Topgolf will hold an event in Seattle combining golfing with the classic ballpark experience as “Topgolf Crush” comes to Safeco Field from Feb. 17-20. Golfers of any level can gather with their family and friends to experience a unique golf outing at the home of the Seattle Mariners.
“You have the energy of the ballpark mixed with the thrill of hitting these crazy shots alongside your friends, which make for an unforgettable experience,” Topgolf Vice President of Sales and Marketing Susan Walmesley said in a statement. “You don’t have to be a golfer to appreciate that Safeco Field is the city’s playground while Topgolf Crush is in town.”
Topgolf uses “the world’s first microchipped golf ball” to help track how far and accurately the ball is hit. In addition, Topgolf features ProTracer technology, which uses its advanced software to track the flight of the ball live in the air and display its path for analysis.
At the time of the ProTracer acquisition last May, Topgolf Co-Chairman and CEO Erik Anderson said, “Technology has been at the heart of Topgolf since day one. This addition to our portfolio continues our mission to grow the game of golf by using technology to make the game more engaging and accessible.”
Topgolf Crush describes its game play as “bowling or darts, but for golf! When it’s your turn, you hit a golf ball into one of 6 targets ranging from 40 to 150 yards away. Every section of every target has a point value and our ProTracer technology computes your score based on the accuracy and distance of the shot and then sends the score to your bay screen.”
Some main drawbacks of golf are the four-hour rounds and the formality of the sport, limiting its general appeal. Yet Topgolf is designed for tee reservations by the hour, making the time commitment much less of a factor. For the Crush event at Safeco Field, music, food, and drink are built into the experience which separates Topgolf from the rigid atmosphere of a country club.
ProTracer improves the gaming experience by quickly computing accurate scoring and displaying precise ball-tracking graphics. Outside of the physical game play, ProTracer is a contributing factor in the keeping the tempo of Topgolf fast-paced. In addition, tracking the accuracy and distance allows for additional competitive incentives among friends and family, similar to a high score in a video game.
The actual game play allows for a cross between golf fans of any level and video game enthusiasts. Its appeal to many different groups is a central reason why Topgolf is one of the fastest-growing sports experiences in the country. Its partnership with the PGA TOUR and LPGA shows the professional organizations’ commitment to spreading the game to a variety of groups in a unique and realistic way. Convincing younger generations to commit to the sport of golf is a challenge due to high expenses that include greens fees as well as clubs, balls and other equipment. Topgolf provides its own balls and clubs, allowing the players to focus on the experience instead of the logistics of a complicated golf outing.
Topgolf has made the golfing more “engaging and accessible,” using ProTracer to enhance and unlock endless possibilities with advanced scoring and analysis. When that is combined with a day at the ballpark, demand for Topgolf Crush could soar through Safeco’s retractable roof.
“It is a unique event and a unique setting for it,” Mariners spokesperson Rebecca Hale told Venues Today. “We are always looking for interesting ways to keep the ballpark occupied throughout the year, especially in the offseason.
“People around here love golf, and we drew 2.3 million fans to the ballpark last year, so there are chances there is a lot of crossover between Mariners fans and golf fans to experience Safeco in a very different way. We’ve done a lot of nontraditional events at the ballpark, but this is certainly very different than anything we have ever done.”