City Am Delays + Charlotte's Newest Indoor Golf Venue

Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

We’re back after a week off! A 4-day golf bender at Sand Valley threw a serious wrench into the writing routine last week, which was too much to overcome for yours truly.

It’s hard to believe that it’s June - we’re a week away from the start of the U.S. Open, and golf season (including Twilight Golf Club Summer League) is in full swing across the Carolinas.

Our biggest news (or lack thereof) this week comes from the Charlotte City Am, where registration has been delayed due to some unforeseen challenges. We also have more details on Tap In, Charlotte’s soon-to-be-newest golf simulator venue, and your traditional 2DP slate of CGA and USGA tournament updates. Let’s get back to it!

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINE

Charlotte City Am Registration Delayed Citing Scheduling Challenges

Update: Within a few hours of this post, the City Am announced that Round 1 will be held at Raintree Country Club and registration will open Monday, June 9th. Visit the tournament website for the latest updates.

Tournament organizers announced last week they are struggling to secure host sites for this year’s event. While Quail Hollow is set to host the final round and qualifier dates are confirmed at Pine Island, registration for the event, which was scheduled to open in May, has been postponed until host courses are confirmed for rounds 1 and 2.

Familiar symptoms: This is eerily similar to what happened with the Carolinas Am earlier this year, where the combination of announcement delays and an underwhelming venue had us speculating about scheduling roadblocks. It’s another example of the fallout from golf’s recent rise in popularity, as courses public and private have jam-packed tee sheets and crowded tournament calendars.

Going public?: This event has consistently been hosted by the city’s top private clubs, but I’d love to see a local public course added to the mix periodically, especially if it helps ease the scheduling burden. While the all-private lineup certainly adds intrigue and prestige, it would be interesting to see players tasked with navigating a wider variety of venues.

Get it done!: This tournament is too important and the track record of delivering a great event is too good. I have faith there will be a high-quality Charlotte City Am in 2025!

LOCAL RECS

Inside Tap In: Charlotte’s Newest Golf Entertainment Venue

It all started with a COVID DIY project, as Tap In Owner Miller Safrit built a home simulator during the pandemic days to help pass the time. Safrit, who works as a senior creative producer at ESPN, started squeezing in simulator rounds before work and saw his handicap drop from 18 to 5. This experience inspired him to create Tap In, a new 10K+ square-foot venue opening this summer in LoSo that will bridge the gap between casual sports bar and serious golf facility.

The location: Tap In will be located in the former Weathered Souls Brewing space in LoSo, making it the most centrally-located golf simulator venue in the city. “We did intentionally decide to be closer to Uptown,” Safrit noted. “We felt like it was important for people to be able to hop over during lunch and get back to work, or come early in the morning on their way to the office.”

Keeping it local: Tap In is not a franchise - it’s a proprietary concept designed by Safrit and his wife, who are the only investors today. "We're fully investing into Charlotte because it's helped us a lot,” said Safrit. “It's a sports-first city, an entertainment city, and we're right between two of the best golfing states."

The details:

• 8 golf simulator bays (and potentially up to 11 once full build-out is complete) with individual TVs, including dedicated teaching and VR bays

• Vice Golf clubs in every bay

• 500-square-foot putting green with PuttView technology, surrounded by a central common area

• Full kitchen and bar

The cost: Simulator rates will range from $49-$69 per hour based on demand. They will also offer memberships later this year.

The why: Safrit wants Tap In to be a welcoming place for players of all skill levels and sees the facility as a way to help make golf more accessible for folks in central Charlotte. “There are a lot of people afraid to play grass golf," Safrit said. "They're okay with the driving range occasionally, but afraid to go out and play. This is that stepping stone."

Tap In’s soft opening is scheduled for the end of June. Keep an eye on their Instagram for updates.

STORIES TO TRACK

UNC Charlotte Duo Wins Carolinas Women’s Four-Ball at Cowan’s Ford: Ting Uang and Pimchompoo Chaisilprungruang shot 65 (-7) in the opening round and raced out to big lead. While they didn’t have their best stuff in round 2, a score of 72 (E) was enough to hold on for a 2-shot victory over friends-of-the-program Colleen Estes and Emilia Doran.

• View full scoring here.

7 Advance at U.S. Open Final Qualifying in Durham: Medalist honors went to Oklahoma State alumnus and Korn Ferry Tour player Zach Bauchou, who played on the 2018 National Championship team alongside Matt Wolff, Viktor Hovland, and Austin Eckroat. Former 2-time CGA Junior Player of the Year Trent Phillips also qualified, while NC-native Webb Simpson and Duke graduate Alex Smalley narrowly missed out.

• View full scoring here.

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