June 7, 2018

Great Shots, a new three-story golf entertainment facility planned for the Sanford Sports Complex, will include a restaurant and be unlike anything the region has seen, Sanford leaders said.

Scheduled to open in late 2019, the 54,000-square-foot building on the southeast corner of Benson Road and Westport Avenue will include three floors of high-tech interactive golf.

The $12 million project was inspired by CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft’s experience at Topgolf, and he calls it a “Topgolf-like facility.”

“I’d had some great experiences at that,” he said, adding that he tasked a team at Sanford to look into “what could come home on our sports complex.”

The interactive driving range will include 60 bays spread across three floors, featuring a giant video wall with golf technology by Big Shots and Flight Scope.

Krabbenhoft said he supports the venture because it enhances the economic health of the area and offers something for those of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

“The vision of the Sanford Sports Complex has always been to create a place filled with activities the entire family can enjoy, and Great Shots is a perfect fit,” he said. “This facility cements our commitment to the game of golf and will be unlike anything the region has ever seen.”

Great Shots also will include the Sanford POWER Golf Academy, which will incorporate a putting green, a series of private bays and the Sanford Sports Science Institute’s golf performance and injury prevention research.

“There are a lot of places that do parts of this, but we have the entire package – from swing assessments to body movement analysis,” said Andy North, two-time U.S. Open winner and host of the Sanford International. “This facility will help take the Sanford POWER Golf Academy to the next level with dedicated space to work on all facets of the game year-round.”

The full-service restaurant and bar will be supported by well-known golf hospitality company Troon. The company has experience with golf entertainment businesses and recently helped launch a similar concept in Texas, where it runs a full-service sports bar and grill.

Great Shots will include six meeting spaces for corporate outings, fundraisers and celebrations.

There also will be a kids’ zone with video games and other activities.

Season passes will be available.

“Great Shots will draw people from across the upper Midwest, driving significant, vital economic activity at our area hotels, restaurants and businesses,” said Paul Hanson, executive vice president of Sanford Health. “Contributing to a robust, financially sound community is not only a responsibility and privilege of a major employer like Sanford, but it is essential for us to continue to attract the best and the brightest employees, physicians and researchers.”

The addition of Great Shots is the latest announcement from the Sanford Sports Complex. Retail giant Mills Fleet Farm and The Summit League headquarters are being added to the growing number of tenants there.

Fleet Farm is scheduled to open in mid-2019.