You don’t have to be a golf pro to enjoy the newest sports entertainment venue coming to Massachusetts.
Topgolf, the high-tech driving range, bar and restaurant, is making its entrance into the Bay State. Its first location is currently under construction in Canton, the company announced this week. The new location is expected to open in late 2023. Canton is about 20 miles south of Boston.
“We get asked all the time when we’re bringing a Topgolf to the Boston area, so we couldn’t be happier to finally have an answer to that question,” Topgolf Chief Development Officer Chris Callaway said in a press release. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to join the Canton community and can’t thank the town enough for their support along the way.”
The new three-story venue will feature 90 climate-controlled hitting bays and the company’s Toptracer technology, which allows players to track their ball’s speed, distance, height and more after aiming the ball at on-field targets.
Visitors can also enjoy a full food and drink menu, music, a rooftop terrace, outdoor patio and year-round, family-friendly programs.
Redevelopment underway at former Cumberland Farms center
Topgolf has been gaining in popularity and numbers, with more than 80 U.S. locations either already built or in the works. The nearest location is in Long Island, New York. Topgolf merged with the Calloway Golf Company in 2021, combining the iconic golf equipment brand with the technology-driven entertainment venues.
The Canton venue will be located along Dedham Street and I-95, at the site of the former Cumberland Farms manufacturing and distribution center.
The project has been in the works for years, with Topgolf working closely with the town starting in 2018.
The company bought the 15-acre property, which consisted of an empty trailer parking area, from Cumberland Farms for $6.2 million in 2019. The property was already zoned properly under the Limited Industrial District.
As part of the zoning approval, the company donated about three acres of land to the town, consisting of undevelopable wetlands located along and adjacent to both the Neponset River and the MBTA rail line. Town Meeting approved the donation in May 2021.
“It’s with great excitement and pleasure that I welcome Topgolf to our community,” Canton Select Board Chair John Connolly said in a press release. “This project will have a significant economic impact to the town of Canton through the creation of jobs and increased tax revenue to support our schools and municipal services, in addition to the environmental and aesthetic benefits of cleaning up a blighted site. It’s truly a ‘hole-in-one’ for Canton.”
According to the company, the Canton location will generate around 400 new jobs.
How Topgolf works
Topgolf is designed to be inclusive for all ages and levels, from first-time golfers to seasoned pros.
Customers can reserve one of the hitting bays online ahead of time, or walk in and wait. Each bay accommodates up to six players and is priced by the hour, with the hourly rate varying by day and time, plus a $5 one-time member fee for new players.
Everything you need to play is provided, including clubs and micro-chipped golf balls. Players enter their information on the screen and can choose from more than a dozen games — from the signature Topgolf game to an Angry Birds version.
The goal? Aim for the targets and score the highest points. The more accurate your shot and the farther the distance, the more points you earn. The microchipped balls track your speed, direction and points during each shot.
The venue also offers food and drink while you play.
Get a preview at Fenway Park
In 2021, Bostonians got a taste of Topgolf when Fenway Park served as a stop on the Topgolf Live Stadium Tour, in which iconic stadiums are converted into temporary Topgolf experiences. Players tee off from the stands, aiming at targets placed on the field.
Topgolf Live returns to Fenway Park Nov. 4 through Nov. 9, though only spectator tickets remain at this point.
For more information, visit Topgolf Live (complexse.com).