By: Harrison Reilly
Northern California is a golf hotbed with world-renowned courses like Pebble Beach, Olympic Club, Harding Park, Haggin Oaks and Darkhorse sprinkled across the area. With so many great venues and a rich history of golf, it only makes sense that the first Topgolf location in California will open up in Roseville on September 2nd.
We at SacFoodies were lucky enough to attend a media preview of the facility and we are happy to say there is truly something for everyone at Topgolf, for experienced and new golfers alike.
First, a little background on Topgolf: initially established in Watford, England, the founders of Topgolf sought to liven up the driving range experience. In doing so, they made a driving range that included food, drinks, endless HDTVs, music and driving range games that are tailored to any skill level of golfer. Since 2000, they have moved their headquarters to Dallas, Texas and have opened up 29 locations across the globe. They plan to open seven to ten locations a year.
Open 363 days a year, the brand new Roseville location has 102 driving bays across three floors that can accommodate up to six people each. There are also two full service bars and over 200 TVs on the property. This is golf’s version of a bowling alley.
When we first entered the facility, we were greeted by a friendly staff and a hefty bar. The bar featured custom cocktails and regional wine and beer, including Wente Chardonnay and Track 7 beer. Servers also brought us appetizers that included mushi, or Mexican sushi, and house-made hummus with veggies.
Next, we were given a presentation about the Roseville facility. Since starting construction, the facility has created over 500 jobs for the Roseville area. Along with providing jobs, Topgolf plans to get involved with philanthropy as well. Topgolf allows local high school golf teams to use their facilities for practice at no charge to the players or school. Topgolf also partners with Make-A-Wish nationwide, giving young golfers with life threatening illnesses the day of their life.
Once the presentation was over, the SacFoodies were given their own bay to play some golf and eat some tasty food.
We played the classic Topgolf game, where you score points by hitting balls into any target on the range. The game is meant for any skill level. Topgolf claims that “if you can bowl or play darts, you can play Topgolf.” You don’t even have to bring clubs, as Topgolf provides all the clubs you need (however, if you’re a serious golfer and want to bring your own clubs, you’re more than welcome to).
After we hit a few balls, we were treated to a buffet that showcased a variety of options available on the everyday menu and others from the special events menu. The spread included loaded baked potatoes, pork belly lettuce wraps, a spinach pecan salad, roasted vegetables and a sublime prime rib. For dessert, we were served donut holes self-injected with your choice of either raspberry or chocolate sauce.
All Topgolf locations have a dedicated kitchen staff, with many of the cooks coming from prestigious cooking schools. In the future, Topgolf Roseville hopes to feature locally sourced items to take advantage of the bounty that the Farm-to-Fork Capital has to offer.
Overall, we at SacFoodies were very satisfied with the Topgolf experience and we think it will make a great addition to the Sacramento area. The games are fun, there are plenty of drinks and the food is fantastic. With long hours (9 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday), Topgolf can be enjoyed as a leisurely morning golf and brunch experience, or as a fun night out with your friends. And the best part is you could be Tiger Woods or Charles Barkley, and still have a blast.
Topgolf Roseville
Opens Friday, September 2nd at 9 a.m.
1700 Freedom Way
Roseville, CA, 95678