Let's be honest about Topgolf

[joz]

Been seeing a little bit of Top Golf hype over the past few months, and I can't help but reflect that the only reason people care about this is because VRTP are doing it.  No one gets excited when a new go kart track opens, GC Wake Park opened with barely a mention, but Top Golf has a reasonably active thread.  So be honest, is the only reason you're interested because it's being done on ' theme park land' by a theme park company? 

 

I think truth be told I might even fall into that category.  If Top Golf was being built somewhere on the Highway at Pimpama by some randoms I reckon I'd give almost zero fucks about it, and couldn't see myself going within the first year lf operation, but since it kind of crosses over with a hobby of mine I'm quite keen to give it a go.  My further theory is that I'm not the only person on this site who feels this way.  Am I right or wrong?

[Spotty]

I feel similar TBH. I've never been that interested in golf personally, but I have friends that are so hey I'd likely give it a shot. Considering it's owned by VRTP and they are likely (hopefully) to offer some incentives to pass holders I see it as a chance to try it after a day at the parks with friends. And who knows I may end up liking golfing in the end and go back.

[Santa07]

I'm a mixture of the bottom four options. No, I probably wouldn't be that interested but would probably eventually go there sometime during the next 5 or 10 years. I'm also interested (not exactly worried) about how VR's take on TG will be and if it will live up to the US versions. And I would've taken a new coaster any day over TG (if they didn't just open a kickass one two months ago).

[mission]

Yeah, I don't really care.  If I want to hit a golf ball I'd go to Victoria Park, not drive 40 minutes down the highway.

 

Who do they actually expect to go there?

 

It's not really a tourist attraction and it's a reasonable distance from the bigger population centres why would people go there (and probably pass something similar on the way).  Golf and a few beers are buddies so it makes it even harder and more expensive to hit a ball and 'have a few'. 

[xRazzBerryx]

I love going to the driving range however I always felt like it was never as fun as something like mini golf as it doesn’t have a “competitive” aspect to it. It’s like going to a bowling alley. You can bowl on your own but when you’re with friends & seeing who can get the highest score, it’s a lot more fun IMO. 

So yes, I would have gone even if it wasn’t built by VRTP. Because of the location I would most likely only go after a trip to the theme parks or the GC (I live in Brisbane). If it was closer to home, sure I would visit more regularly depending on first experience & how much myself & my friends enjoy it. 

 

[iwerks]

I think it would be good if it helps to bring a bit of life around that area after the parks close. Like, if you were staying on an on site hotel, it could give you something to do in the evening or if you were visiting MW, you could go to TG after the park closes before heading over to OS in the evening.

[joz]

Yeah I'm kind of the same, the lack of a 'game' element kinda makes a driving range a bit dull to me, despite the fact that hitting a few balls out into the void is fun, so Top Golf is kind of on my radar.  I think it's the sort of place that I'd be saying 'Oh I wouldn't mind going there' without ever actually going.

 

Who would go is an interesting question though, it's normally coperate groups and functions, so will be interesting to see how it goes so far away from all the hotels.

[bladex]

it's just a driving range for yuppies so yeah couldn't care less. we have a driving range near us it's cheap i go there instead

[Brad2912]

I see it being targeted to corporate groups and parties/bucks more so than your pro or casual golfer. I can see a lot of people giving it a go as it is a lot different to Victoria Park or your standard driving range. 

I won’t rush to it, but I’ll definitely give it a whirl with some mates. It makes it another destination other than the pub for the spirts bar concept etc  

[pin142]

I will give it a go depending on price. I can see how it is to golfers like Kingpin at Chermside is to people who bowl. I am willing to give both a go but don't see me going to it or Kingpin on a regular basis (well Kingpin for bowling) when the pricing is much higher than what I can pay to bowl at an AMF centre as I guess those who play golf won't be regular visitors to TopGolf.

[pushbutton]

I'm certainly not a golfer, but just for a bit of fun I've often played crazy golf, or had a bit of a go on a driving range.

From what I've read about Top Golf though, it will be a very different experience. I think if the food and drink are good quality (which I've read they are), and if the prices are not too high, I may well find myself there several times a year with family or friends, and potentially work colleagues. 

Overall I'm glad they're building it. I expect it to be a real money spinner for Village, and I hope some of that money will be reinvested to further improve all their theme parks.

[webslave]

As someone who has seen the TopGolf built in Las Vegas I can comfortably say I'd be interested regardless of who is building it.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

All the comments of 'its so far away from things' or 'who would visit it' - captive market on VRTP property is the primary audience - Day at MW? hey let's party on at top golf! Day at WnW? Hey let's party on at TopGolf! Trip to AOS? Hey let's party on at TopGolf (or go beforehand if we're early), Paradise Country FarmStay? Hey let's party on at TopGolf! Shooting a big movie? That's a wrap folks, let's party on at Top Golf!

[pushbutton]

I can see a lot of people being quite happy to travel from Brisbane or Coolangatta to Top Golf as well as locals.

It will be a major attraction unlike anything else in Queensland.

[Jdude95]

If the hotel does get built just outside MW in the next 5-10 years, VRTP will be a shopping precinct away from a mini Disney World type set up with everything you need without having to leave the property.

[YaBoySlam]

I feel like it would have been better put in Surfers Paradise than behind movie world because I feel it is kind of bad placement, it makes more sense to put it on the GC Highway or Surfers Paradise Boulevard than behind a theme park with barely any proper marketing apart from a few billboards and maybe a cinema/tv ad 

[Brad2912]

1. The amount of land required just doesn’t exist in surfers paradise, and if it did would be hundreds of millions of dollars for the land alone

2. It’s not behind a theme park, it’s between 2 theme parks 

3. How do you know what the marketing plans are 8 months out from opening?

 

[YaBoySlam]

I just assumed that the location was behind movie world cause i'm stupid. But answering the first and third questions, I feel like Top Golf would do better if they put it around the Southport/Main Beach/Surfers/Broadbeach area as more tourists stay there and it would be in close proximity to a hotel, maybe put it on Sea World Drive as there is some land behind the car park (unless SW expanded the car park recently I don't know), and unless the marketing is as good as DC Rivals for top golf I cannot see more people going there compard to Movie World/Wet'n'Wild

[pin142]

As said before there is no land in any of those areas, people may stay there but as far as the amount of space required it doesn't exist. Why pay for land when you already have free space on your existing property, kinda makes no sense from a business point of view. The area near the main carpark for Sea World becomes overflow during peak periods so another no go there. Helensvale is about to be connected to the main tourist area by light rail so it really isn't that far from public transport when it opens (a short uber trip to the station).

[Tim Dasco]

Keep in mind they plan to open another 8 centres around Australia in the future. So this won't be the only one. I gather they want to make Top Golf like Bowling.

[Brad2912]

25 minutes ago, YaBoySlam said:

unless the marketing is as good as DC Rivals for top golf I cannot see more people going there compard to Movie World/Wet'n'Wild

I personally don’t think the marketing to DCR has been particularly great to start with, but you are looking at this from the wrong angle. 

TG is not in competition with MW & WnW. It’s a supplementary/complimentary attraction, just as AOS is. It isn’t fighting for the same Tourism dollars or competing in the same marketplace as the theme parks 

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

2 hours ago, YaBoySlam said:

I feel like it would have been better put in Surfers Paradise than behind movie world because I feel it is kind of bad placement, it makes more sense to put it on the GC Highway or Surfers Paradise Boulevard than behind a theme park with barely any proper marketing apart from a few billboards and maybe a cinema/tv ad 

 

1 hour ago, YaBoySlam said:

I just assumed that the location was behind movie world cause i'm stupid. But answering the first and third questions, I feel like Top Golf would do better if they put it around the Southport/Main Beach/Surfers/Broadbeach area as more tourists stay there and it would be in close proximity to a hotel, maybe put it on Sea World Drive as there is some land behind the car park (unless SW expanded the car park recently I don't know), and unless the marketing is as good as DC Rivals for top golf I cannot see more people going there compard to Movie World/Wet'n'Wild

*Headdesk*

1. There is no land in surfer's paradise. Anywhere there is land usually has a highrise on it. If there isn't, there will be soon. The few places that aren't and won't are too small for a facility like this. Before you continue this point please link to a suitably sized block on google maps.
2. Sea World's grass parking lot isn't actually Sea World's. It's Crown Land - the same land that was subject of a development application for a huge casino. It's not an option.
3. TG is on a highway. Not the GC highway - but a much busier highway on the National route. (*tip - real highways usually don't have traffic lights, and frequently have speedlimits of 100km/h and up)
4. Not behind a theme park - point already clarified but included for completeness.
5. Not due to open until next year. Clearly the marketing team at VRL aren't that shit hot, and probably won't start marketing until maybe a month from opening. settle down.
6. When you assume you... oh fuck it - you're making statements about things you haven't even researched properly yet. You've named the syndrome appropriately so I see no need to further insult you.
7. You're arguing that a destination attraction should be closer to where people stay, ignoring the destination Attractions that are literally surrounding it, that thousands of people tourists visit Every. Damn. Day.
8. WnW \ MW are open until 5pm most days. The best period for this type of attraction is after dark. You'll get your corporates and your birthday parties in during the day, but the real business is when the sun goes down - so those thousands of people already at the parks may decide to keep the party going at TopGolf, instead of driving all the way back to their hotel and then deciding where to go - this ISN'T just a place to hit golf balls. I just went to the topgolf site, and chose a USA venue at random - in this case, Atlanta. The amenities listed include:
   1. 100+ climate-controlled hitting bays
   2. Full-service restaurant & bars
   3. Private event spaces & meeting rooms
   4. Rooftop terrace with fire pit

Sure, Golf is their number one activity - it's in the name... but a restaurant, multiple bars, event spaces, meeting rooms and a terrace and fire pit aren't exactly 'hitting golf balls'. Designed the right way you can put in a dance floor, host celebrity DJs, and the 'hitting golf balls' aspect becomes just a small cog in a big money making machine, that will prove insanely popular for after-darkers. It can also be a place to eat and start drinking before moving on to other venues. A few guys running shuttle buses will make a mint shuttling people to the strip - drunk people pay crazy prices when they want to go somewhere (actually, strike that - Uber will just set up a new route).

[Original]

Let's just remember this is being built here so as to turn the parks into a 'resort' with attractions to keep people amused at all times with accommodation included. This is long term thinking, with TG being one of the first stages, rather than just plonk it there and be done with it. 

[YaBoySlam]

15 minutes ago, AlexB said:

 

*Headdesk*

1. There is no land in surfer's paradise. Anywhere there is land usually has a highrise on it. If there isn't, there will be soon. The few places that aren't and won't are too small for a facility like this. Before you continue this point please link to a suitably sized block on google maps.
2. Sea World's grass parking lot isn't actually Sea World's. It's Crown Land - the same land that was subject of a development application for a huge casino. It's not an option.
3. TG is on a highway. Not the GC highway - but a much busier highway on the National route. (*tip - real highways usually don't have traffic lights, and frequently have speedlimits of 100km/h and up)
4. Not behind a theme park - point already clarified but included for completeness.
5. Not due to open until next year. Clearly the marketing team at VRL aren't that shit hot, and probably won't start marketing until maybe a month from opening. settle down.
6. When you assume you... oh fuck it - you're making statements about things you haven't even researched properly yet. You've named the syndrome appropriately so I see no need to further insult you.
7. You're arguing that a destination attraction should be closer to where people stay, ignoring the destination Attractions that are literally surrounding it, that thousands of people tourists visit Every. Damn. Day.
8. WnW \ MW are open until 5pm most days. The best period for this type of attraction is after dark. You'll get your corporates and your birthday parties in during the day, but the real business is when the sun goes down - so those thousands of people already at the parks may decide to keep the party going at TopGolf, instead of driving all the way back to their hotel and then deciding where to go - this ISN'T just a place to hit golf balls. I just went to the topgolf site, and chose a USA venue at random - in this case, Atlanta. The amenities listed include:
   1. 100+ climate-controlled hitting bays
   2. Full-service restaurant & bars
   3. Private event spaces & meeting rooms
   4. Rooftop terrace with fire pit

Sure, Golf is their number one activity - it's in the name... but a restaurant, multiple bars, event spaces, meeting rooms and a terrace and fire pit aren't exactly 'hitting golf balls'. Designed the right way you can put in a dance floor, host celebrity DJs, and the 'hitting golf balls' aspect becomes just a small cog in a big money making machine, that will prove insanely popular for after-darkers. It can also be a place to eat and start drinking before moving on to other venues. A few guys running shuttle buses will make a mint shuttling people to the strip - drunk people pay crazy prices when they want to go somewhere (actually, strike that - Uber will just set up a new route).

Oh noes, foiled again, I didn't do enough research cause I thought it would be similar to the one nearby the Slingshot, I am new to the world of the real estate and business of golf and VRTP, so sorry for my idiocy

Edited November 8, 2017 by YaBoySlam

[elemist]

I think right now it's not the best place, and yes land availability issues asides would probably do far better closer to surfers. From a tourism point of things, i would find it just a little too far away to go for dinner and a drink. I would however probably try it once for something to do.

But let's face it - this isn't a short 5 year thing, it's a long term plan and a big investment in the area itself. It's a bit of a chicken and egg scenario really. If they want to build hotels and have people stay in the area, then they need to build attractions to keep people entertained. Sure you've got the parks right there, and AOS/PC etc, but you still need way more. TG also has some good dining facilities and bar facilities as well which would be sorely lacking otherwise.