Details revealed on TopGolf's planned project in Hawaii
More
information on the TopGolf Hawaii project planned for the Ala Wai Golf Course
driving range land in Waikiki:
Topgolf Project
at the Ala Wai Golf Course: Emily Porter, Josh Stinson, and Brett MacNaughton
from the MacNaughton Group circulated a handout and reported the following:
• Entities That Comprise Topgolf Hawaii: Topgolf Hawaii is a partnership between Topgolf USA, Inc. and local partners The MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group, which will be developing and operating Topgolf Hawaii pursuant to a long-term lease with the City and County of Honolulu.
• What is Topgolf: Topgolf is a U.S.-based retail concept with 38 locations operating on the mainland. It offers a state-of-the-art driving range on multi levels combined with best-in-class food and beverage. Topgolf provides a venue for the traditional golfer to refine his or her game utilizing unrivaled technology as well as a stress-free environment for people of all skill levels and interests in golf to enjoy time together with family and friends.
• Lease and Financial Agreements: It is a 20-year lease with the City and County of Honolulu with options to extend up to 40 years. Topgolf Hawaii will pay the City a minimum annual lease rent of $1.02 million and one (1) percent of its gross revenue on sales. The base rent will increase as the contract progresses. In addition, 2% of estimated construction costs will be paid until the time of building completion, at which point the contribution will become 1% on an ongoing basis.
• Pricing: The standard pricing model for the golfing experience will be based on a charge per hour per driving range bay. Each bay will be able to accommodate six (6) guests, which encourages families and groups to enjoy Topgolf Hawaii together.
• How Will the Ala Wai Golf Course be Impacted by Topgolf Hawaii: The Ala Wai Golf Course will not be impacted by Topgolf Hawaii at all. The Topgolf Hawaii facility will be built on the existed 7.26 acres that the current Ala Wai Golf Course Driving Range occupies.
• Design: Topgolf Hawaii is working with Linda Miki from a company called G70 in order to design the facility to look more local versus Topgolf facilities in the mainland that look more modern.
• Height of the Netting Poles: The safety and the well-being of guests and the community are a priority. Based on the prototypical plans, the construction of the net poles are anticipated at 170 feet in height with state-of-the-art safety nets to prevent balls from escaping the driving range area. The net poles are made of a high-grade steel and painted a sky grey color to blend in with the skyline. The netting is a nylon twine that is 92% transparent to minimize the visual impact.
• Process Moving Forward: The lease will require approval from the Honolulu City Council and the Board form the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), since the Ala Wai Golf Course sits on state land that was transferred to the City’s control by executive order.
• Timeframe: Initially, it is estimated that it will take one (1) and a half to two (2) years to move through the leasue approval, entitlement, and related processes. Construction, which will begin after those processes are completed, is estimated to take about one (1) year.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Alcohol: Flood raised concerns and why there is a need to sell alcohol around children. Porter responded that there is also an extensive food menu and that the Ala Wai Clubhouse currently sells liquor as well.
2. Loud Noise: Smith raised concerns that there will be exterior loud speakers that emit noise. Porter responded that they plan to contain the noise as much as possible. Smith added that it would be a good idea to come to the Board to get the liquor license approved.
3. Light Brightness: Henski explained that at the Topgolf in Houston, the lights were blinding and she is concerned with this. Stinson responded that there are LED lights being designed that might be more technologically advanced than the lights in Houston to help reduce the brightness of the lights.
4. Traffic: Henski raised concerns that there will cause more traffic on Kapahulu Avenue. MacNaughton responded that they will be doing an extensive traffic study to help alleviate traffic.
5. Sports Bar: Erteschik raised concerns that if Topgolf Hawaii will have the same concept as Dave & Buster’s similar to a sports bar. Porter responded that Topgolf Hawaii’s concept is first and foremost to golf. Porter added that all of the details have not been worked out yet but Topgolf Hawaii’s intention is to be a family friendly place to golf.
6. Good Thing: A community member
7. Property Value: A community member raised concerns that she hears the balls and sees the lights from the Ala Wai Driving Range every night. She added that she would like to see what the lights will actually look like. She is concerned that the 170 feet netting barrier will take away her unobstructed ocean and mountain view and will decrease her property value. Brett responded that safety is key to Topgolf but will challenge them and ask them if there is anything that can be done to reduce the height of the netting.
8. Glass: Merz warned that the use of reflective glass can be dangerous to various locations in that area. Merz also asked that if Topgolf Hawaii is working with DLNR regarding the watershed protection.
9. Noise: Shields raised concerns that she lives directly across the Ala Wai Clubhouse and can still hear the balls. Stinson responded that as the building gets bigger, the walls should help to reduce some of the sound of the hitting as currently the driving range is an open bay.
10. Track record: Boyack was interested in what the track record was with The MacNaughton Group working with the community. Porter responded that The MacNaughton Group and the Kobayashi Group have been philanthropists in the community for a very long time. She added that Topgolf has been also known to donate to charity on the mainland.
11. Organizations: Henski was interested in what specific organizations that Topgolf has donated to. Porter responded Make a Wish and one of the well-known cancer foundations.
12. Good Luck: Resident Moskowitz wanted to wish The MacNaughton Group and Topgolf Hawaii good luck.
13. Thanks: Chair Finley wanted to thank The MacNaughton Group for coming to present to the Board tonight and hope to see them again when they have their design final.
• Entities That Comprise Topgolf Hawaii: Topgolf Hawaii is a partnership between Topgolf USA, Inc. and local partners The MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group, which will be developing and operating Topgolf Hawaii pursuant to a long-term lease with the City and County of Honolulu.
• What is Topgolf: Topgolf is a U.S.-based retail concept with 38 locations operating on the mainland. It offers a state-of-the-art driving range on multi levels combined with best-in-class food and beverage. Topgolf provides a venue for the traditional golfer to refine his or her game utilizing unrivaled technology as well as a stress-free environment for people of all skill levels and interests in golf to enjoy time together with family and friends.
• Lease and Financial Agreements: It is a 20-year lease with the City and County of Honolulu with options to extend up to 40 years. Topgolf Hawaii will pay the City a minimum annual lease rent of $1.02 million and one (1) percent of its gross revenue on sales. The base rent will increase as the contract progresses. In addition, 2% of estimated construction costs will be paid until the time of building completion, at which point the contribution will become 1% on an ongoing basis.
• Pricing: The standard pricing model for the golfing experience will be based on a charge per hour per driving range bay. Each bay will be able to accommodate six (6) guests, which encourages families and groups to enjoy Topgolf Hawaii together.
• How Will the Ala Wai Golf Course be Impacted by Topgolf Hawaii: The Ala Wai Golf Course will not be impacted by Topgolf Hawaii at all. The Topgolf Hawaii facility will be built on the existed 7.26 acres that the current Ala Wai Golf Course Driving Range occupies.
• Design: Topgolf Hawaii is working with Linda Miki from a company called G70 in order to design the facility to look more local versus Topgolf facilities in the mainland that look more modern.
• Height of the Netting Poles: The safety and the well-being of guests and the community are a priority. Based on the prototypical plans, the construction of the net poles are anticipated at 170 feet in height with state-of-the-art safety nets to prevent balls from escaping the driving range area. The net poles are made of a high-grade steel and painted a sky grey color to blend in with the skyline. The netting is a nylon twine that is 92% transparent to minimize the visual impact.
• Process Moving Forward: The lease will require approval from the Honolulu City Council and the Board form the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), since the Ala Wai Golf Course sits on state land that was transferred to the City’s control by executive order.
• Timeframe: Initially, it is estimated that it will take one (1) and a half to two (2) years to move through the leasue approval, entitlement, and related processes. Construction, which will begin after those processes are completed, is estimated to take about one (1) year.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Alcohol: Flood raised concerns and why there is a need to sell alcohol around children. Porter responded that there is also an extensive food menu and that the Ala Wai Clubhouse currently sells liquor as well.
2. Loud Noise: Smith raised concerns that there will be exterior loud speakers that emit noise. Porter responded that they plan to contain the noise as much as possible. Smith added that it would be a good idea to come to the Board to get the liquor license approved.
3. Light Brightness: Henski explained that at the Topgolf in Houston, the lights were blinding and she is concerned with this. Stinson responded that there are LED lights being designed that might be more technologically advanced than the lights in Houston to help reduce the brightness of the lights.
4. Traffic: Henski raised concerns that there will cause more traffic on Kapahulu Avenue. MacNaughton responded that they will be doing an extensive traffic study to help alleviate traffic.
5. Sports Bar: Erteschik raised concerns that if Topgolf Hawaii will have the same concept as Dave & Buster’s similar to a sports bar. Porter responded that Topgolf Hawaii’s concept is first and foremost to golf. Porter added that all of the details have not been worked out yet but Topgolf Hawaii’s intention is to be a family friendly place to golf.
6. Good Thing: A community member
7. Property Value: A community member raised concerns that she hears the balls and sees the lights from the Ala Wai Driving Range every night. She added that she would like to see what the lights will actually look like. She is concerned that the 170 feet netting barrier will take away her unobstructed ocean and mountain view and will decrease her property value. Brett responded that safety is key to Topgolf but will challenge them and ask them if there is anything that can be done to reduce the height of the netting.
8. Glass: Merz warned that the use of reflective glass can be dangerous to various locations in that area. Merz also asked that if Topgolf Hawaii is working with DLNR regarding the watershed protection.
9. Noise: Shields raised concerns that she lives directly across the Ala Wai Clubhouse and can still hear the balls. Stinson responded that as the building gets bigger, the walls should help to reduce some of the sound of the hitting as currently the driving range is an open bay.
10. Track record: Boyack was interested in what the track record was with The MacNaughton Group working with the community. Porter responded that The MacNaughton Group and the Kobayashi Group have been philanthropists in the community for a very long time. She added that Topgolf has been also known to donate to charity on the mainland.
11. Organizations: Henski was interested in what specific organizations that Topgolf has donated to. Porter responded Make a Wish and one of the well-known cancer foundations.
12. Good Luck: Resident Moskowitz wanted to wish The MacNaughton Group and Topgolf Hawaii good luck.
13. Thanks: Chair Finley wanted to thank The MacNaughton Group for coming to present to the Board tonight and hope to see them again when they have their design final.
Thanks for the article and including community concerns and comments. Would you happen to know when the Environmental Impact Study is to be released? Topgolf uses turf/sand drainage for their field. During rain it will need to be funneled somewhere. For every 1" of rain 160,000 gallons of runoff would be created, the existing grass/soil would absorb the water...not so with turf. (I used USGS rain calculator and google maps for current range dimensions) --how much more can the Ala Wai take?
ReplyDeleteAnd to think, just recently, in June of this year, 2019. We had a record of 4" of rain!!!https://twitter.com/NWSHonolulu/status/1143973773252669440/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1143973773252669440&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hawaiinewsnow.com%2F2019%2F06%2F24%2Fflash-flood-watch-posted-oahu-kauai-county-ahead-heavy-rain-possible-thunderstorms%2F
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know what the update is on this. Most recent news source is from 2018. Thank you for this well constructed article
ReplyDelete