Prepare to meet golf – this new business in Benton can sharpen your swing, or just go fore fun

Swing Shop is coming to Benton near Interstate 30 exit 117.

MySaline told you about the new location of Starbucks coming to Benton and then, something started building next door as well. There is a strip of businesses along Interstate 30 on the north side, near the 117 exit, right after the “Prepare to Meet God” sign, including (east to west) Applebee’s, then this business I’m going to tell you about, next is the new Starbucks, then Chepe’s Mexican Grill.

The one currently being built is a place for recreation – a golf simulator that’s for fun, but also for helping serious golfers to perfect their swing. You might call it “Prepare to Meet Golf,” but the name of the business is Swing Shop.

Owners Sam and Laurie Neely have lived in Saline County for around 10 years and have three children in Benton and Bryant schools. “We love the area,” stated Laurie, “and we wanted to open a business in our community that helps Saline County continue to grow to be a great place to raise a family with a diverse offering of entertainment.

The entertainment part is definitely needed in the growing community of Saline County, but the practical nature of the tech should be very useful for improving many aspects of anyone’s game. Laurie explains, “We’ll have six bays set up with Trackman units. Trackman is the #1 golf simulator equipment in the world. You can play entire rounds on world famous courses, practice your golf swing with real-time technical data provided by the unit & it also has several beginner & kid friendly games. Trackman offers something for everyone – from the professional golfer down to kids who just want to be actively entertained.”

Find Swing Shop in Benton, Arkansas, between the new Starbucks and Applebee’s. As far as landmarks go, when you’re headed west, it’s after the “Prepare to Meet God” sign. You might also “Prepare to Meet Golf.” See it on the map.

According to Laurie, and the Trackman website, you can hit a golf ball into a screen & the software uses doppler radar to project your shot onto the screen. With all the data points it collects on your swing, it can detect the landing point of your ball within 6 feet of where it would fall on a real course.

Swing Shop will have different ways to participate. You’ll be able to purchase a membership or just drop in. Reservations are recommended.

Laurie said their membership rates are going to be the best they’ve seen anywhere, after looking at golf simulators around the US. They will launch a website soon to make it easy to make reservations.

If you’re wondering whether this is for kids or adults, Laurie says it’s for everyone. “Hopefully we are creating something that all people will be able to enjoy. Four of our six bays will be in private rooms, so you will be able to play your own music or watch your own tv shows while you play golf.

“You could be in one room with your friends having a fun time & a family with young children could be in the next bay having a fun time as totally separate experience. Our two remaining bays will be open & next to each other for larger groups.”

Sam and Laurie are opening Swing Shop as their own creation. “This is a completely locally owned business & not a franchise, so we have the freedom to experiment & change anything to make it work better as we open.”

They hope to be ready to open the doors to Swing Shop in early fall of 2023, and they will be open 7 days a week. There will be refreshments for the players, including soft drinks, beer and wine. They may offer a menu of items from neighboring restaurants as well.