The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)

TopGolf bringing new venue design

Driving range plans to open by 2025

- By Martin McConnell mmcconnell@morningjou­rnal.com

The Avon Planning Commission has officially approved TopGolf for a new location within the city, according to city Planning and Economic Developmen­t Coordinato­r Pam Fechter.

The new location will be built between Ashley Furniture and Planet Fitness on Chester Road, Fechter said, adding that TopGolf officials are hopeful the facility will be open by 2025.

The new driving range will serve as a replacemen­t for West Pines Golf Range, which closed in 2019. Fechter said that the facility will create up to 400 jobs in Avon, between constructi­on and location staffing.

“They’re going to have between 200 and 250 employees,” she said. “They’re going to be creating 100 to 150 constructi­on jobs… They want to be open next year, so I’m assuming they’ll probably get started in the near future (but) I’m not sure how long that build process is.”

Fechter also explained that the new location will be the first of a new building style for TopGolf. She said that the new, two-floor venue style is a slightly truncated version of a usual TopGolf and will be geared toward families.”

“This is a new venue concept for them,” Fechter said. “It’s a two-story, 60-bay, family-oriented concept… The Independen­ce one is much bigger, this is family-oriented and smaller. This will still have a full restaurant and bar and an outdoor patio. It’s just more geared toward families.”

The new venue design will heavily play into the company’s new Play It Forward initiative, according to Fechter. The initiative focuses on bringing the game of golf back among local youth, she said.

“They work with schools and non-profits to try to bring the game of golf back,” Fechter said of Play It Forward. “If people are

in this program, there’s certain times that they can come into TopGolf for free. So, that’s a great initiative.”

Fechter said that the city is thrilled to be the first location for this new venue concept, and that the driving range should be a massive boon to local business throughout Avon.

“We’re just very excited,” Fechter said. “It’s an honor that they chose our city to bring in this concept. It kind of plays into this administra­tion continuing to buy park land, trying to bring more and more things to the city of Avon that are family-oriented.”

 ?? SUBMITTED ?? The Avon Planning Commission officially approved TopGolf’s final plans for a Chester Road location on Feb. 21.
SUBMITTED The Avon Planning Commission officially approved TopGolf’s final plans for a Chester Road location on Feb. 21.

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