Topgolf is a great place for all ages, all year round. This sprawling, modern facility features a game where you hit microchipped balls into dartboard-like targets. No golf experience needed, and fun for for the whole family.

When our Marketing Manager was seeking an easy outing to appeal to her out-of-town guests that would be equally exciting to kids as to grandparents, she decided to take the family to North Austin’s Topgolf. Read all about it…

When we arrived at Topgolf, we were welcomed by friendly staff who were ready to tell us everything we needed to know to get started. We were ushered to the counter on the right where everyone begins by purchasing a lifetime membership for a one-time cost of $5 per person. Memberships are used to keep track of your score as you play, and having a membership also includes free golf club rentals if you don’t want to bring your own. Click here for the rundown of membership perks and to get yours online in advance.

Once we signed up for our memberships, we were given the full scoop on fees. Basically, you rent a bay — the area in which your group plays with lounge-like seating and restaurant service. Bays are rented by the hour and prices vary by day/time. Click here for the overview of pricing options.

Once we figured out the way things work, we went to the reservation desk where we could request our bay. You can choose a bay on three different levels.

A helpful staff member seated us, and showed us how the games work. Basically, Topgolf differs from a traditional driving range because you get balls that contain microchips that track accuracy. Instead of aiming for standard holes, the golfers aim for targets. The more accurate your shot and the farther the distance, the more points you earn. But Topgolf has a wide variety of games to choose from. Click here for the full overview of your game selection.

Topgolf also offers a really extensive drink and food menu. We kept seeing some really tempting dishes go to nearby bays, and so we decided we needed to try a snack to share. We settled on the injectable donut holes that came with tubes of sauces in chocolate, raspberry and cream that you can fill your own donut. Needless to say, this was a big hit with the kids. (Click here to view the menu.)

The kids and grandparents had a great time playing together. It was a really fun way to spend an an afternoon. My youngest compared the outing to going bowling, and I think that’s a pretty accurate. Everyone takes turns, you get to sit around and cheer each other on, spend time chatting, eating and hanging out.

After an hour of playing, we peeked around the space some more. There is also a rooftop patio as well as a huge bar (that would be perfect for date night or parents night out). And on the bottom floor, you’ll find a big lounge with pool tables, foosball, HDTVs and lots of video game consoles, too.

One thing to note before you go, Topgolf can get REALLY crowded! This first time we came, we had no wait time and no trouble getting in. However, we tried to return during another weekend afternoon, and the wait time was over an hour. Check out the details about making reservations before you go.

For more info about Topgolf, you can visit their website, read their FAQ for details and even check out birthday party options as well!

Have fun!