× 1 of 6 Expand Photography courtesy of Topgolf × 2 of 6 Expand Ground Level: The Lower Lounge is outfitted with pool tables and a shuffleboard table and can accommodate 40 to 80 guests. × 3 of 6 Expand Second (street) Level: The Signature Room can comfortably handle 200 people, including the room behind the bar (not shown). × 4 of 6 Expand Jennifer Korman Photography Third Level: The St. Louis facility is one of only two units with a 60-person Chairman Suite, designed with business meetings in mind. × 5 of 6 Expand Third Level: The Rooftop Terrace and Bar has a stage for DJs and bands and holds 70 to 170 guests.As with all Topgolf's rentable areas, it’s open to the public unless there’s a private event. × 6 of 6 Expand The open-air bar on the Third Level faces north and west. Prev Next

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include Topgolf's opening date.

Sports entertainment chain Topgolf is bringing its high-tech take on everyone’s favorite 18-hole sport to St. Louis, with a branch set to open in Chesterfield. The opening date is Friday, August 3.

Topgolf is a global entertainment facility that began in the United Kingdom in 2001. There are currently 44 units worldwide (40 in the U.S., including St. Louis). An additional 20 cities are noted on the company's website as "coming soon."

× Expand Jennifer Korman Photography

The venues are a mashup of a multi-story driving range and lively restaurant and bar. This is no small operation either: It spreads across three levels, with a total floor space of 65,000 square feet.

Groups of up to six players reserve a bay and take turns hitting balls at a number of fixed targets. Bays are rented out by the hour for a flat fee, and rates vary throughout the day, usually ranging from $25 to $45. Topgolf’s games are designed to be accessible to everyone, so no prior golfing ability is required. In fact, Topgolf says more than half of its customers are not golfers.

× Expand Jennifer Korman Photography

A number of game formats are offered, usually involving striking the ball at targets and gaining points based on such factors as accuracy and distance. The targets are intentionally large, so everyone can rack up points. Topgolf’s cutting-edge Toptracer system uses microchipped balls to track each shot’s flight path, giving stats fans and serious golfers alike more specifics about their performance.

Each of the bays are climate-controlled and equipped with tables for refreshments. TV screens display scores and other data. Unlike real golf, players can relax in comfy seats between shots, and there’s no need to wait until the 19th hole to enjoy a drink.

The bar selection features craft beers, wine, the signature Frosé³ (rosé sangria with prosecco and an ice-cubed pureé of raspberries and strawberries) and shareable cocktails in golf bag-shaped glasses.

Menu items slightly vary by location, but Topgolf kitchens typically turn out hearty fare, including nachos, wings, sliders, flatbreads, burgers, and sandwiches. And an early tee-off is rewarded with brunch, available seven days a week.

Chef Tyson Robinson, a Texas native who recently relocated to St. Louis, predicts the sharable pretzel board (pictured above) will be a top seller, as well as The Mac Daddy, the signature burger topped with pepperjack cheese and a patty with green chili mac 'n' cheese (pictured below).

Besides the standard menu, several event menus (served buffet-style) are available to groups. There are also private event rooms on all three levels (pictured in the banner above), but groups can rent out an entire level or the entire facility (the 102 bays can accommodate 1200 people), and have different food buffets on every level. Food and drink packages are priced on a per person basis, same as a wedding reception. Three hours are allocated per event, but shorter event times are possible.

Don't miss the Premium Platter, an assortment of beer-poached jumbo shrimp, chicken potstickers, and mini crabcakes. It's available in several sizes, the largest shown above. (Pro tip: The platter isn't on the everyday menu; it must be ordered in advance and is only available to a "group," considered to be seven guests or more.)

While popular venues like Topgolf might be able to get away with serving a lesser product, each facility cooks from scratch and with quality in mind. The crabcakes, for example, are almost 100 percent jumbo lump crabmeat.

The concept's proven massively popular elsewhere, so there’s a good chance that Topgolf St. Louis will soon become a favorite spot for a casual night out, weekends with friends, birthday parties, and office team-building.

Iain Shaw is a freelance writer, now living in St. Louis after almost 15 years in Beijing, China. Find more of Iain’s writing about food, drink, and travel here.