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Penfield, N.Y. —
What do you get when you mix golf with food? The answer is Golf Play Cafe, a new place in Perinton Square Mall where customers can eat, drink, and practice their swing at the same time — a form of recreation that co-owner Marc Hobler refers to as “eatertainment.
” Whether it’s spending time with family or working at the office, golf often takes a back seat to other priorities. As a result, it can be difficult for the most experienced of golfers to hit the green. “
A big part of the market is golfer who have so little time to get out on the golf course,” said Hobler, of Penfield.
“What we offer is a short format version of play for golfers at all skill levels.” The afe opened its doors for the first time on Jan. 30 and will host an official grand opening on March 3. Complete with a full bar and restaurant that serves three meals a day, it is located at the former Blockbuster.
The restaurant has four designated areas where guests can take part in a video-generated golf game. There is also a separate dining area where guests can watch other golfers play from the other room via flatscreen TV.
This is the first cafe of its kind, and Hobler partnered with friends Dave Gordon, of Boston, and Vic Ganoe, of Webster, to turn their idea into a reality. The Perinton location is a prototype for what they hope to turn into an international franchise. By the end of this year, the owners hope to open locations in Greece and near BayTowne Plaza in Penfield.
Before they went into business together, Hobler worked for Intel, and Gordon worked with software startups. As the former northeastern director of operations for Bonefish Grill, Ganoe brings a wealth of experience in the food and drink industry to light with a creative menu that has family-friendly dishes ranging from hot peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to filet mignon.
“The menu I’ve created is very chef-driven,” said Ganoe. “It has something for everybody.”
Indeed, the customer experience at the cafe is unlike any other. To help draw curious golfers, it’s offering free play to all customers until the end of February. The game itself is somewhat different from regular golf — players hit nine holes instead of 18.
Hobler says offering free play will help guests experience the digital game at their own pace whether they’re seasoned pros or brand new to the game.
“We really want to make the game more accessible than it was before,” he said.
What do you get when you mix golf with food? The answer is Golf Play Cafe, a new place in Perinton Square Mall where customers can eat, drink, and practice their swing at the same time — a form of recreation that co-owner Marc Hobler refers to as “eatertainment.
”
Whether it’s spending time with family or working at the office, golf often takes a back seat to other priorities. As a result, it can be difficult for the most experienced of golfers to hit the green.
“
A big part of the market is golfer who have so little time to get out on the golf course,” said Hobler, of Penfield.
“What we offer is a short format version of play for golfers at all skill levels.”
The afe opened its doors for the first time on Jan. 30 and will host an official grand opening on March 3. Complete with a full bar and restaurant that serves three meals a day, it is located at the former Blockbuster.
The restaurant has four designated areas where guests can take part in a video-generated golf game. There is also a separate dining area where guests can watch other golfers play from the other room via flatscreen TV.
This is the first cafe of its kind, and Hobler partnered with friends Dave Gordon, of Boston, and Vic Ganoe, of Webster, to turn their idea into a reality. The Perinton location is a prototype for what they hope to turn into an international franchise.
By the end of this year, the owners hope to open locations in Greece and near BayTowne Plaza in Penfield.
Before they went into business together, Hobler worked for Intel, and Gordon worked with software startups. As the former northeastern director of operations for Bonefish Grill, Ganoe brings a wealth of experience in the food and drink industry to light with a creative menu that has family-friendly dishes ranging from hot peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to filet mignon.
“The menu I’ve created is very chef-driven,” said Ganoe. “It has something for everybody.”
Indeed, the customer experience at the cafe is unlike any other. To help draw curious golfers, it’s offering free play to all customers until the end of February. The game itself is somewhat different from regular golf — players hit nine holes instead of 18.
Hobler says offering free play will help guests experience the digital game at their own pace whether they’re seasoned pros or brand new to the game.
“We really want to make the game more accessible than it was before,” he said.
