MOUNT LAUREL – Massive, interactive, lights, competitive, fun.

Those words all describe the Topgolf Mount Laurel experience.

The excitement has been building from the time Topgolf announced two years ago that it would open a location in the township.

On Wednesday evening, Topgolf officials held a tour of the brand-new facility where members of the media, business people, local government officials and others got a complete view of the complex.

Days later, Topgolf officials announced the entertainment complex at the intersection of Marne Highway and Centerton Road will open on Friday, Oct. 5 at 9 a.m.

More:Topgolf Swing Suite coming to Atlantic City this summer

More:Construction is moving along at Topgolf Mount Laurel

Mayor Richard Van Noord, Deputy Mayor Dennis Riley, Township Manager Meredith Tomczyk and Philadelphia Eagles great Ron Jaworski were among those who attended the sneak preview and took part in a tour of the three-level, 65,000-square-foot space.

Some in the group took swings in the hitting bays. It was a year ago that Van Noord, Riley and Tomczyk were at the groundbreaking for the facility and took some golf swings near piles of dirt. That area is a parking lot now.

“I think it’s great for Mount Laurel,” Van Noord said Wednesday. “We’ve truly been dedicated to economic development. ... This is something that drives your economic development. It’s going to be a premier entertainment destination in the region. It’s going to draw from all over, and I think it will be fantastic for Mount Laurel.”

Topgolf is an international chain with outlets around the country, but the Mount Laurel venue, which originally was expected to open in late 2017, is only its second location in the state. Edison, in Middlesex County, has the other Topgolf complex.

The recently opened Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City has a Topgolf Swing Suite, which it is a miniature version of the Topgolf experience that uses indoor simulators.

The huge white pillars and netting erected over the summer in Mount Laurel can be seen from nearby Interstate 295. They’re in place to prevent golf balls from flying out onto the highway — and with the way some people were hitting balls Wednesday, that’s a good thing.

The space has a full-service restaurant and bar, more than 250 HDTVs, a 215-yard outfield and a rooftop terrace, as well as a lower-level lounge with pool tables, shuffleboard and video games.

Each level features climate-controlled hitting bays — 102 in all — which means people can play in all kinds of weather year-round. Officials said it will be open 363 days a year, only being closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Players can tee up golf balls with computer microchips to track the distance and accuracy of shots. There also are 3,000 square feet of private event space, free Wi-Fi and music.

It also will host Topgolf U lessons, leagues, KidZone parties, and social and corporate events.

Topgolf says it creates 500 full- and part-time jobs at each location, and estimates the Mount Laurel location will serve about 450,000 visitors per year.

Topgolf has more than 48 locations across 27 states, with more on the way. The Dallas-based company has 11 venues in Texas. There also are locations in the United Kingdom and Australia, with others coming to Dubai and Mexico.

At one point Wednesday, the wait staff began dancing to a song that played over the sound system. They danced and laughed in sync as the crowd looked on, but continued to enjoy their food and golf.

That was the theme of the night.

“We’re just so excited to have this in Mount Laurel. We feel like it’s going to bring a lot of people in to see how wonderful our town is,” Tomczyk said. “We’re just really excited to have Topgolf among our commercial businesses.

“It’s amazing that the all of this was done that quick in less than a year. We’re really excited just to see everyone come and just enjoy this facility.”

Celeste E. Whittaker: @cp_CWhittaker; 856-486-2437; cwhittaker@gannettnj.com

Also in South Jersey