TopGolf's bars, beer garden should score with patrons
TopGolf gets its biggest crowds when the area's golf courses are covered in snow, bringing out stir crazy people dreaming of spring. But the entertainment complex has just added a new reason to come out when the weather is nice, a rooftop beer garden where you can have a cold drink and practice your swing all night long.
Motif: TopGolf had always had a set of hitting bays on the roof, but everything else there is new. The space is lined with flowers, potted plants and tiki torches and has small umbrella-topped tables set for groups of four. Each hitting bay also has a table so you can eat and drink between swings. The rooftop has its own bar with more seating and a fire pit surrounded by benches. When the weather gets cooler, the owners will add heaters and a wind screen that should keep it comfortable through fall.
The primary attraction at TopGolf is the driving range, where golfers hit balls onto a massive field, aiming for circular areas around a series of flags that go up to 250 feet back. Each ball contains a microchip, used to score your shots. Players compete against each other to earn points and can assess where their hits land. Loaner clubs are included with your playing card. If you just want to try it out you can get a card and an evening game for $11, but the $35 cards never expire and include six games.
The other two floors have more hitting bays, with misters to cool you off in summer and heaters to keep you warm in winter. There are full bar areas on the first and second floors - the Fore Seasons is on the first, the Bay View Lounge is upstairs - with flat screen TVs tuned to sports.
Liquid consumption: TopGolf's chef previously worked at Chicago's Nacional 27 and took inspiration for his cocktails from that restaurant's mixologist. There are three types of sangria available, a citrusy white, a traditional red with cinnamon and the strawberry mint which makes a great summer sipper. Other cocktails include spiked Arnold Palmers, with Jeremiah Weed sweet tea vodka added to the usual iced tea and lemonade mix, and summer beer, a blend of beer, vodka and lemonade. The bar also boasts a selection of 28 craft beers including Goose Island Matilda and brews from Two Brothers. The younger crowd enjoys specialty shots like the Kahlua milkshake, which tastes like chocolate pudding. The bar offers $15 Corona and $12 Miller buckets every day throughout summer, plus other daily drink specials such as $10 domestic pitchers Sundays.
Food: Start with the $7.99 chips and guacamole. The dip is served in a tortilla cup and has big chunks of avocado with a strong but not overwhelming cilantro flavor. The mini-sandwiches are a steal at $1 after 3 p.m. on Mondays, but a solid option any day of the week when $7.99 gets you a pair of small Italian beef sandwiches and two mini-meatball sandwiches. The Italian beef is especially good, with the tender meat topped with shredded cheddar and a mild giardinera.
Music: TopGolf previously hosted live acoustic acts about once a month on the ground floor, but plans to move the bands up to the beer garden on warm nights. Every Wednesday is karaoke in the lounge and private parties in the executive suites often bring in DJs.
Crowd: TopGolf attracts serious golfers and novices, families, local business people grabbing lunch, bachelor and bachelorette parties and corporate groups. Couples like to hit some balls between drinks at night, with the women sometimes taking off their flip flops and standing on the turf barefoot. The Fore Seasons bar gets packed during Bears games, but the facility is busiest in the dead of winter where tees are often all accounted for by 10 a.m.
Parking: There are plenty of spots in the large free lot.
Overall: A place to hit some golf balls - and down some beers - all year long.
TopGolfInfo: 699 W. Thorndale Ave., Wood Dale, (630) 595-4653, topgolf.comHours: 9:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. SundayTrue18091119TopGolf's signature appetizer platter features wings, mini burgers, mozzarella sticks and onion rings. Order it indoors or out.Bob Chwedyk | Staff PhotographerTrue