Great Shots, an $11.4 million facility managed by Troon, is a three-story structure with 60 individual climate-controlled hitting bays, two restaurants and bars, event rooms and a kids activity center with climbing wall.
Sanford Health has the cure for golfers’ winter blues, INFORUM reported. The nonprofit health care system on December 6 opened Great Shots, a year-round, $11.4 million, 54,000-sq.-ft. golf-and-entertainment venue at its Sanford Sports Complex sports and entertainment development in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The three-story facility, similar to those of the Top Golf national chain, will feature 60 individual climate-controlled hitting bays, two restaurants and bars, event rooms and a kids activity center with climbing wall, a shrine to South Dakota golf stars and an Instagram-perfect selfie wall, featuring a golf cart and the word “Swing” splashed across a side wall in neon lights, INFORUM reported.
Each hitting bay can accommodate 10 people and is backed by tables and additional seating, INFORUM reported. Patrons can use real golf clubs to hit real balls onto a 250-yard-long, 90-yard-wide artificial turf field. The facility uses radar-based technology so golfers can track their shots. They can also use BigShots software to turn their golf experience into an interactive video game.
The bar inside the main entrance includes a full drink-and-food menu, has a liquor license, and features a wall-sized video board made by Daktronics in Brookings, that can display multiple television feeds, INFORUM reported.
“It’s the largest in the state of South Dakota,” said Jonathan Buckley, General Manager of Great Shots.
The hitting bays, all outside, are warmed to room temperature in cold weather by three overhead banks of radiant heaters, INFORUM reported. If snow is in the forecast, an overnight crew will hand-pick balls off the turf to clear the range. The facility has several pieces of equipment to move and blow snow off the turf.
“It’s a year-round facility and we’re excited about that,” Buckley told INFORUM. “It gives the community something to do.”
The venue will also be home to the Sanford Power Golf Academy and the Austad’s Tour Fitting Experience, INFORUM reported. Troon Golf, a management service company based in Scottsdale, Ariz., manages Great Shots.
Individual memberships cost $175 monthly or $1,600 annually, and corporate memberships are available, INFORUM reported. The bays can be rented for $18-$45 an hour, depending on the day and time, with peak times Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday from noon to close.
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