TopGolf Austin Championships......

[Bogey in The Woods]

So I have been a member of TopGolf for a while now. I keep getting these invites for different tournaments they hold. Well my former boss, now buddy, of mine talked me into entering the team tourney this Saturday. 

 

Has anyone ever done any of the events that TopGolf has held? I've gone there several times for fun, and a few times for some serious practice early in the morning before crowds show up. But I am excited to see how they run an event. 

 

The few times Ive been there when the are holding functions for different companies has been really impressive. I'm hoping that carries over into the competitions. 

 

So has anyone else done this?

[apprenti23]

No I haven't but I can't wait to hear your review!

 

I've gone to a bunch of them, live ten minutes from one, and there's another one opening half an hour away this May. Big fan of topgolf!

[RookieBlue7]

Well, how'd it go?

[PlaidJacket]

I really want to try Top Golf sometime. We'll never have one out here in the sticks where I live. But I do travel to Austin frequently and will get by there one day. Looking forward to hearing about your experience Bogey.

[jdiddyesquire]

I really want to try Top Golf sometime. We'll never have one out here in the sticks where I live. But I do travel to Austin frequently and will get by there one day. Looking forward to hearing about your experience Bogey.

We just got one in San Antonio, but it's several hour wait for a bay most any time. It's bonkers popular.

[Bogey in The Woods]

OK, sorry for the delay. Saturday was crazy at and after the tournament for me. 

 

Was a little concerned about what the turnout was going to be when I woke up to 55 degrees and drizzle Saturday morning. So we showed up at 9:30 for a stated 10:00 start. We were directed to the bar to wait for the registration table to open. The golfers in the bar were varied in age, gender, size and equipment. The youngest I saw was  probably 13 years old; the eldest maybe 70. 

 

Now not counting the tournament players, TopGolf was already hopping, and they had only been open 30 minutes. The weather deterred no one that i could tell. most of the bays I could see from the bar on the second floor were already filled. A small line had even begun at the main check in. 

 

We were directed to one of the banquet room s to begin check in at about 9:50. After getting our swag ( a tournament T-shirt and sunglasses with TopGolf logos), we were given our bay assignment. We quickly set aside our bags and proceeded to attack the provided Continental Breakfast. Pastries, muffins and fruit were devoured by all. Gallons of provided Starbucks were imbibed by most.  After eating our fill, we proceeded to our bay. 

 

We were immediately greeted by our bay attendant who opened a tab for us. Joe, my partner, opted for PBR and Bloody Mary Mix. I chose a Kaliber Beer with a Mountain Dew chaser. An order of chicken and waffle sandwiches rounded us out.

 

The bay had been set to practice mode, se Joe and I began to get our swings in. Not sure about how many swings it normally takes to warm up, but I took about 20-25. While Joe was taking his, we met the other team assigned to our bay. Every one got settled in and bags positioned.

 

While the other team was warming up I moseyed down to look at the leader board for an Idea of how many teams were here.

 

 

at about 10:15, we were all called into the banquet room for the welcome speech by the TopGolf staff and the TopGolf pro. Apparently the pro had come to TopGolf from the Grey Rock club in South Austin. I havent checked into that, but if true, I find it extremely interesting.

 

The prize swag was layed out on the main table. Big screen TVs, Putters, Jackets, and other related golf paraphernalia littered the prize table.   

 

The format was a 2 game combination. Game one was to be TopGolf:

 

"In our signature game, players score points by hitting balls (assigned using our microchip technology) into any target. The more accurate your shot and the farther the distance, the more points you earn."

 

Second was to be TopShot:

 

"Similar to TopChip, this game challenges you to hit the targets at four consecutive distances (five shots each). The starting target you choose (red, yellow or green) determines the game's level of difficulty."

 

So the obvious strategy for the first game was to shoot for the furthest target out that you knew you could hit consistently. For me it was the Blue target. Or the fourth target back in this photo. 

 

 

I play a horrid cut (spelled S L I C E) so the white target wasn't an option with the net bordering its left side. 

 

I will go ahead and get the excuses out of the way now. Hell.... being realistic, I cant even type them with a straight face. My game was off. No biggie. It took two club changes to find what i should have been hitting for any real consistency. Sadly, it was 14 balls into my 20 ball set to find it. but on a positive, my last 7 balls were on target. By that time however, the fat lady had warmed her vocal cords up.  Ten years ago I would have been livid at what had happened. Yet for any who read the "Things you find annoying on the course" thread, you know I am nothing, if not calm now. 

 

In a strange turn of events, Joe, whom I normally beat by 15 strokes in a regular round, bested me by 9 points. Sadly, it was my turn to buy the beer. 

 

 

At the conclusion of the first game, the four of us in the bay took a beer break and chatted. Turned out of of the guys playing with us was an High School Texas History Teacher. He was a hell of a hitter too. His partner was an engineer. Without getting into too much detail, i can safely say these guys were good players. Their first game score bested Joe's and mine by a factor of three. Joe and I are rec players who don't take ourselves too seriously. These guys were good players that didnt take US too seriously either........... just kidding. 

 

If I left with any one impression at the end of this day, it was that I never got the feeling of "we are gonna kick your A**" from any of the teams we talked with. It was a truly fun and friendly time. 

 

The second game was a decent turn around for me. The first two targets i shot 5 for 5 on both. I really thought about pulling out the old rally cap. Balls 11-20 yielded only 3 good shots as the targets moved out further. Needless to say, the rally cap didn't make an appearance.

 

 

Joe was about average for him, netting 9 for 20. Our bay partners were 17 and 19 for 20 respectively. After we handed in our scores for the second game, we had 48 minutes of bay time left on the computer so we all played a few different games that let us shoot different targets. General fun and frivolity were had.

 

Our bay attendant came and told us that we needed to go ahead and wrap up because there was already a 2 1/2 hour wait for a bay; and the Tournament time was about up .

 

So here is the way i saw it: Top Golf is $20 and hour in the morning. I paid $41 for the tournament. I got about 2 hours of play. I got a t-shirt and sunglasses. I got a ticket for a free golf lesson. I got to hang out and play with a buddy of mine. I made two more in the process. I ate great food and had good drinks.     I didn't see any negative on the day (other than the weather which I will continue to blame for my horrid scores). 

 

If you get a chance to do this, I would advise it. The next one is in May and I already registered. 

[hckymeyer]

Sounds like a great time, sadly I don't think getting to a Topgolf is in my immediate future.  However if they ever put one in MN I'll be there!

[Hula Rock]

We just got one in San Antonio, but it's several hour wait for a bay most any time. It's bonkers popular.

 

 

The wait was 5 hours last weekend.  

[Bogey in The Woods]

That's one of the reasons they make so much cash on the express passes.

 

hckymeyer..... if you ever venture south, it will be my treat