Hales Corners will soon have its own high-tech golf simulator bar.
TeeTime Social is gearing up for a fall opening at the Hales Corners Plaza, 5321-A S. 108th St. In fact, if all goes well, the new golf-focused venue is forecasted to open by October with virtual golf leagues starting in November.
Behind the concept is Panagiotis (Peter) Panagos, founder and owner of Wauwatiki Bar & Grill, who will launch the new bar alongside business partners Jamie and Kara Abraham, founder of Warehouse Lighting and business development specialist.
“I got into golf about seven years ago,” says Panagos, “And I really loved it. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot at places like the Wisconsin Indoor Golf Center (WIGC) and STIX Golf Entertainment. The beauty with the simulator technology is that you get yardage on your swing and you can really work on what shots to hit.”
The more he utilized the technology, the more he began contemplating the idea of combining his hospitality experience with his love of golf to create an experience all its own.
“I’ve been looking for a space for three-plus years,” Panagos says. “And ultimately I came back to Hales Corners. There’s nothing like this in the area and the location is well situated between a number of communities.”
What to expect
TeeTime Social will transform 6,000 square feet of space that was formerly part of Xperience Fitness into a golf simulator bar with a warm, inviting environment that combines modern amenities with a nostalgic old-school clubhouse feel.
Panagos says they will be installing five cutting-edge Uneekor indoor golf simulators that offer virtual access to over 100 courses worldwide along with spiffs like sand and rough simulations.
Guests will also be able to take advantage of golf lessons led by local golf pros.
A full bar with an emphasis on craft cocktails will offer drinks with golf-themed names. And, thanks to a small kitchen outfitted with an Alto-Shaam Vector oven, Tee Time Social will also showcase a small menu of food items including pizza, pretzels, wings and appetizers.
The venue will also house a pro shop specializing in custom-fitted clubs, grippings, rentals and repairs.
If all goes well, by the time next summer rolls around, guests can also look forward to special events including takeovers from various distilleries and breweries, as well as patio seating.
Panagos says that the plan will be to be open seven days a week during the winter months with abbreviated hours in the summer (when outdoor golfing is in full swing). Tentative hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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