Husband-and-wife duo Miller and Laura Safrit are joining the wave of golf entertainment concepts sweeping across the city, and the country. They plan to open Tap In in a 10,300-square-foot space that formerly belonged to Weathered Souls brewery at 255 Clanton Road.
Miller told What Now Charlotte that the idea stemmed from his own experience with golf simulators during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic shut down golf courses, he got a launch monitor and played golf virtually.
“Over time, through having neighbors and friends over, we realized it really is a fun concept to be able to go out and hit a ball. And I became a better golfer as a result. So the concept came from that,” Miller said. “Four years later, here we are with one of the biggest concepts in the state and really giving back to Charlotte for all the ways it has helped me and my family.”
Tap In will feature 10 bays that wrap around the building, including eight golf-simulator bays featuring ultra-accurate Uneekor launch monitors. Golfers will be able to choose from more than 2,000 golf courses to play. The other two bays will be virtual-reality golf bays. Each bay will have golf clubs and TVs, as well.
The space will also feature a restaurant-bar, an arcade and a 500-square-foot social putting green in the center that will be available for anyone to use.
“We want our customers to feel like it’s a mix between country club and new-wave golf, but with a sports bar at the heart,” Miller said.
The team is still in the process of finalizing the menu, so additional details will be shared in coming weeks. However, it will have a sports-bar feel, and there will be a full bar with 16 beers on tap, wine, liquor and unique to-be-announced beverage options.
Miller said that Tap In will meet the needs of serious golfers, but will focus on entertainment and cultivating a fun environment.
“It caters to locals who just want to go out and have a good time. It caters to the avid golfer who wants to have the most accurate launch monitor on the market. It caters to businesses that want to rent bays [for an event],” Miller said.
They are hoping to be open by the end of July.
“I think Lower South End is becoming an entertainment capital for families, couples and businesses, and we’re going to be an important part of trying to drive that concept,” Miller said.
Other golf entertainment concepts are on the way to the Charlotte market as well. What Now Charlotte recently reported that X-Golf is opening a West Charlotte location soon. 3’s is projecting an opening this year, and T-Squared Social might have a location on the way to the area.
