Peoria golf facility in midst of $4M project to make it like TopGolf. Here's the latest

PEORIA — Emily Cahill has a vision to bring a technology-based golf entertainment center to the Peoria Park District, the details for which are now coming into view.

A hybrid of TopGolf facilities found in larger markets, the Peoria version will use the same technology — called Top Tracer — and is headed toward finalizing a grant from the state and letting out bids for the work.

The project will be built out from the Golf Learning Center & Academy, located at 7815 N. Radnor Road in Peoria. Cahill, the park's executive director, sees an opening day of late summer or early fall 2024.

Background: A $4M expansion is planned for this Peoria golf facility to make it similar to Topgolf

"We are finalizing grant terms with the state and working on design details so we can hit the ground running," said Cahill, who lauded support for the project from state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria. "Bids come next. We should start to see changes at the site in the next month or so.

"We are going to be putting in poles and netting — we lose a lot of balls to the creek — to keep everything in play, and that should begin the first week in November."

The state grant is $4 million, and Cahill says the Peoria Park District will add another $600,000-$700,000 from its own coffers for some additional work.

"Our target is really to get as much of the inside stuff done in winter as we can," said Cahill, who has been with the Park District for 12 years. "We're going to have more than 100,000 rounds of golf played on our courses this year for the first time in my time at PPD.

"We are committed to making this new venture a fantastic experience. That's our job, to give people experiences."

Teeing off with technology

So what is TopGolf? It's a golf driving range game, with electronically tracked golf balls and automatically scored drives and a system of markers on the range.

Endless amenities come built around it, and the system offers something that will appeal to serious golfers and families looking for a fun night out.

Peoria's project won't be a TopGolf name brand, but it will use the same tracking technology in tandem with whatever local designers can dream up around it.

"We don't have the market size and traffic for a full-on TopGolf system," Cahill said. "Our system will be about one-third the size of a TopGolf facility. It's perfect for us, and it's a very interesting golf-centric hybrid."

Jason Payne, president of East Peoria-based Turf Solutions Group, has been a consultant on the park project. His crew built the Louisville Slugger complex, put in turf football fields at Dunlap High School, Washington High School and EastSide Centre, and has built several of these tech-based golf platforms in Texas, Missouri and Florida under brand name Big Shots Golf.

Heated bays, restaurants and Angry Birds

The Park District plan has taken shape, and Cahill has some details to offer on the renovation and conversion of the Golf Learning Center to accommodate the two-level tech-based golf range and house a restaurant and bar.

Among the details:

• There will be 21 bays constructed — 10 down, 11 up on a two-floor structure.

• Bays will be heated, and each one will include couches and TVs. "The bays are kind of a sports bar feel to them," Cahill said. "And heating them extends the usage to about 11 months of the year."

• The golf technology is called Top Tracer. It tracks a player's golf ball on the range and sends data on distance, accuracy and more to the user's phone or to a screen in the bay. The technology will include challenges that are set up on the range for distance and accuracy, games built around a point system. And golfers can also choose to play a simulated round on some of the world's most famous courses, giving users the option to play in The Masters, the U.S. Open, British Open and other major tournaments.

• Hungry? Cahill says there will be a restaurant on site that offers sit-down dining — no golfing necessary — and food and regular bar service to the golf bays. "We are in conversation with our board about that now," Cahill said. "We're talking with Fox Pub & Cafe and the Bearded Owl Brewery as the (restaurants and bar) coming in. There will be regular bar service on site. "It's going to be a unique experience, and will be a spot where you want to go to dinner or lunch."

• The site will still have a standard driving range. And the new technology will help serious players practice their pitch and putt game. For the not-so-serious, there's even a golf game based on the popular game app Angry Birds. The characters are golf balls, which the player hits at structures to knock them down.

• The lighting will be LED-based, which is more precisely focused on the fairway and not as harsh or broad as outdated old-school systems. Bright lights were an issue with residents in the neighborhood decades ago, but the park has not heard concerns this time around.

• They plan to operate the facility from 8 a.m. to 10-11 p.m., depending on day of the week. Hours will be shorter on weeknights. The GLC was built in 2000 and has customarily been open over the years from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily during summer season.

• Finally, there will be two golf simulators indoors, and a nine-hole pitch-and-putt course.

"It's a skills improvement opportunity," Cahill said. "And it's a fun, entertainment opportunity. You can sit in that heated bay, watch Monday Night Football on TV, order dinner and play on the system.

"This whole thing is to spark interest in golf."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria golf learning center expansion to begin, making it similar to TopGolf