The Cave Creek Town Council unanimously approved the Tee Box Indoor Golf Club site plan for recreation and entertainment at its March 21 regular meeting.
The facility is set for south of Blue Ridge Drive and east of Cave Creek Road.
The proposal was submitted by Rick Pennell from Deutsch Architecture Group on behalf of Jim Bucklin. Bucklin worked with town staff during the process to ensure the plan meets the necessary requirements. The site plan is in full compliance with the town’s zoning ordinance and no exceptions were requested. The Cave Creek Planning Commission discussed and then recommended the proposal for approval in a 5 to 1 vote at a Feb. 17 meeting.
“I think this application has undergone intense scrutiny by both the planning commission and this council,” said Councilwoman Kathryn Royer. “I wish the applicant the best of luck and the most successful business that this town has seen in a long time. They have done their due diligence in this economy.”
At the planning commission hearing, Bucklin offered the proposal of an indoor golf club.
“Indoor golf is dependent on a technology that basically allows you to hit a golf ball into an impact screen with a launch monitor placed behind you to measure the travel distance of the ball and depict it onto the screen, as if you were in a golfing environment,” Bucklin said.
“The technology is advanced to the point where you can have a realistic indoor golf experience to have game improvement capabilities, so you’re getting better at playing basically practice mode. Or, you can actually play simulated golf courses from around the world.”
Bucklin said an indoor golf facility would allow fans to enjoy the sport during Arizona’s hot summers, as well as the winter when there is decreased daylight and increased costs.
The building would have 12 hitting bays, each with partition walls that can make it more private and immersive experience. It will also include a lobby, kitchen, bar and patio. Bucklin emphasized that the business is not a bar; the food and beverages are supplemental.
The one-story building would be a little over 10,150 square feet, and comply with height, color scheme, landscaping and other requirements.
The applicant proposed the modification of an alley to create a second access point and discussions with the town engineer began.
The surrounding land is zoned as commercial on three sides of the site, with the east side being a residential zone. Because of this, the applicant is required to install a 6-foot-high solid fence between the alley way and adjacent residential properties.
At the planning commission hearing, noise was cited as a concern. The applicants said they are taking measures to ensure it isn’t a problem.
“I don’t see any situation where you’re hearing anything outside the building,” Bucklin said. “We’re significantly doing things to minimize it, even inside, because otherwise it would not be a very good user experience.”
Councilman Ron Sova questioned if 34 parking spaces are sufficient if the facility is successful. The proposal assumes several guests will carpool, but Sova said this seems unlikely. He added that with 12 bays and four people at each bay, that’s 48 people, and even if a few of them drive together, there will also be staff who need to park.
However, Planning Director Luke Kautzman said that while this was a valid concern, based on the zoning ordinance, the proposal meets the criteria for the minimum number of parking spaces required.
Financially, the indoor golf club would generate additional sales tax revenue and an additional sewer customer.
Planning commission and town council members were impressed by the Tee Box’s technology. Mayor Ernie Bunch said he thought it would be a great addition to Cave Creek and a place he would frequent.
“I just want to say best of luck to you. All the time, people are coming up to me and saying we need more things for families and kids to do in town, and I see this as an opportunity for kids to take up the sport of golf,” Bunch said. “And there are four people in this room right now who were on the tee box at 500 Club this morning, and we wish that we’d been playing inside because it was cold and windy.”