salad. You can finish it all off with a dessert, they offer a huge cookie crumble sundae that is pretty good (but also has 2,040 cal!) or their more unique injectable donut holes. Syringes come filled with chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry filling which you can inject into your donut holes. 

Even if you have never golfed before, Topgolf is a fun way to have fun with friends. I’ve noticed that most people who go there aren’t even great golfers, they are just there for fun. Hopefully, this review has encouraged you to go try it out!