Topgolf launch Come Play Around campaign during golf's "BIGGEST CHANGE EVER"

"The game of golf is in the midst of its biggest change ever" were the passionate words of Topgolf's Chief Brand Officer Geoff Cottrill as the popular company's new 'Come Play Around' campaign takes off.

Speaking exclusively to GolfMagic, Cottrill discussed Topgolf's new initiative which aims to promote inclusivity by producing a number of different videos with the sport's most popular influencers.

Topgolf boasts over 70 venues in five different countries and in 2020, one billion balls were hit at Topgolf venues. The fun, interactive experience has caught the imagination of golfers who are just beginning their careers or established players who want something different.

The brand brought on board notable sports personalities such as Erin Andrews, Charissa Thompson and Kelly Stafford as well as social media influencers Snappy Gilmore and Coach Rusty to promote the campaign.

Described as Topgolf's "largest-ever global integrated brand campaign," Cottrill believes Topgolf has played a crucial part in the changing attitudes towards a sport that is steeped in tradition and could be seen to be stuck in tradition too.

"I think it's great. We've set out to bring this idea of play to the world. We live in a world that sometimes has been busy and stressful and the older you get, the more the world seems to conspire against you, in terms of telling you how to act," Cottrill said.

"Golf can be intimidating, golf historically has been an exclusive sport (and) not everyone's been welcome. I think the invitation was there, but I think the access points have been blocked sometimes.

"Our whole idea is to bring more play to the world, but to also open doors and invite people into the game of golf. And an idea of someone's first experience with golf at a Topgolf (venue) with music and laughter - just having fun.

"We want to offer that to people and I believe the game of golf is in the midst of its biggest change ever. You're starting to see a lot more people and a lot more diversity coming into the game.

"There's this sense of inclusion coming into the game, the game is changing and you're seeing a lot of new brands emerging, coming up and changing the aesthetic and the fashion.

"The attitude and style of golf are changing dramatically. Some people think it's good, some people don't think it's good, but it's happening - and we've been a big part of that and we're excited about it.

"I'm excited to see what the world of golf is going to become in the next 10 years. If you think about it as the older generation passes the torch to the next generation, the next generation is coming in. They're going to respect the traditions and the beauty of the game and the difficulty of the game."

As well as a number of popular social media figures being involved in Topgolf's campaign, European golf legend Annika Sorenstam also features in the campaign videos. 

Cottrill was mesmerised by Sorenstam who allegedly showed off her trick shot skills by juggling a golf ball off camera. In 2021, Topgolf and Callaway completed their merger after an initial announcement in 2020 and the 10-time major champion is also a Callaway ambassador.

It seems the company never rests as it prepares to open venues in Wichita, Kansas and Vineyard, Utah. The new venue in Glasgow is also due to open in December.

Cottrill referred to a study carried out by the National Golf Federation which suggests that off-course golf in America has seen a significant rise in 2022. In 2021, the NGF reported that off-course golf increased by 23% over five years, reaching an estimated 24.3 million people in the states.

Also last year, the NGF reported that 75% of golfers who attended a Topgolf venue were interested in playing an 18-hole course and 29% of golfers went on to play more traditional golf.

These statistics would answer the question surrounding concepts such as Topgolf cannibalising the sport and keeping golfers off the fairways and in the bays. But Cottrill believes the very opposite is taking place.

"I think there's a lot of landmarks in our timeline. They're happening every day, we've got the 2K23 game which is a big moment. We're also part of Golf Plus which is the number one virtual reality game which is a very interesting place for us to learn," he added.

"But we're also opening new venues in new markets in places where we've never been before. We opened in Louisville, Kentucky, we're opening in Glasgow in a matter of weeks.

"So the exciting thing for the timeline of Topgolf is how far we've come but how far we still have to go in terms of these new markets, meeting new people. Being in Glasgow for the first time, being in Louisville, Kentucky for the first time.

"It's a great place for you to enter the game for the first time. We just did a study with the NGF (National Golf Federation) in the US that has shown for the first time ever that off-course golf is now just a little bit bigger than on-course golf.

"The study was published a couple of weeks ago and Topgolf has been playing a pretty big role in what the idea of off-course golf could be. I think years ago, there was a concern about whether it was an 'either or'. Is one cannibalising the other? But that's not the case.

"What we're seeing is the whole pie is just getting a lot bigger and that off-course golf is actually feeding new players into the game of golf, the green grass side of golf.