By now, you might have heard whispers about the new Topgolf location that’s opening up near Mega Bangna (making it the first Topgolf in Southeast Asia), or even seen the massive venue from the outside for yourself on your latest IKEA trip. So when the good people at Topgolf invited us to see even more of what is undoubtedly set to be one of Bangkok’s hottest chill spots, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
First off, let’s clear up a misconception that even we initially had: if you’re imagining Topgolf as yet another golf course for your dad and his golfing buddies, erase that picture immediately. Despite its name, Topgolf is about way more than just golf. It does a lot of things well (which we’ll talk more about in just a second) or, shall we say, top-notch — and while it does obviously incorporate elements of golf into its various offerings, this isn’t a strict golf-only place and focuses more on a casual experience that can be fun for everyone.
Games for golfers and non-golfers alike
One of the stars at Topgolf is the hitting bay area, which boasts 102 bays over three levels. Here’s how it works: you have your own private bay (each one accommodates up to six players, and larger groups are encouraged to make a reservation in advance) where you can order food and drinks directly to your seats while picking from Topgolf’s wide range of games. All golf clubs are provided, and the cool part is that while you hit actual microchipped golf balls into giant, LED-lit targets spread out across a massive outfield, the game that you pick will be replicated on your bay screen. There are virtual golf courses for those who want to go the traditional route, as well as non-golf options like Jewel Jam and Angry Birds (a great choice for kids’ groups). Think of it as VR, but without the clunky headset.
Food frenzy
For us, the most surprising aspect of Topgolf Thailand — and the thing that really sets them apart from other golf venues — was the amount of dining venues under one roof: five, to be specific, including the aforementioned Hitting Bays. You know how a lot of sports venues just serve overpriced and under-seasoned soggy fries and watered-down soda? Yeah, there’s none of that here. We’ll give you a quick tour, but really, you need to check each of these out for yourself because the restaurants alone are worth the trek.
First up, there’s the Pink Giraffe Rooftop Bar, which overlooks the massive lit outfield; the cuisine is “Cali-Japanese,” so think finger foods and unique sushi-esque canapés as you sip on a signature cocktail amidst the sunset. For something a bit more intimate, head to The Devil’s Lounge, a low-key wine and whiskey lounge that serves cold cuts and fresh pastas alongside a huge selection of over 60 wines and whiskeys. Sports enthusiasts will feel right at home at the signature Topgolf Sports Bar, which is decked out with a central 550-inch (7 m x 4 m) screen and 15 HDTVs across its two 13-meter-long bars; the atmosphere is loud and fun and wafting with the scent of all your favorite hearty American classics (which are best enjoyed with the 12 beers on tap, obviously) — basically, everything that a sports bar should be. And lastly, there’s the Patio, which is our personal favorite restaurant, mainly because of BUSTED!, the fully-equipped food bus (yes, bus, not ‘truck’) with a massive competition-grade American-style smoker, which helps to churn out smoked Thai food and American BBQ classics. And even if you’re not a big BBQ person, the Patio’s outdoor beer garden is a great spot to just chill and unwind over a couple of cold ones.
Calling all party people
One of our biggest impressions of Topgolf was that it would make a really fun and unique venue for parties, including everything from kids’ birthdays to weekend hangouts with your friends to triple dates. It would also be ideal for a special work event (think holiday parties or a big milestone for the whole company), or some good old fashioned team-building as everyone reveals their competitive sides. If you really want to kick things up, you can rent out a private function room, or better yet, host your own mini golf tournament. Catering packages are also available, which will be handy if your group is made up of individuals with various dietary restrictions.
P.S. Golf lovers can still rejoice!
For people who do want to play traditional golf, there are two options. The first is the Puttyard, an 18-hole course that can be used for putting practice or a classic round of mini-golf. And then there’s Topgolf Academy, where you can book individual or group golf lessons; all lessons are taught by a Topgolf Academy certified professional, and come with unlimited golf balls, free club rentals, and the use of Topgolf and their Toptracer technology are all included in the lesson fees.
Topgolf is set to open on August 17 and they’re already taking bookings for their hitting bays via their website. We’ll see you out there!
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