PopStroke, a golf entertainment concept backed by Tiger Woods, is coming to Wesley Chapel
A rendering of PopStroke, which offers a full dining menu and craft beer, wine, signature cocktails and ice cream. There are also outdoor games and a playground area.

By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: May 7, 2021

A golf entertainment concept with plans to expand throughout the Sunbelt has named two future locations in Tampa Bay.

Pop Stroke Entertainment, owned by golf legend Tiger Woods and Greg Bartoli, says it has plans to open in Cypress Creek Town Center in Wesley Chapel and Sarasota's University Town Center. Sierra Properties owns Cypress Creek; Benderson Development is the owner of UTC.

The sites are among new locations announced in Orlando, South Florida, Arizona and Texas. Each property will feature an 18-hole putting course designed by Woods' TGR Design. The courses feature synthetic turfs, incorporating fairways, bunkers and rough like traditional golf courses.

Port Saint Lucie-based Pop Stroke is a competitor to Topgolf, which has one location in Brandon and another in the works in St. Petersburg. Like Topgolf, Pop Stroke also offers a full dining menu and craft beer, wine, signature cocktails and ice cream. There are also outdoor games and a playground area.

"These are dynamic, high-growth markets supported by excellent ownership groups," Bartoli said in a statement. "We are very excited to expand our unique golf entertainment experience across the United States, particularly in markets supported by surging population growth and great climates."

like PopStroke — entertainment-based businesses that sell an experience that can't be replicated online — are critical to the survival of retail properties. While retail real estate in Florida hasn't been as severely affected by Covid-19 as properties in other states, retailers still face unrelenting competition from e-commerce.

"Putting is a universal part of golf that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels," Woods said in a statement. "It has been rewarding to see the broad and diverse group of guests enjoying their experience at PopStroke, and I look forward to seeing players make those long putts in locations throughout the South and Southwest. Each new location will have a different course design and layout giving players unique putting challenges as they travel across the country."