Mississippians will soon be able to swing by the state’s first Topgolf venue as the entertainment center in Ridgeland nears its grand opening.
Last week, officials announced that Topgolf will officially be opening its doors off I-55 and Highland Colony Parkway on Friday, Dec. 20, after years of planning and much anticipation from the public.
For those unfamiliar with Topgolf, the company brands itself as a sports entertainment complex with inclusive, high-tech, and points-based golf games everyone can enjoy. The incoming facility outside of Jackson features more than 60 climate-controlled bays, lux suites with lounge-style furniture, event spaces, a restaurant and bar, plenty of televisions, and a one-of-a-kind mini golf course to go along with the driving range.
“You don’t have to be a golfer to come here. About 60% of our guests are not dedicated golfers. They come here to have fun,” Ridgeland Topgolf Chief of Operations Jason Sartain said. “We have games specifically designed for non-players to make it easier for them to play and have a great time.”
Topgolf has even designed a club that is guaranteed to give the most inexperienced player a sense of confidence when swinging away. The AI-generated “sure thing” club, available in all sizes, has a gigantic clubhead to ensure contact and 20 degrees of loft to send the ball into the ether.
“When a non-golfer comes and they’re able to hit a ball straight with a high loft, it makes them feel like, ‘Oh my goodness, man, I’m getting good at golf,'” Sartain added, explaining how the new club boosts user experience. “You don’t have to be a pro golfer to get a nice ring off the ball. Everything we do, we do for the entertainment value for everybody to have a great time. We put a lot of science into everything we do.”
Special mats and tees are also available for guests in wheelchairs. The venue is not yet open to the public, but eager soon-visitors can reserve a bay, though a majority of spots have been booked for the opening weekend.
Topgolf’s opening will certainly generate a lot of traffic, but site developer Gabriel Prado, president and CEO of PraCon Global Investment Group, says the $26.2 million entertainment venue is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come to the area.
Coined “Prado Vista,” the land purchased by Prado is also expected to host an unnamed national grocery store, two high-end hotels, office space, retail stores, a river walk, and over 200 homes in the future.
“It’s really a game changer for the area and a big accomplishment always to say, ‘Mississippi can do it.’ The number one thing we have to say is that Mississippi is the greatest place to live and Topgolf has recognized that by coming here,” Prado said. “This Prado Vista development is going to be the development that really changes the dynamic of the area.”
Prado’s vision stemmed from a perceived lack of nightlife in central Mississippi and a subsequent desire to bring an entertainment epicenter to the region to keep young business professionals from departing the Magnolia State due to an apparent shortage of things to do.
The businessman says his goal is to have shovels in the ground on the next phase of the project by the end of 2025.
