Signs announcing a development with a picture of a Topgolf facility on the sign have been up for months at I-85 and Pelham Rd.

The signs have been up for a couple of months. The Greenville Planning Commission approved the project before the start of the year and construction equipment has been clearing the property for months.

While all this has been going on, Top Golf has been building suspense and interest in the possibility of one of their facilities being built in the Upstate.

The suspense is over and Topgolf is coming to Greenville.

“Throughout the years, we have received countless inquiries from South Carolina residents asking us to build a Topgolf venue,” said Topgolf Chief Development Officer Chris Callaway. “We couldn’t be more excited to offer the Greenville community a new destination for year-round indoor and outdoor entertainment that can be enjoyed by all ages,” he said.

Topgolf is an entertainment venue that features food, beverage and golf games and outings. (Topgolf photo)

The key in the statement from Callaway is “entertainment” because Topgolf is unlike any other golf facility.

While Topgolf locations have golf professionals and offer lessons, it is more a destination for fun regardless of your level of golfing ability.

The company press release describes a Top Golf venue in the following manner.

Through the premium experience of play, food and beverage and music, Topgolf is inspiring people of all ages and skill levels – even non-golfers – to come together for playful competition.

Guests can enjoy point-scoring golf games using microchipped balls that instantly score themselves, showing players the accuracy and distance of their shots on a TV screen in their hitting bay.

The venues also feature an outstanding chef-driven menu, top-shelf drinks, big screen TVs and music in climate-controlled hitting bays for all-seasons comfort.

Year-round programming includes events for kids and families, social leagues, golf tournaments, golf instruction and more.

“We welcome Topgolf to Greenville County and the Upstate, with its unique entertainment and event venue that is attractive to families, individuals and groups,” said Greenville County Council Chairman Butch Kirven. “We appreciate the jobs and economic benefits Topgolf brings to our community and wish them great success,” he added.

The Topgolf venue in Greenville is expected to open in the Summer of 2019 and will employ around 350 full and part time people.

The Greenville Topgolf location is expected to employ around 350 full and part time employees.

The three-level venue will feature approximately 1,500 square feet of private event space and 72 climate-controlled hitting bays that can each host up to six players at a time.

While Topgolf is an entertainment venue and not a traditional way of playing golf, the company has found out that it can influence its visitors to be more involved in the traditional game.

Topgolf features three levels of hitting suites, with golf games, food and drink service. (Topgolf photo)

A National Golf Foundation survey found that Topgolf visitors’ interest in golf grows after visiting a Topgolf.

The survey found that, among Topgolf guests, 29 percent of golfers say that playing at Topgolf leads them to play more traditional golf.

Almost a quarter of golfers, 23 percent, follow the sport more closely as a result of visiting Topgolf.

More than half of the non-golfers surveyed, 53 percent, say that playing at Topgolf has positively influenced their interest in playing traditional golf.

Construction is underway and the first Topgolf in South Carolina is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2019.