Have you ever wanted to play one of the golf courses at Pebble Beach but don’t have the $675 to do so? Or maybe you don’t have the time to drive three-plus hours, play for five to six hours and turn around and drive home for another three-plus hours?
For Tulare County residents, that problem may have been solved by Shane Moss and Scott Wright, co-owners of Mulligans, an indoor golf simulation facility located in downtown Visalia.
“This is indoor simulated golf,” Moss said. “It is a tee to green simulation but with a real ball and clubs. You can play over 90 courses - some world famous and some not - you have various driving ranges, games for kids and games for people who have never played golf.”
Local golf enthusiasts will no longer be denied by either finances or time to play some of their favorite golf courses from all over the world.
Mulligans has been a work in progress for Moss and Wright.
Moss said the idea of bringing an indoor golf simulation to Visalia has been brewing in his head for over four years. He was introduced to Wright through mutual friends, and a partnership and brand new business to downtown Visalia was born.
“Scott was looking at doing something similar and slightly larger, but I came along with a business plan. He had the desire and ability so we partnered up and here we are,” Moss said.
What has come out of the partnership is an 8,500 square foot facility with seven indoor simulation golf bays, a full bar and a full-service kitchen. The business had what Moss called a "silent opening" recently.
The official grand opening and ribbon cutting will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 8.
“Come out and enjoy the space,” Moss said. “We want you to feel like you stepped into someplace special … Get out of the sun, get out of the elements, bring your buddies, your friends, your girls, or your families and come out and play, grab a drink, eat, laugh and have a great time.”
The venue features seven golf simulation screens. Five of the screens are widescreen simulations and can be booked for $50 an hour during non-peak hours. An executive suite with a curved screen can be booked for $65 an hour and a larger VIP suite can be booked for $75 an hour. During peak hours, those prices go up to $75, $95 and $105, respectively. Reservations for the screens can only be made online at playatmulligans.com
Visalia resident Andrew Lopez, 40, said he has been waiting anxiously for Mulligans to open. He started playing golf in college and over time has seen some similar venues to Mulligans.
“This place is amazing,” said Lopez who was wrapping up a round with his 3-year-old son Tyler. “I’ve been to a lot of places like this when I travel and this one is different. The aesthetic and what it has to offer is one of a kind.”
Lopez said he picked up golf in college and has played a lot over the years. He believes a place like Mulligans is perfect for people who are intimidated by a large golf course to pick up the game. He also believes it's a perfect way for his son to enjoy the game.
“We brought his clubs in today and he was hitting the ball into the screen,” Lopez said. “It is something he can enjoy. He doesn’t have to chase a ball around in this heat. I can bring him in here and have some food and have some fun together.”
Moss explains that the concept of Mulligans is a cross between the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open and The Masters, one of golf’s four prestigious major tournaments, making it a place for everyone.
“You have your two polar opposites on the tour,” Moss said. “The Waste Management Open in Phoenix is considered the party stop on the tour. That’s where they have the party deck, people drinking and stumbling over themselves. It’s excessive, but for a lot of the players on the tour, it’s fun. Then you have Augusta National in Georgia. There’s no running, no yelling and they’ll kick you out. They’re particular about what you can do.”
Moss added that golf is a very traditional game and that he believes Mulligans will do a good job of combining the tradition of the game with fun. The venue is open to everyone. People can make reservations for the golf simulators, or they can just walk in and enjoy the bar and full-service kitchen.
Mulligans is located at the former home of the Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company.
It has undergone quite the transformation over the past 18 months since Moss and Wright started construction. Moss said Wright’s construction company Supreme Construction did all of the remodeling, and recently Derrick Brinkman, owner of DLB Design, stepped in to finish the interior design of the building. What was created was a space to add to downtown Visalia’s continued growth and expansion that everyone can enjoy.
“For us, Mulligans is about accessibility,” Moss said. “It’s about community. We’re zeroed in on connecting with the community. It’s larger than the game of golf. It’s about how we connect with people and also how we grow the game of golf.”
As for the name Mulligans? On the surface, it may have a simple meaning, but it goes much deeper for Moss.
“To me, it has two meanings,” Moss said. “First of all, it means do-over. In golf, if you shank it or whatever, you can do the shot over. Personally, Mulligans has a whole vibe on life. Sometimes you need a do-over in life. For me, the idea of a do-over comes with my faith and that’s what Mulligans represents for me.”
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