New golf entertainment venue started as a ‘crazy idea’

Businessman Ryan Hintze said he was sitting in his kitchen a couple of years ago suffering from cabin fever and looking over information on a high-tech golf entertainment facility. Then it hit him: “Why couldn’t we have one here?” With that simple question, plans for a massive, high-tech golf entertainment facility for the Quad Cities […]

Businessman Ryan Hintze said he was sitting in his kitchen a couple of years ago suffering from cabin fever and looking over information on a high-tech golf entertainment facility. Then it hit him: “Why couldn’t we have one here?” With that simple question, plans for a massive, high-tech golf entertainment facility for the Quad Cities took root. 

If all goes according to plan, that new golf facility will be a major part of a sports/commercial development expansion to be constructed near the TBK Bank Sports Complex at 4850 Competition Drive in Bettendorf. That new development project, expected to cost at least $75 million, was formally introduced to the public during a Feb. 16 news conference at the sports complex. The expansion will include new ballfields, a hotel, stores and a first-of-its-kind-in-Iowa golf entertainment facility. Developer Kevin Koellner told the crowd gathered for the announcement that the golf facility plan all started with a “crazy idea” from Mr. Hintze. “Ryan called me one night and said ‘I have a crazy idea about looking into doing a top golf facility’ …  And I said ‘Yes, that’s pretty crazy,’” Mr. Koellner recalled. But the plan eventually started to take shape. A new entity called Middle & Forest Grove LLC was created by Quad Cities investors Doug Kratz, Ben Logsdon, Mr. Hintze and Mr. Koellner to transform the golf facility from “crazy idea” to reality. “Our group is beyond excited to bring this type of golf entertainment venue to the Quad Cities,” Mr. Hintze, CEO of Middle & Forest Grove LLC, said in a statement. “We want to continue to grow our community, stimulate our local economy and support our neighborhood restaurants/retailers. This entertainment venue is something we have been working toward for quite some time now, and we are delighted we finally get to share it with the public. This venue will be a place with activities the entire family can enjoy.” The golf facility, which could be up and running by the summer of 2023, will be managed by the golf management company Troon, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. It will offer year-round programming with events for kids and families, social leagues, golf tournaments, corporate events and more.  A new website — www.golfmfgi80.com – has been created to give construction and development updates on the golf facility. The facility has yet to be named. The new 70,000-square-foot golfing facility will include many “cool features,” said Mr. Hintze. Some features in the works or being considered include: 

• The three-level golf entertainment facility will have 60-plus climate-controlled outdoor hitting bays.
• The facility will feature TopTracer Range technology.
• State-of-the-art video gaming space.
• Numerous high-definition TVs located through the facility, with one over-sized 4K LED TV in the main bar area, which is expected to be the largest indoor TV in the state.
• There will also be an event space, rooftop patio and a common plaza area outside the venue.
• Escape rooms, multi-sports simulators and high-tech games.

In unveiling the new facilities, Mr. Koellner said the plans for the new golf facility and other sports projects have taken much work and help from Bettendorf city officials. He praised many city staff members for assisting with the planning, even during those times when he was “scared as hell” the projects would not work out. “In the last few years, a lot of people have said ‘Oh, what a vision you had.’ Well, I was scared as hell at times. We started with a cornfield and we built this and it worked out. …,” he said of the TBK Bank Sports Complex. “We are going to take another cornfield and make it something great.”