Developed in 1986 as one of the few family golf centers by PGA of America, the Golf Center of Arlington has switched ownerships three times in three decades but never seemed to take off as a sustainable business, until a new ownership acquired the 29 acres of land in North Arlington. Husband and wife, Mauricio Galante and Larissa Vilela took the chance in the idea of transforming the property, surrounded by the west fork of the Trinity River, in a new golf concept to attract leisure public as well as avid players.
A huge transformation took place in 2014 to salvage the 18 climate-controlled golf bays, recoup the abandoned 36 holes miniature golf course, light up the field for night golf, and bring the snack bar back to life. By 2015 Golf Center of Arlington was already awarded Top 50 Stand-Alone Facility in U.S., and then things started to get interesting.
Galante teamed up with a Swedish golf tracking technology company to become one of the first facilities to incorporate “Protracer,” which completely improved its patrons’ experience. By 2018, the Golf Center of Arlington had all 46 bays (18 indoor mats, 10 outdoor mats, and 18 grass tees) equipped with the ball tracking system technology, which was then acquired by Topgolf and rebranded as Toptracer. That same year, Golf Center of Arlington was once again awarded Top 50 Stand-Alone Facility in U.S. Today, the technology is spread to more than 750 locations worldwide in 33 different countries and is telecasted on golf tournaments every weekend.
Golf Center of Arlington became a hub for avid golfers and public looking for entertainment alike. Promoting local breweries, the place is recognized for its huge variety of local crafted beers. The miniature golf course attracts Arlington visitors for its exquisite shapes and contours, and thousands of community members can introduce kids and family members to the game. The location gained nationwide recognition when Borat Subsequent Moviefilm shot the famous golf lesson scene at its range bays.
With the facility structures approaching 40 years, the owners decided in 2020 to redevelop the property into something more meaningful to the community. It was time to innovate once again and expand the operations into an eco-friendly hotel and golf range, and the River Park Golf Resort idea was born, the first of its kind in U.S.
In 2022 Golf Center of Arlington was recognized by PGA of America magazine as one of five businesses in the country to start a Range Revolution, by investing in valued technology and smart marketing. Later that year, the rezoning for the River Park Golf Resort was approved and the construction plans started to take shape.
Combining property resources and local amenities for a whole new guest experience, the River Park Golf Resort will be the ultimate destination for business, leisure, and sporting travelers. It’s a one-of-a-kind concept just two miles away from all the major entertainment venues that Arlington has to offer. It is the perfect nature and sports getaway.
More than an outdoor sportsman’s paradise, this hotel will also be the first Nature Preserve Boutique Hotel in DFW. Rooftop solar panels will generate up to 52% of the property needs and a harvesting rainwater system was designed for service usage. The River Park Golf Resort will utilize the latest technologies in its operations creating the most sustainable practices to keep energy and water consumption to its minimum. The owners are also pledging 1% of its profits to align efforts with the existing Nature and Wildlife Preserve Entities, sharing the community’s goal to preserve and enhance the land along the Trinity River and its tributaries, which surrounds the property. The three pillars of community engagement, nature-minded educational experiences, and outdoor sports makes the River Park Golf Resort a sought-after destination for tourists and residents alike.
The driving range will remain open during the entire construction and the new facility will be built in phases to not disrupt operations. Come visit what it looks like now, play some golf, grab a couple of beers, and see for yourself what is coming soon. Cheers!
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