X-Golf America and the Milwaukee Brewers have announced that they'll partner to open a state-of-the-art indoor golf experience at American Family Field this year.
It will be unique in MLB and, indeed, all sports stadiums.
The 11,000-square-foot state-of-the-art indoor golf facility is expected to open later in the MLB season – if indeed there is a season (though the golf will arrive either way) – and will be open all year long, seven days a week, even during Brewers games.
It will be located in the former Stadium Club site on the Club Level.
The facility will have seven simulator bays on two floors, including three that will overlook the baseball field. X-Golf says its simulation bays use cameras, lasers, sensors and gaming technology to create accurate virtual reality golf.
A licensed PGA Professional will be on staff for lessons and club fittings.
There will also be two full bars and seating areas that offer views of the field. Delaware North will partner with area vendors on specialty drinks and pub-style food.
“We are pleased to partner with X-Golf to bring an approachable and interactive experience to American Family Field that fans can enjoy year-round,” said Rick Schlesinger, Brewers President-Business Operations in a statement Thursday.
“Merging two great passions of our fans – baseball and golf – will add a new element of fun and engagement at the ballpark.”
The X-Golf location will be owned and operated by Shawn DeMain and Luke Larso – who also own X-Golf franchises in Appleton, Brookfield and Mequon – in partnership with the Brewers.
“Launching our first X-Golf partnership with a world-class sports organization is a significant milestone for our brand,” said X-Golf America President and CEO Ryan D’Arcy Thursday.
“The growing trend of expanding entertainment options for fans certainly lends itself perfectly to the X-Golf model. We look forward to welcoming guests to enjoy our state-of-the-art golf technology while watching the Brewers take home W’s.”
More information will be announced at a later date regarding leagues and reservations this summer. Brewers game tickets will be required to in order to reserve simulators on game days.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
