TopGolf's social aspect on target with area golfers
Golfers tend to make fashion statements. Not that Zach Schneider considers himself a golfer.
But on a recent beautiful summer night at TopGolf in Wood Dale, the 26-year-old Schaumburg resident is swinging a golf club dressed in all black from head to toe - cap turned backward, shirt, baggy cargo shorts, socks, all-purpose shoes. His attire complements his tattooed arms, earrings, sunglasses, long sidearms and goatee.
Schneider and his buddy, fellow 26-year-old Brett Ruffino of Schaumburg, are gripping rented clubs and firing away at giant dartboard-like targets on the open-aired third level.
"I watch a lot of golf and I figured I'd try and give it a shot," Schneider says, holding a drink in his hand.
"But I'm doing terrible," he adds, laughing.
Ruffino is equally amused by his own golf game, so TopGolf is a good place to get reacquainted with a sport that he once enjoyed with his grandfather.
"Our buddy wanted to bring us to Cog Hill," says the White Sox cap-wearing Ruffino, who's more conservatively dressed than Schneider. "We're like, 'Maybe we should hit some golf balls a little beforehand, before we go to Cog Hill and try to play on a PGA Tour course and get a line of people behind us yelling at us, 'Come on! Hurry up, kids!' "
At TopGolf, players of all skill - and all ages - are welcome. One of three facilities nationwide, TopGolf is golf's version of darts and bowling. Players can hit all clubs, although putting is not involved.
While serious golfers are frequent customers, the facility, which attracts many tie-wearing businessmen on their lunch breaks during the week, actually attracts more nongolfers or casual players.
Phil Palminteri considers himself the latter. The soon-to-be 40-year-old is sitting at a bay with family, including two women who've ditched their heels after several swings and are now launching balls barefooted.
They're part of a group of 50 people celebrating a surprise 40th birthday party for Palminteri's twin sister, Kim.
"I like this part of it (the social atmosphere)," Phil Palminteri says. "Actual golfing? I'm not a big fan of it. I'd rather play other sports. But this part I like."
Same goes for his sister-in-law Lisa Palminteri, whose golf background includes only the miniature kind with windmills and clown faces.
"It's a little harder than I thought," she says. "It looks a lot easier when I see it on TV or when I play Wii at home."
At another bay, 6-year-old twin brothers Aaron and Patrick Crowley, a righty and a lefty, are swinging away in between bites of their hamburgers. The boys are well aware of their scores, which are provided thanks to a state-of-the-art computer monitor next to the hitting mat.
"That's what gets them here - it's a game," says their father, Jason Crowley of Lombard, who plays in a league at the adjacent executive course. "They're competing. They'll actually get upset (if they lose)."
What does Aaron like about TopGolf?
"Scoring," the righty says. "I want to win."
And Patrick?
"Winning," the lefty says.
On the lower level, Hud Kang looks ready to tee it up on an 18-hole course. The Schaumburg resident is sharply dressed in golf attire, including soft spikes, ankle-high socks, brand name hat and leather glove. He's even wearing stylish headphones, listening to music.
Kang claims he's a 16 handicap, but his ball flight suggests he's better than that. He's swinging an oversized driver and pounding range balls - which have a chip inside that the computer reads.
"I'm just trying to keep my focus on my swing," Kang says after finishing off a bucket of balls.
What he likes about TopGolf - and what true golfers like - is that the computer provides an exact distance for each ball hit. There's no guessing how far a shot traveled. If you want to hone your short game, TopGolf can do that.
"Basically you can get the distance control," Kang says. "Many ranges do have a flagstick to show (distance) but they don't tell you how exactly far you hit the ball."
Kang is ready to hit again. TopGolf has another satisfied customer.