Topgolf Entertainment Group

Investors

Innovation has been at the heart of Topgolf Entertainment Group from the start. What began as a technology developed by the Joliffe brothers to enhance the game of golf led to the first three Topgolf venues in the United Kingdom in 2000.

Topgolf Entertainment Group then began its journey to become a technology-driven global sports and entertainment brand when Erik Anderson, Founder and CEO of investment company WestRiver Group, brought Topgolf to the U.S. in 2005. Shortly after, Topgolf was incorporated as Topgolf International, d.b.a Topgolf Entertainment Group where Anderson now serves as Executive Chairman.

As the company expanded, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) became an investor in 2006. In 2011, Thomas Dundon, Chairman and Managing Partner of Dundon Capital Partners, became a primary investor. Additionally, in 2016, Providence Equity Partners made a sizable minority investment in Topgolf. More recently, in 2017, Fidelity Research and Management became an investor in Topgolf.

In 2021, Topgolf Entertainment Group merged with the Callaway family of brands and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Callaway Golf. Erik Anderson now serves as Vice Chairman of the Callaway Board of Directors, and WestRiver Group, Providence Equity Partners and Dundon Capital remain significant shareholders in the combined company.

For more information, please visit Callaway Investor Relations.

  • 2000

    Where it started

    Topgolf Watford

    Topgolf originated from the timeless golf question, "Who hit it closer?" Originally called "Target Oriented Practice Golf," the founders of Topgolf used proprietary radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology and dartboard-style targets to answer this question, and the first Topgolf venue was created in Watford in the United Kingdom in 2000.

    Over the next 20 years, Topgolf would become a movement opening new venues, constantly innovating to improve the guest experience, and expanding experiential platforms to create a global community.

  • 2005

    Topgolf Comes to the USA

    Topgolf Alexandria

    WestRiver Group invests in Topgolf, WestRiver Group's Erik Anderson becomes Modern Founder

    The first U.S. venue opens in Alexandria, VA

  • 2006

    Callaway Golf Company invests in Topgolf

  • 2012

    The Evolution of the Venue

    Topgolf Katy

    Opened first 102-bay entertainment-focused venue in Katy, Texas

  • 2016

    First Flagship Venue + WGT and Toptracer Acquisitions

    Topgolf Las Vegas
    World Golf Tour
    Toptracer

    First flagship venue opened in Las Vegas

    Acquired World Golf Tour by Topgolf (WGT) online golf gaming app, officially entering esports industry

    Acquired the Protracer technology, which is now known as Toptracer

    Providence Equity Partners invests in Topgolf

  • 2017

    Launch of Swing Suite and Topgolf Studios

    Swing Suite

    Opened the very first Swing Suite in Four Seasons hotel in Houston, Texas

    Expanded Toptracer for live ball-tracing

    Topgolf debuted Topgolf Studios original content

    Fidelity Research & Management invests in Topgolf

  • 2018

    Topgolf Australia Opens

    Topgolf Gold Coast

    First non-UK international venue in Gold Coast, Australia by franchise Village Roadshow

    Topgolf opened its 50th venue in the world

    Toptracer Range is deployed at 1,500+ driving range bays in 20 countries

  • 2019
    Topgolf Breaks Guiness World Record

    Toptracer holds the first-ever globally connected 9-Shot Challenge tournament where 7,000 golfers played a total of 29,000 games during a live, four-day tournament across 19 countries and 11 time zones.

    Topgolf signs licensing agreements with Franchisees for Central Europe and Asia

    Topgolf partners with Will Smith's Westbrook Studios production company to produce "This Joka" original content series

    Topgolf reaches $1 million in funds raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation

    Topgolf breaks Guinness World Record for most golf balls hit simultaneously around the world

    As of December 29, 2019, Topgolf owned, operated or franchised 58 Topgolf venues consisting of 57 company-operated venues in the United States and the United Kingdom and one franchised venue in Australia.

  • 2020

    First Lounge by Topgolf + International Venue Openings

    Lounge by Topgolf

    Topgolf opens the first Lounge by Topgolf concept in Kirkland, Wash.

    Topgolf Monterrey opens, marking venue operations in four countries

    Topgolf celebrates 20th birthday milestone

    Topgolf and Callaway (NYSE: ELY) announce intent to combine

  • 2021

    Topgolf Dubai opens, expanding Topgolf's global venue footprint to five countries

  • 2021

    Topgolf officially joins the Callaway family of brands and becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Callaway Golf (NYSE: ELY)

    Topgolf and Callaway

Our Growth By the Numbers

  1. Visits
    2015
    9MM visitors annually
    2020
    ~23MM visitors annually
  2. U.S. Venues
    2005
    1
    2015
    24
    2020
    58 United States Venues
  3. International Venues
    2000
    3 in U.K.
    2020
    3 owned and operated in U.K.
    Franchised venues in Australia, Mexico and U.A.E.
    New franchise expansion plans in Central Europe and Asia
  4. Toptracer Bays
    2015
    0
    2020
    7,500+
  5. Swing Suite Bays
    2015
    0
    2020
    200+
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