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The Twin Cities could soon have two new indoor golf entertainment venues following recommendations this week by the Burnsville and Eagan city planning commissions.
In Burnsville, the Planning Commission recommended the full City Council approve a 13,000-square-foot Element Indoor Golf facility in a vacant space within Burnside Plaza at 14314 Burnhaven Drive. If approved, the facility would include 12 golf simulator bays, a full bar and kitchen and other activities like pull tabs.
Bradley Wohlers co-owns Element Indoor Golf with silent partners. Currently Element has one location in Vadnais Heights that opened in 2019. Wohlers cited the growing interest in golf simulators as the main reason for expansion. According to a 2023 from the National Golf Foundation, an estimated 6.2 million Americans used a golfing simulator in 2023, compared to just under 4 million in 2019.
He said he originally tried to open a location in Maple Grove, but the building's owner pulled out. "They didn't like that we were kind of slower in the summer time. And I think they were worried about some noise issues with some of their big box retailers that were next door," he said.
He recognized that there were other competitors nearby including Burnsville Indoor Golf and an X-Golf in Apple Valley, but said his square footage and technology sets Element apart. His plan is to have the facility open in October.
"People really liked the open space for when they bring their group in," he said.
Element will feature Golfzon simulators, which feature a moving swing plate, artificial sand and rough, high-speed camera sensors, and an automatic tee and ball retrieval system. The simulators won Golf Inc.’s most innovative product award in 2022.
In Eagan, the planning commission recommended the City Council approve plans for a 6,425 square-foot Mulligans Indoor Golf facility within the 80,000 square-foot Eagandale Crossing complex at 1200 Discovery Road.
Mulligans is owned by Matt Schroeder, a self-described "golf nut" who currently has one Mulligans location in Plymouth that opened in March of 2022. Schroeder said he hopes to open the facility Oct. 1.
Schroeder said he has been looking to expand for the last two years, and plans to continue expanding with the hopes of opening a new facility every year or so. He said the combination of Minnesota's long winters combined with the amount of avid golfers makes it a great market for indoor golf.
The facility would feature eight simulator bays, darts and pool tables. While it will not have a full kitchen, it will offer canned beer and seltzers, a menu which includes pizza, hot dogs, brats, and other snack items and Pepsi products.
He recognized there is a lot of competition, but said Mulligans' price point is what separates it. At the Plymouth location, rates range from $30 to $40 per hour.
"There's of simulators opening up around the Twin Cities, but none of them have the the focus on providing sensible prices for for indoor golf, a lot of them go up to $60 maybe $70 an hour," he said. We have the cheapest rates in town and a price match guarantee, so we will continue to have the lowest rates going forward."
