Erie takes swing into future of golf with virtual simulator downtown. When will it open?

Nicholas Sorensen, Erie Times-News
Updated ·5 min read

There's going to be a new way to get your golf game in year-round soon in downtown Erie.

Five Iron Golf at 1000 State St. is under construction and will soon be taking a swing into the Erie sports and entertainment sphere with multiple golf simulators.

Drew Whiting is the CEO of the Erie Downtown Development Corp., yet this project is his own investment. He is working with Chase Rogan, the operating partner and general manager of Five Iron Golf Erie, along with kitchen manager J.B. Innes, to bring the simulator facility to Erie with a hopeful opening by the second week of April.

"Erie is a golf town that appreciates the cause to gather and enjoy some good food and drink," Whiting said. "It felt foolish not to make this bet. We’ve managed to convince Five Iron Golf corporate, an entity that had only opened in major city centers until now, to award their first franchise to Erie. They won’t regret it. "

How did Five Iron become a possibility in Erie?

"We were planning on opening a golf simulator venue here in Erie and Five Iron Golf opened their franchising program as we started to launch our project," Rogan said. "So we connected with them, applied to become a franchisee, met with them, felt like our visions aligned and synced up, and here we are."

According to Five Iron's director of marketing, Danielle Kindelmann, Five Iron currently has four franchises internationally, including in Singapore, India and two in Australia. The Erie location is the first one to come to the United States, soon to be followed by Louisville.

Five Iron Golf managing co-owner Chase Rogan, 39, is shown inside the Erie location, under construction, on Feb. 8, 2024.
Five Iron Golf managing co-owner Chase Rogan, 39, is shown inside the Erie location, under construction, on Feb. 8, 2024.

The building on State Street will include six simulators. These simulators will be split onto two floors with the first floor including four golf simulators and the second floor including a golf simulator along with a multi-sport simulator.

Among the games on the multi-sport simulator are the following:

  • Soccer

  • Football

  • Dodgeball

  • Hockey

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The building will also include non-simulator games, including:

  • Putting green

  • Darts

  • Shuffleboard

  • Air hockey

  • Ring toss

How do the golf simulators work?

"There are six golf simulators with Trackman technology that you can pound balls all day, work on your game, send yourself data and video analysis of your golf swing," Rogan noted. "You can play entry-level type arcade games that are for anybody that has not even picked up a golf club before."

Five Iron Golf managing co-owner Chase Rogan, 39, is shown on the second floor, overlooking the intersection of 10th and State streets, inside the Erie location under construction on Feb. 8, 2024.
Five Iron Golf managing co-owner Chase Rogan, 39, is shown on the second floor, overlooking the intersection of 10th and State streets, inside the Erie location under construction on Feb. 8, 2024.

As Rogan stated, the golf simulators have a piece of hardware known as a Trackman device, which stands about 8 feet behind the ball.

After users hit the ball, the Trackman will use a combination of radar and camera technology to gather the data from the ball and send it to the computer. The computer will then conduct calculations and create the simulation.

How does the multi-sport simulator work?

The multi-sport simulators will also use Trackman technology with the same processing as the golf simulators.

"The non-golf games are more like a game of darts," Rogan said. "So in the non-golf games, say there's a big field of different targets that you're trying to hit and they're at varying distances, so 5 yards, 10 yards, 20 yards, 100 yards and you get points for hitting any of those different targets. "

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Construction update at Five Iron Golf Erie

Frontier General Contracting is handling renovations.

"In all, it’s about a $5 million project, which corrects about 60 years of deferred maintenance to major building mechanicals," Whiting said. "We are replacing HVAC, plumbing, electrical and elevator, and adding a fire suppression system to accommodate an entertainment venue."

The main entrance to Five Iron Golf, at 1000 State St., will be at lower left where a wood panel is currently placed while the building is under construction. The building in Erie is shown on Feb. 8.
The main entrance to Five Iron Golf, at 1000 State St., will be at lower left where a wood panel is currently placed while the building is under construction. The building in Erie is shown on Feb. 8.

The building was still in the early construction during a tour in early February.

Five Iron Golf shares the building with Cafe 7-10, which faces West 10th Street.

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"The renovation will set up this building (with) Five Iron Golf and Mabel Howard’s Cafe 7-10 for decades of stability in one of the most important corners in Erie’s Entertainment District," Whiting said.

Take a tour around Five Iron

Visitors will first walk into the main entrance off of State Street. Newcomers will have the opportunity to take a tour of the facility.

Visitors entering the building will find a 26-seat bar filled with a video wall constructed of multiple televisions. This is where guests can enjoy sporting events and host watch parties to enjoy golf tournaments and other major sporting events.

Four simulators are located near the bar on the first floor.

Members have access to the basement or members lounge, a private area that includes storage.

More on the membership at Five Iron Golf Erie

Members can play up to 90 minutes per day on the simulator between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Members receive 20% off all of Five Iron's goods and services including retail products, lessons, simulator time, drinks and food.

Five Iron Golf Erie is currently working on their membership rates. They are planning to limit the memberships to about 100 people.

Membership information can be found on the franchise website.

Fire retardant is sprayed near four golf simulators, from near left to back center, at a new Five Iron Golf location under construction in Erie on Feb. 8, 2024.
Fire retardant is sprayed near four golf simulators, from near left to back center, at a new Five Iron Golf location under construction in Erie on Feb. 8, 2024.

Take a seat at the sports bar

Part of the venue includes a barn-style kitchen with the video wall, as well as a full-service bar and kitchen.

Innes said the menu will consist of "Erie-centered" foods. Erie residents can expect local bar food favorites, including pepperoni balls.

The menu, according to Ennes, includes an array of sliders, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and more.

Five Iron Golf Erie plans a bar menu that will include cocktails and local beers.

Five Iron Golf Kitchen Manager J.B. Ennes, far right, is shown near a 26-seat bar under construction on the ground floor inside the 1000 State St. location in Erie on Feb. 8, 2024.
Five Iron Golf Kitchen Manager J.B. Ennes, far right, is shown near a 26-seat bar under construction on the ground floor inside the 1000 State St. location in Erie on Feb. 8, 2024.

Rogan said visitors can look forward to "good vibes and a good time with welcoming, high energy and inviting atmosphere. Play the way you want."

Whiting said he feels good about the investment.

"I truly believe in Erie’s future, and this project was me pushing my chips to the center of the table with a good feeling about my hand," he said.

Rogan said he to hopes to have renovations complete in time for the Master's Tournament on April 12.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Five Iron Golf coming to 10th and State streets in Erie PA this spring