My brother Donny, showing us how it’s done. Credit: Resie Waechter

I guess I’m late to the game, because up until recently I had never been to Topgolf. I'm not exactly a golfer myself — the one time I tried it, I slowed the game down so much we spent more time letting the people behind us play ahead than we did actually playing the game ourselves. Nonetheless, I am reminded Topgolf has a bar to "help improve your game" and am somewhat reassured by the hundreds of raving reviews online.

Topgolf is not your grandma’s golf course: With over 50 locations nationwide and even a few in the UK (the idea was born in London), the bougie driving-range-slash-bar-and-restaurant-fusion appeals to golfers looking to get some fun practice shots in, as well as those of us who’d rather just sit back, sip on a cold one and soak in the surroundings.

Not one to turn down family time, I agree to spend an afternoon at Topgolf the second my brother Donny sends out a group invite. Donny is visiting from California, and after only seeing him once in the last year and a half I jump at the chance to hang out — even if it does involve golf.

My wife Steph joins me as we make the drive over. Despite taking nearly an hour to get there, we arrive in good spirits. I am taken aback by how huge the space is: More than 65,000 square feet of glass-covered building, three levels of hitting bays and an expansive green sprawl the property. Our day passes cost only $5 each, but the bay rental is a bit pricier: The morning rate is $25 per hour, midday is $35 hourly and 5 p.m.- close costs a whopping $45 per hour. With a closing time of 2 a.m. on weekends (midnight during the week), this certainly seems to be the place to party.

Three levels of golfing bays remain lit up as late as 2AM on weekends. Credit: Jax 0677 via Wikimedia Commons/ CC

Steph and I are there a few minutes early, giving us enough time to get a few practice shots in and order a bucket of beer for the table. Donny and his girlfriend join us and after a round or two, it’s clear who the real golfers are. My wife and brother are both superior in their skills; I, on the other hand, can barely make contact with the ball. Does nobody else think it’s hard to hit the ball when you’re not even looking at the golf club? I play off my first few missed shots and pretend I was practicing, just like the pros I’ve seen on TV do.

Nobody falls for it, though. We all know I suck.

Microchips in the golf balls sync with the computers to keep track of your score. Credit: Resie Waechter

Despite my lack of ability at the driving range, being with my family makes the afternoon awesome. Topgolf does an excellent job of making even a novice like me feel comfortable. The food is full of variety and the drinks are flowing. The bays are shaded and comfortably furnished; I almost feel like I am at the golf version of an outdoor bowling alley. Though I fall dead last in our game, my spirits are high and I have a ton of fun. I will definitely be back, whether for a relaxing afternoon of fun or a late night out when things pick up and get even more wild here.

This article appears in Mar 22-29, 2018.