The conventional path is seldom taken by the folks at South Suburban’s Family Sports Center.
After all, their golf shop doubles as a hockey pro shop, and the Colorado Avalanche practices at one of two ice rinks on the premises. On occasion, the Denver Broncos use Family Sports’ inflated bubble for workouts when their own is out of commission. And the complex in Centennial also includes a laser-tag arena, climbing wall and miniature golf.
In addition, Family Sports’ double-deck golf practice range is a rarity in Colorado, and for five months each year people can hit balls up until 11 p.m. In the cold-weather months, 30 of the range stalls are heated. And though a nine-hole executive course is a major part of the golf facility — it opened in 1998 — the range brings in just as much revenue.
So it should come as no surprise that at a time when major new construction projects are scarce due to the recession, the Family Sports Center (6901 S. Peoria St.) is undergoing an $800,000 upgrade of its golf driving range. An expansion of the range, along with installation of new FieldTurf and brightly-colored targets, may be completed as early as the week of April 27, though an exact opening date hasn’t been set.
“We’re already a really busy range, but I think this will make us a real hot spot,” said John Tolan, head golf professional at the Family Sports Center since 2000. “There will be some excitement for people who really enjoy driving ranges.”
The Family Sports Center’s range and short-game area have been closed since Jan. 8 while the renovations are taking place. Tolan said the project was funded about 18 months ago by the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, which has owned the facility since 2001, but work didn’t get started until this year because of the permitting process.
When the range re-opens, customers will have new hitting mats and practice balls, and will look out onto a sea of deep-green turf interspersed with targets colored Pittsburgh Steelers gold. Suffice it to say it will be a significant change visually from what was the norm at Family Sports, where the old Astroturf target area had faded after roughly 15 years of use and it wasn’t easy to track balls against the dull-green background.
In addition, the hitting area will expand from five to seven acres.
While the changes will be welcome, so will the return of the amenities that have long set the Family Sports Center apart.
The two-tier facility includes 60 hitting bays (the 30 on the bottom are heated, lighted and covered) and room for an additional 30 golfers on the adjacent grass range, which is lit. Customers can hit balls until 9 p.m. during the cold-weather months, and until 11 p.m. from May to September.
“We stay open when others close,” Tolan said. “Our claim to fame is being open year-around with heated bays. If a course on the south end of town is under snow, there’s no big motivation to open the driving range. It’s the opposite here. People will come over here (when their home course’s range is closed). It’s another opportunity to keep their game going.
“You’d be surprised how many people hit balls at 8 at night when it’s 10 degrees in December.”
Tolan’s son, Derek, who has qualified for 10 USGA tournaments including the 2002 U.S. Open as a 16-year-old, is among those who sometimes take advantage of the extended hours at the Family Sports range. And having the University of Colorado senior, one of the top amateurs in the region, associated with the facility “doesn’t hurt,” John admits.
Another plus is Family Sports’ short-game area, where there are two greens, bunkers and area enough to hit shots of up to 80 yards. “It’s one of the better short-game areas in town,” John Tolan said.
