Swingers Golf Lounge: Tee It Up Indoors
Denver isn’t known for a long golf season, so it’s amazing that it wasn’t until March 2010 when Swingers Golf Lounge, Colorado’s first dedicated indoor golf lounge, teed up in Park Meadows. At Swingers Golf Lounge, two PGA-certified simulators give golfers the experience of playing without regard to weather conditions...or the slow foursome in front.
It’s not all golf here—owners have put together HD-projection TVs that line the walls, along with pool, foosball, weekly live music and the occasional beer-pong competition. Add food with a gourmet touch and adult beverages, and South Denver has an adult playground in its midst.
Swingers began because two brothers from Holdrege, Neb., had a friend with a golf simulator in his basement. Co-owner Cody Benjamin says, “He had friends over all the time that had a blast playing and competing against each other on some of the top courses in the world. In the spring of 2008, my brother and I discussed how it would be fun to put golf simulators in a sportsbar setting.”
Benjamin adds, “Golf simulators have been around for years, but we knew they finally had realistic graphics and accurate ball readings. We started researching online and found that similar places were becoming popular in other cities and countries, and couldn’t find anyone in Colorado that was doing it. So we thought we’d be the first.”
The PGA-certified golf bays offer virtual play on the world’s most famous courses. The most popular “destination” depends on where a particular PGA tournament is being held: St. Andrews during the British Open, various host courses during American major championships and Pebble Beach year-round. A round of 18 holes generally takes an hour, and charges are based on time used, so foursome per-person costs are much lower than that of a single golfer. Clubs are available for an extra fee.
The menu features bar food a cut above the expected, with fresh ingredients and some chi-chi touches to traditional favorites. Most-ordered is The Eagle, choice grilled steak with smoky blue-cheese mayo, onion marmalade and peppery arugula on homemade, rosemary sandwich bread. Live music happens every Friday night, and while children are welcomed during early hours, after 10 p.m. it’s only adult "big kids" who can show up to play.
HelloDenver Tip: Golfers can often walk in and play without a reservation on weekdays when it’s sunny and warm. But when the snow flies from January through March, cabin fever sets in and tee-times are generally booked open-to-close two weeks in advance.
Posted by Lisa Perry
