Indoor golf venue Pitch has released details of expansion plans that will see four new venues opening across the UK and Ireland over the next 12 months.
The new venues will elevate Pitch’s standing as the UK’s most premium and popular indoor golf club – making the game more accessible and diverse than ever before – with a third opening in London at Canary Wharf, alongside three joint venture openings in Manchester, Birmingham and Dublin.
Further domestic expansions are set to be announced in 2025 at sites in Brighton, with another in London. Internationally, there are even plans to develop as far as Melbourne, Australia, as the post-covid golf boom continues with a younger demographic taking up the game.
No matter whether you are a complete novice looking to build confidence to take out on a regular course, or an experienced player wanting to utilise the skills of the club’s onsite PGA Professionals, Pitch has quickly grown a reputation as the ultimate indoor venue for all golfers. It delivers a stylish layout with a relaxing vibe as a chic members’ club that also welcomes corporate bookings and regular visitors.
With golf participation at an all-time high, recent studies point to larger increases in ‘off-course’ engagement as indoor golf clubs and high-tech driving ranges continue to attract city dwellers to the game, with the quick nature of indoor golf making it much easier for people to fit it into their social schedules.
Pitch venues have proven the perfect space for those wanting to enjoy the game away from the confines and regulations of a traditional golf club, delivering a premium offering in a non-traditional setting that can cater for large corporate events. Numerous multi-player options mean everyone can get involved and enjoy various game formats – all while feeling part of the club atmosphere as they take on the virtual challenge of some of the world’s greatest golf courses, such as Pebble Beach in California and the sacred land of St Andrews’ Old Course.
In efforts to help grow the game, an academy for beginner women golfers – run in partnership with Adidas – has also been a notable success for Pitch. Now in its second year, it attracted over 1,000 applicants for just 100 free coaching courses. Plans are in place to extend this initiative to the new venues.
With two venues already open in London – Pitch City close to Liverpool Street on Bishopsgate, and Pitch Soho nestled in the heart of the West End – excitement is building with the club set to open a third in Canary Wharf this September.
The new venue in London’s central business district will showcase the very best that Pitch has to offer, with premium bays stacked with the latest cutting-edge Trackman technology to optimise the playing experience. A licensed bar and plenty of mouth-watering dishes will allow players to drink, dine and play at the same time, with on-site DJs and music complementing a relaxed atmosphere in elegant social spaces. As with all Pitch venues, there will be a highly premium area reserved for members.
One of the most exciting new launches for Pitch at Canary Wharf is the ‘TRENDYGOLF Concept Store’ – which will open six days a week – stocking popular brands such as J Lindeberg, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, G/FORE and others.
Also in September, Pitch will launch an exciting new project in Dublin as it tees off with its first international venue. Situated in the heart of the city on the vibrant and bustling Grafton Street, Pitch Dublin will have 10 Trackman bays and a licensed bar serving Japanese fusion dishes. PGA-level coaching will also be available, as well as custom club-fitting. It is everything you would expect from your regular, traditional golf club, but with a modern twist that caters for a new breed of player.
Preparations are now in full swing for a November opening in Manchester at a spectacular site in the Spinningfields district within the city centre, bringing the Pitch brand to the north of England for the first time in a popular spot for shoppers and tourists that attracts over 5.5million visitors a year.
And completing the ‘quadruple’ will be a Midlands venue in the second city of Birmingham. The site – which is set for an early 2025 opening – will be centrally located at Snow Hill station, positioned to take advantage of the under-construction HS2 high-speed railway that will run from London to Birmingham. With a current lack of such high-end offerings in the city, the venue is sure to prove a popular spot for those looking to enjoy the very best of a premium indoor golf facility.
“This has been a major year for the development and story of Pitch,” said Pitch co-founder and CEO Elliot Godfrey. “Indoor golf has evolved hugely from its earliest days and we feel, at Pitch, that we offer so much more than just bays where people can hit golf balls. It is a place for social gatherings, and it is a way of playing and engaging with the game that is open to everyone.”
Co-founder Chris Ingham added: “Our vision is to put the club experience first to attract an audience beyond existing golfers, and these new venues will enhance what we have to offer and broaden the appeal of Pitch.
“Our openings at Canary Wharf and Pitch Dublin are particularly exciting as we edge nearer to September, with construction well underway on these landmark developments. We can’t wait to open our first international venue in Dublin, which we believe will just be the start of our global expansion.”
Pitch offers both membership and casual bookings with attached PGA Professionals to assist with coaching. Its venues also offer resident DJs, lounges, contemporary food and beverage options, social spaces and a golf fashion concept store in addition to the virtual golfing bays.
For more information, visit Pitch’s website here. To enquire about joint venture opportunities, contact chrisingham@pitchldn.co.uk