Toptracer technology, evening hours, food and games are giving golfers and families a new way to experience the sport
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Adventure Center) — Golf in Sevierville is getting a new twist — and you don’t have to be a serious golfer to enjoy it.
The Sevierville Golf Club has opened the Eagles Nest, a new covered and heated driving range facility designed to bring more entertainment, technology and flexibility to the game.
Stacy Stratton, assistant director of golf and head golf professional, said the facility was designed to appeal to everyone from experienced golfers looking to improve their game to families and visitors simply looking for something fun to do.
The Eagles Nest features covered bays, garage-style doors, lighting for nighttime use and Toptracer technology, which tracks golf shots and provides players with instant feedback.
It also turns the range into a virtual playground.
Visitors can play virtual rounds on famous courses or compete in games such as closest to the pin. Stratton said Pinehurst No. 2 has quickly become one of the most popular virtual courses since the facility’s soft launch.
“We feel like this is probably the way of the future for golf,” Stratton said. “It’s accessible, it’s consumable in our quantities, and you can come down here and then go to dinner with your family.”
That flexibility is part of what Sevierville Golf Club officials say makes the Eagles Nest different.
Golf can take several hours, which can make it difficult for families or couples to fit into a vacation schedule. The Eagles Nest gives visitors the opportunity to play for a shorter amount of time while still enjoying the social side of the experience.
The facility includes several seating options, including high and low seating, couches and high-top tables.
Groups can also use the space for gatherings, with room for about 20 people to socialize, eat and play.
Before 4 p.m., visitors who purchase balls can choose between the traditional uncovered driving range or the Eagles Nest on a first-come, first-served basis.
After 4 p.m., bays can be reserved by the hour through the Sweet Spot booking system.
The Eagles Nest also expands the golf club’s operating hours. The traditional range was limited by daylight, while the new facility is illuminated for nighttime play.
Visitors can also grab food and drinks while they play, with menu options including flatbreads, pretzel bites and mozzarella sticks.
The technology is also changing the way the golf club can host tournaments. Stratton said Toptracer can be used for long-drive and closest-to-the-pin competitions without the need for traditional markers on the range.
But officials say the biggest opportunity may be bringing new people into the game.
Amanda Marr, with the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, said the Eagles Nest makes golf more accessible to families and visitors who may have never considered themselves golfers.
“Honestly, adding this to the golf club is going to open up so much in terms of how we can promote it,” Marr said. “If you’ve never golfed before, if you’ve got little kids with you, bring them out, let them have a great time.”
The facility includes games designed for casual players and children, including an Angry Birds game.
That makes the Eagles Nest more than just a practice facility. It’s becoming another entertainment option for visitors to Sevierville.
Stratton said the golf club is also working to become a destination in its own right.
The club has already seen about 60% more group sales compared with last year as it expands its marketing efforts. Officials say some groups are choosing Sevierville because they can combine golf at the area’s two courses with other activities, including time at the Eagles Nest.
For a destination like Sevierville, officials say that’s exactly the kind of experience they want to create — something visitors can build into an entire vacation.
Whether you’re working on your swing, playing a virtual round at Pinehurst No. 2, grabbing a drink with friends or introducing your kids to golf for the first time, the Eagles Nest is giving visitors another reason to spend time at the Sevierville Golf Club.
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