Mad Money

Topgolf CEO sees 'real growth' in golf, says he's 'winning' with millennials

Key Points
  • "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer sat down with TopGolf co-chairman and CEO Erik Anderson for more on how his private entertainment play is faring in the 'experiential' economy.
  • Golf has kicked back into growth mode, the CEO told Cramer.
  • Anderson said that he knew he was "winning" as a CEO when an NFL quarterback featured his TopGolf score on Snapchat.
Topgolf CEO: 'Winning' with millennials
VIDEO0:5500:55
Topgolf CEO: 'Winning' with millennials

For those looking to invest in experience and lifestyle, golf might be their next ace in the hole.

At least that's what Erik Anderson, the co-chairman and CEO of privately-held entertainment company Topgolf, told CNBC on Monday.

Topgolf, a budding chain of sports-bar-meets-driving-range entertainment centers, has been growing in popularity among non-golfers. (Golf equipment maker Callaway Golf has a 15 percent stake in Topgolf.)

Anderson told "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer that Topgolf's customer breakdown is 40 percent golfers and 60 percent non-golfers (or people who play fewer than eight rounds of golf per year).

"It appeals to everybody," the CEO said, adding that the demographic breakdown is roughly 35 percent women.

Topgolf's centers feature interactive driving ranges that use tracking chips to show how far and where each golf ball went. The facilities also have food and drink options, event spaces and training classes for budding golfers.

"Golf certainly hit a peak at one point in the U.S. ... but I think it's stabilizing," Anderson told Cramer. "We're seeing real growth again. And I think golf starts to get growing in a couple of ways. If you count our activity, golf actually has grown. So I think it's just expanding the audience and how people get to it."

Topgolf has mainly been expanding its audience by opening new locations — the company will open its 38th facility on Friday — and by partnering with related organizations like Formula One.

Anderson said that Topgolf's interactive system can be set up anywhere, so his company has been introducing the game outside its "regular venue" to gain traction.

And according to the company's breakdown, which shows that 53 percent of its customers are between the ages of 18 and 34, it's gaining traction among a key segment of the population: millennials.

Anderson said that he's trying to provide a "dense parallel experience" for younger customers that speaks to their love of multitasking. At a Topgolf, millennials can play golf, meet with friends or colleagues, eat food, have a drink, watch TV and, best of all, document the experience.

The CEO said one of his biggest wins as a company leader came when NFL quarterback Drew Brees took a photo of his Topgolf score and posted it on Snapchat.

"I knew we were really onto something when ... he took a Snapchat, a little picture of the screen that said, 'This was my score.' And I said, 'I'm winning,'" Anderson said. "I'm winning as an owner, as a CEO when people are taking a picture of the screen and telling me, 'Hey, can you beat my score?'"

Watch Erik Anderson's full interview here:

Topgolf CEO sees 'real growth' in golf, says he's 'winning' with millennials
VIDEO6:1506:15
Topgolf CEO sees 'real growth' in golf, says he's 'winning' with millennials

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that 53 percent of Topgolf customers are between the ages of 18 and 34.

Questions for Cramer?
Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC

Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up!
Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Vine

Questions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? madcap@cnbc.com