FlyingTee is Open for Business
By KEN MACLEOD
Guest Writer
EYE-CATCHING VIEW: FlyingTee co-owner, CEO and founder John Vollbrecht looks down the driving range of the three-story golf and entertainment venue, located along the Arkansas River in Riverwalk Crossing in Jenks. The complex offers views of downtown Tulsa and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Margaritaville resort and casino complex.
Courtesy photo
FlyingTee, a golf and entertainment venue in Jenks, opened June 7.
FlyingTee, a three-story, 60-bay center, offers three restaurants, a beer garden, outdoor patios, corporate meeting rooms and suites, and the ability to host everything from a detailed practice session to a 400-person charity golf tournament.
The center has been going through extensive technology testing, and hundreds of new employees in food and beverage were trained diligently for opening day. Co-owner, and founder John Vollbrecht says the last month of testing has been invaluable.
“The stress tests have been absolutely amazing,” Vollbrecht says. “We had more than 300 people out the other night and wanted to see if they could break the system. Everything is working, and we’ve been able to test which games people like, what they don’t like. We’ve had no major issues.”
For those who haven’t been to a similar facility in other markets, the large sports bar and outdoor dining area on the ground level will be called the FlyingTee Sports Bar and should be a great place to watch a game with friends whether or not golf is on the menu. The second level will be called the Iron Wood Rotisserie, featuring rotisserie chicken and prime rib in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. The third level bar and restaurant is called Flite and will service the parties and rented spaces as well as offer shared appetizer items and drinks.
A group coming out for an evening can rent a bay by the hour and take turns playing various golf games, all of which use real golf balls monitored by a sophisticated tracking system. Games include darts, blackjack, long drive, horse and the ability to play other famous courses.
Golfers can trace their ball flight and results on monitors using the sophisticated Pro Tracer technology seen on network golf telecasts. Each bay will have fans and misters for hot weather or heaters for colder times. Servers will take orders in the bays as well as in the bars and restaurants.
The facility will be open 9 a.m.– midnight on weekdays and 9 a.m. – 1 a.m. on weekends. Golfers who want to use the system’s shot tracking and swing analysis capabilities can bring their own clubs out during the morning, then return at night with a group of friends and use the new Cobra equipment provided free of charge at the bays.
The opening culminates several years of research and development for Vollbrecht and his core group, including his brother James who is the director of technology, and Ryan Tawwater, who has an extensive food and beverage background including working for Levy Restaurants, a pioneer in serving private club suites at , , and other sports venues such as the U.S. Open in tennis or NASCAR events. He later became the director of food and beverage at The Yellowstone Club in Montana, a private ski and golf resort.
“We want to emphasize that FlyingTee is for everyone,” Vollbrecht says. “Anyone can play the games. The food is going to be very fresh and the quality will surprise folks used to typical bar fare. We’ll have craft beers and local beers. You’ll have people coming to eat and drink and watch a game that never touch a golf club.”
FlyingTee was constructed on land where the previous movie complex was in Riverwalk. The complex faces north up the Arkansas River towards the new Margaritaville Resort at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casino just across the river with downtown Tulsa visible beyond. The Creek Nation owns Riverwalk Crossing and has a big stake in FlyingTee. Therefore, much intermingling is expected between the two facilities.
FlyingTee has hired well-respected teaching professional Tracy Phillips, who also operates the Buddy Phillips Learning Center at Cedar Ridge Country Club. Phillips will guide a team of professionals who will be on hand to help golfers learn the games and offer swing tips. He’ll also be trying to help many of the date-night crowd who try the game for the first time to take up the game.
For further information, visit flyingteegolf.com. Although the 55,000-square-foot facility can hold up to 1,300 at a time, don’t be surprised if there are waiting times involved when it opens.
Ken MacLeod is the publisher of Golf Oklahoma Magazine (www.golfoklahoma.org)
Updated 06-15-2016
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