Long Island Neighbors Surprised By Golf Driving Range's Late-Night Party Side
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - There are concerns in a Long Island neighborhood that their peace and quiet will soon be shattered by the sounds of club music and golf balls.
Topgolf, a growing chain of driving ranges with nightlife, wants to open a new location in Holtsville, reports CBSN New York's Carolyn Gusoff.
The company that's turned the driving range concept into an entertainment venue wants to open Long Island's first Topgolf facility here on the lie service road.
The problem is, on the other side of this road, is a residential neighborhood.
Neighbors tell CBS2 they thought a driving range would be no problem until they found out this hotspot was not your father's driving range.
It's a three-story, entertainment facility with a major restaurant, a rooftop terrace, event space and indoor-outdoor music until 2 a.m.
The Dallas-based company picked a wooded lot off the LIE for its first Long Island location, a $25 million project that will bring jobs and, fans say, a whole lot of fun. It currently has two locations in New Jersey.
The Brookhaven town supervisor was not in favor of this location but it passed the town board and now is before the town planning board which will rule on-site plan approvals on Sept 16.
The neon-faced party venue would be little more than a golf swing away from homes.
"I don't see why they have to come to our backyard," said Holtsville resident Emilce Moyano.
"They said live bands, a DJ, it's a rooftop facility with food and drinking," said Dotty Mauri, also of Holtsville.
The wooded buffer behind Angela Hart's house would be cleared to make an entrance road to Topgolf.
"I think the property values will drop," she said. "Who is going to want to buy here, you have the music and the lights and partying 'til 2 o'clock in the morning?"
The company told residents they'll work to resolve their concerns. Music and lighting will comply with town laws.
For some, that was not good enough.
"What do you say to people when you say, 'Ehhh, would you like it in your backyard?'" said Hart.
Topgolf issued a statement Thursday about the neighbors' concerns:
"Topgolf looks forward to making a significant investment within the Farmingville community, generating 200+ construction jobs as well as permanent jobs upon opening, to provide a nice entertainment amenity to serve all of the area residents. The proposed Topgolf site is a commercially zoned parcel of land that sits along the LIE and as such, lends itself well to a Topgolf. As we have worked to obtain our governmental approvals through numerous public meetings throughout the last few years, Topgolf has made extensive efforts to tailor our site plan, taking the community's input and feedback into consideration, including elements such as leaving a mature tree buffer and substantial setbacks from the neighboring properties. We will continue to be a strong community partner, participating in charitable opportunities throughout the city in the coming months."
