Driving ranges, simulators and dormant courses coming back to life.
Those were the overarching themes of local golf news during 2019.
Topgolf and Drive Shack race to the finish line
The Goochland location is Drive Shack’s third nationwide. (BizSense file photo)
One of the more interesting storylines throughout the year was watching competitor driving range/entertainment venue operators Drive Shack and Topgolf erect similar facilities at either end of the region, and waiting to see which one would open first. In the end, Drive Shack won that race by a few weeks. The years to come will show whether both can coexist in a market of this size, and what effect they might have on getting more people interested in golf.
Topgolf opened its first Richmond-area location only a few weeks after Drive Shack. (BizSense file photo)
Belmont’s future comes into focus
After more than a year of discussion and debate, the Henrico County-owned Belmont Golf Course appears on the path toward revitalization. Local nonprofit First Tee of Greater Richmond scored the winning shot at taking over the course – and it has big plans for transforming it.
Stonehouse gets some love
The most-read golf story of the year was the news of a change of ownership at Stonehouse Golf Club in Toano, a course that the previous owner left for dead. Even more fascinating was when we checked in with the owner later in the year, as he discussed all that he went through to get the course reopened – and all that was still left to do to make sure it can thrive.
Changes in New Kent County
Royal New Kent, a sister course to Stonehouse that was likewise left for dead by the same previous owner, reopened to some fanfare at the hands of a South Carolina-based course operator.
Course pro Tim Cockrell (left) and Brookwoods Golf Cub owner Bob Friend. (BizSense file photo)
Earlier in the year, neighboring public course Brookwoods Golf Club changed ownership, as its superintendent bought it from its longtime owners.
Rise of the simulators
While Drive Shack and Topgolf seem to have instantly cornered the market for high-tech driving ranges, another tech-driven trend showed up in Richmond several times this year. At least three indoor golf simulator venues opened around the area, each trying to grab their own small share of the market.
Hotel Greene is a themed mini-golf course in downtown Richmond. (BizSense file photo)
Random
There were a few one-off golf-related stories that stood out this year. Club Champion, a national golf club retailer, opened its first shop in the area in Short Pump. Hotel Greene, a themed mini-golf course, opened downtown in the Hotel John Marshall building. And Independence Golf Club’s ongoing experiment of adding non-golf-related activities continued, as a ropes course opened on its outskirts in the fall.
Driving ranges, simulators and dormant courses coming back to life.
Those were the overarching themes of local golf news during 2019.
Topgolf and Drive Shack race to the finish line
The Goochland location is Drive Shack’s third nationwide. (BizSense file photo)
One of the more interesting storylines throughout the year was watching competitor driving range/entertainment venue operators Drive Shack and Topgolf erect similar facilities at either end of the region, and waiting to see which one would open first. In the end, Drive Shack won that race by a few weeks. The years to come will show whether both can coexist in a market of this size, and what effect they might have on getting more people interested in golf.
Topgolf opened its first Richmond-area location only a few weeks after Drive Shack. (BizSense file photo)
Belmont’s future comes into focus
After more than a year of discussion and debate, the Henrico County-owned Belmont Golf Course appears on the path toward revitalization. Local nonprofit First Tee of Greater Richmond scored the winning shot at taking over the course – and it has big plans for transforming it.
Stonehouse gets some love
The most-read golf story of the year was the news of a change of ownership at Stonehouse Golf Club in Toano, a course that the previous owner left for dead. Even more fascinating was when we checked in with the owner later in the year, as he discussed all that he went through to get the course reopened – and all that was still left to do to make sure it can thrive.
Changes in New Kent County
Royal New Kent, a sister course to Stonehouse that was likewise left for dead by the same previous owner, reopened to some fanfare at the hands of a South Carolina-based course operator.
Course pro Tim Cockrell (left) and Brookwoods Golf Cub owner Bob Friend. (BizSense file photo)
Earlier in the year, neighboring public course Brookwoods Golf Club changed ownership, as its superintendent bought it from its longtime owners.
Rise of the simulators
While Drive Shack and Topgolf seem to have instantly cornered the market for high-tech driving ranges, another tech-driven trend showed up in Richmond several times this year. At least three indoor golf simulator venues opened around the area, each trying to grab their own small share of the market.
Hotel Greene is a themed mini-golf course in downtown Richmond. (BizSense file photo)
Random
There were a few one-off golf-related stories that stood out this year. Club Champion, a national golf club retailer, opened its first shop in the area in Short Pump. Hotel Greene, a themed mini-golf course, opened downtown in the Hotel John Marshall building. And Independence Golf Club’s ongoing experiment of adding non-golf-related activities continued, as a ropes course opened on its outskirts in the fall.