Golfers may soon have a new place to hit the greens in Naperville. Well, virtually.
Clubhouse540, a new indoor golf business to be located at 1466 Chicago Ave., is one step closer to opening after passing through the Naperville Liquor Commission with ease last week.
The business requested an increase in the number of Class M recreational liquor licenses so it can offer alcohol to patrons during virtual play. Commissioners unanimously endorsed the request. The matter is headed to the Naperville City Council for consideration at its meeting Tuesday night.
Clubhouse540 is planning to take over a nearly 3,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by a similar golf simulator business, Score 18 Indoor Golf.
The new venture would offer a five-bay golf simulator equipped with Full Swing technology, which is the official licensed simulator of the PGA Tour, according to general manager Tom Schaefer
More than just overseeing the business’ day-to-day operations, Schaefer is behind the concept. His partner is a longtime friend who, like him, has a passion for golf, Schaefer said. With Clubhouse540, they get to marry that with business, he said.
Schaefer, a longtime Chicago resident, moved with his family to Naperville about 10 years ago. He and his wife have one son, a junior at Naperville Central High School, and triplet daughters, who are eighth-graders at Kennedy Junior High School.
Schaefer spent most of his career in operations management but said he’s been intrigued by the golf simulator business for years and started pursuing the idea in earnest about 10 months ago, he said.
“I was always interested (in golf). … I was never formally trained in the game, but I just had a love for it,” he said.
Schaefer has played regularly since his early 20s, he said.
In envisioning their business, Schaefer and his partner wanted to “make our own cool little family place where everybody could hang out, have a good time and relax,” he said. They looked at franchises but ultimately decided they wanted to chart their own course rather than following someone else’s formula, Schaefer said.
Simulator technology will provide video and analytic feedback, per Clubhouse540’s website. Certified “pros” will be on hand for all ages and skill levels, the website said.
The technology, however, lends itself to more than just golf, Schaefer said. It also includes a gaming module that will allow users to shoot baskets, kick soccer balls, play hockey or even throw dodge balls at zombies, he said.
The business plans to offer snacks, soft drinks and — with the council’s OK — beer and wine.
According to municipal code, the number of Class M licenses, which allow recreational facilities such as golf courses, bowling alleys, indoor sports facilities and art studios to serve alcoholic beverages, is capped at 12. City code states that at least 60% of a Class M license holder’s annual revenue must be from sources other than the sale of alcoholic drinks.
The city is currently at its limit for Class M licensees, which include Bowlero, Pinot’s Palette, Springbook Golf Course and Sure Shot Pickleball, among others. In recent months the council increased the Class M cap from 11 to 12 to allow Hawaii Fluid Art, a franchise studio chain offering lessons in acrylic paint pouring, to serve alcohol during classes.
To pair with their drinks, food can be delivered from neighboring restaurants for Clubhouse540 patrons, Schaefer said.
The business’ proposed hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. It should be open by July 1, Schaefer said.
After Naperville, he and his partner plan to open a second location in Greenville, South Carolina, and then more where they see demographic need, he said. Names will correspond with their locations.
Clubhouse540, for instance, is named after the Zip code of its address, 60540.
For now, Schaefer says they’re seeing “a lot of positive energy” for their Naperville debut.
“We’re just excited to be bringing this to Naperville,” he said, “and we really hope that Naperville is excited about what we deliver.”
