Topgolf International to build 65,000-square-foot entertainment center in Virginia Beach

Golf entertainment leader Topgolf International Inc. said Tuesday that it will build a third Virginia location in Virginia Beach.

The company plans to begin construction on a 65,000-square-foot facility next month, with the site expected to open in fall 2015.

Topgolf Virginia Beach will be located at I-264 and Newtown Road off of Greenwich Road. The facility will be a couple of miles from the Town Center of Virginia Beach and about a 20-minute drive from the oceanfront resort as well as downtown Norfolk.

Over the next three years, the company plans to invest $29.9 million in Virginia Beach

Topgolf offers competitive golfing games for all ages and skill levels and advanced technology to track players’ shots. At its facilities, players can hit golf balls containing computer microchips that track each shot’s accuracy and distance while also getting points for hitting targets.

The store also will offer more than 230 high-definition, flat-screen TVs and an extensive food and beverage menu.

The first Topgolf in the United States was built in in Alexandria in 2005. In April, the company announced plans to build in Loudoun County.

“Virginia Beach is an ideal location for Topgolf,” Topgolf Real Estate Director Zach Shor, said in a statement. “The tourism industry is booming, and the local business economy is also very strong, with more than 20 international companies headquartered here.”

Warren D. Harris, director, Virginia Beach Economic Development, welcomed the announcement. “Topgolf is one of the nation’s most dynamic new entertainment concepts integrating technology with sports, recreation and dining. Virginia Beach is joining a select group of markets in the country welcoming Topgolf. This will definitely be an asset as we seek to attract and retain a talented workforce.”

The new three-level location, constructed by ARCO/Murray, will include up to 3,000 square feet of private event space and 102 climate-controlled hitting bays that can host up to six players at one time. Shor estimates that Topgolf Virginia Beach will serve about 450,000 visitors in its first year of operation.

The Virginia Beach Development Authority approved a $300,000 Economic Development Investment Program grant based on the company’s capital investment in the city.

Topgolf, based in Dallas, said each of its locations typically creates 450 full- and part-time jobs. The company said it expects its economic output in Virginia Beach to exceed $264.5 million over a 10-year period.

Topgolf has 13 locations serving more than 2.7 million guests annually.