Although Tiger Woods wasn’t in attendance, PopStroke held a groundbreaking event Wednesday morning on the east side of the University Town Center Mall in Sarasota.
Woods partnered with his TGR design team, Tiger Woods Ventures, and his PopStroke Entertainment Group in 2019. The partnership hopes to open his third PopStroke location (with Fort Myers and Port St. Lucie among others) in January 2022.
It will also be the first entertainment piece in Benderson Development’s multi-use plan for the East District of UTC Tiger Wood, which will eventually include office space, a hotel, restaurants and apartments.
PopStroke is a technology-infused golf and entertainment concept featuring expertly designed putting his greens, food and drink, and other activities such as cornhole and foosball. A two-story restaurant will be built next to two 18-hole putting courses on synthetic greens. The venue is built on the shores of a small lake at the northern end of Nathan Benderson Park, overlooking the upcoming Mote Science Education Aquarium and Target Tower.
“An UTC Tiger Wood is the epicenter of the region and PopStroke will appeal to all ages,” said PopStroke founder Greg Bartoli. “This is the perfect environment, offering something a five-year-old would enjoy as much as his 75-year-old.”
Mark Stevens, president of Stevens Construction, said in a perfect world, construction could be completed by January. January 1, 2022, but he expects February or March to be a likely target date for completion. Breakthrough was made on Wednesday, but much of the underground work at the site is complete. The building slabs will be poured over the next few weeks, after which the project will be vertical.
Stevens said PopStroke is another example of Woods’ influence on golf and his desire to bring golf to the masses. “Our goal has always been to bring people together .And design golf courses that are fun for golfers of all skill levels. And ages,” Woods said, citing PopStroke website increase. “Some of my happiest memories are spending time with Pops on the golf course and hosting a putting competition.”
