Hitting from the higher stage just isn’t for the faint of coronary heart.
“Tee it excessive and let it fly” might be the slogan of Upper Deck Golf (no connection to the buying and selling card firm), a novel 9-hole {golfing} occasion that takes place in MLB ballparks and NFL stadiums. 9 particular person, elevated tee containers, every with a number of bays, are constructed and positioned strategically in numerous places all through the stands on each stadium stage, all the best way to the higher deck. Sight strains and membership choice change dramatically as gamers purpose their pictures right down to the taking part in area, the place 9 designated “greens” make up the hole-by-hole targets.
Every gap is taken into account a Par 3, and scores are decided by the place a shot lands: a gap in a single earns one level; contained in the circle is a birdie (2); on the inexperienced earns a par (3); and a ball touchdown off the inexperienced is a bogey (4). It may be tough at occasions to trace the ball, so greens gentle up when a participant hits a profitable shot.
Higher Deck Golf senior occasion supervisor Nick Bonner defined why this occasion shouldn’t be confused with Prime Golf, one other indoor {golfing} expertise.
“That is in contrast to a stationary driving vary,” he mentioned. “You really get to not solely tour the complete stadium as you stroll round and see every little thing, however you’re additionally getting completely different vantage factors. It’s 9 very separate distinctive pictures.”
This can be a movable expertise that requires a variety of strolling, navigating steps and making your means via tiers of seats to achieve every tee field. Signage directs gamers to comply with a particular route from gap to gap. Among the hottest holes are ones with platforms constructed out from dizzying heights on the higher stage, the place some gamers could really feel only a bit nervous as they step up and look at the inexperienced far, far under.
Lights flash when a golfer hits the inexperienced.
Location Location Location
Every course is as completely different because the stadium the place the occasion is hosted, and every venue presents challenges. For instance, climate – wind and rain – generally is a issue at uncovered stadiums. However, as Bonner defined, Higher Deck Golf is a rain or shine occasion and even throughout a significant downpour in Cincinnati, gamers nonetheless confirmed up.
He mentioned, “No stadium was constructed for what we’re doing, proper? So each stadium has its challenges. However I believe that is actually what makes the occasion so distinctive, as a result of it is a thriller of the place these tee containers are going to go and the way we’ll line them up and, , ensuring angles and security are all thought of.”
In 2024, Higher Deck Golf held 20 occasions in 20 completely different stadiums; double the 2023 complete. The websites included historic venues like Wrigley Subject, Residents Financial institution Park, Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium.
World Golf Corridor of Fame Member Sir Nick Faldo performed a spherical at Wrigley Subject and gave the occasion his wholeheardedendorsement.
Plans are already underway for at the least 25 websites in 2025. The itinerary will revisit those self same iconic ballparks, plus NFL venues like Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL), Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN), Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH), Lumen Subject (Seattle, WA), and Caesar’s Superdome (New Orleans, LA).
The Fundamentals
Higher Deck tries to make sure they provide a high quality occasion with one thing for everybody. Gamers begin and end on the “clubhouse,” the place they’re supplied with swag that features a emblem bag, 18 Srixon golf balls (two per gap) and a scorecard. They will begin or end their rounds with lengthy drive, placing and closest to the pin challenges, amid a celebration environment of music, meals and drinks.
Gamers could go for customary, premium or VIP packages, with costs various relying on location and tee time. Usually, customary registration tee occasions are $79.99 per participant. Premium and VIP packages embrace further mulligans, complimentary entry to the clubhouse challenges, meals and beverage.
Value could also be a figuring out consider growing repeat clients.
At Chase Field in Phoenix, the ultimate cease of the 2024 Higher Deck Golf tour, some gamers had been keen about their expertise, however barely much less keen about the fee.
Stated golfer Felipe Rodriguez, “I agree it was expensive. To me, the worth is type of costly, however to do it one time for enjoyable, I imply for a distinct expertise it was cool. However I do not know if I’d do it once more for that worth.”
Foursome of completely happy golfers at Chase Subject.
Former collegiate golfer Allison Powell (Jap Washington College), nevertheless, beloved every little thing concerning the expertise. She performed along with her brother, a customized membership maker, and his buddies, all of whom bought the VIP bundle.
“It felt like a enjoyable spherical of golf,” she mentioned after finishing the post-round challenges. “I might completely do that, like on the Cardinals or the Seahawks stadium.”
She additionally described what else made Chase Subject a novel golf course.
“I in all probability should not say this, however someone aimed for the swimming pool,” she laughed. “And we nearly acquired hit on one gap when somebody from a distinct gap hit of roof beam and it almost ricocheted into us.”
Allison Powell takes a break within the clubhouse.
Tee occasions start as early as 7 am, with the final at 9 pm. In keeping with Bonner, Saturday nights draw the largest crowds, and the environment modifications because the solar goes down and the stadium lights come up.
One other situation from venue to venue is spacing of tee occasions to take care of an honest move of gamers.
Defined Bonner, “We work actually arduous to domesticate a sure tempo of play. It is like regular golf. We do not need folks ready in big strains.”
As a result of distances fluctuate, gap signage consists of membership choice suggestions. Whereas gamers have the choice of bringing their very own golf equipment (no drivers or woods), Cleveland Golf irons – males’s, girls’s, senior and left-handed golf equipment – are supplied at every station.
Because the unique tools sponsor, Cleveland Golf additionally supplies putters and drivers for the clubhouse contests.
Higher Deck Golf carries all kinds of branded merchandise.
Right here to Keep
Sports activities stadiums have gotten multi-purpose venues that promote occasions on non-game days. Programming at Chase Subject, for instance, has included main live shows, skilled rodeos, drone racing, WWE Royal Rumble, NCAA Faculty Soccer Bowl video games, Supercross and Monster Jams.
It was an excellent venue for Higher Deck Golf and the occasion is already scheduled for a 2025 return go to.
Felipe Rodriguez spoke for many gamers when he summed up the expertise.
“The group is ideal, the day is ideal, being with associates is ideal.”
Swag, beer and peanuts – the baseball stadium expertise.