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Before, after — or while — you hit some golf balls at Eagles Edge at ChampionsGate, enjoy food options like the sliders (and yes, it's on a purple bun). PHOTO/KEN JACKSON
The Onmi ChampionsGate resort is home to the National and International golf courses, which bring players in from far and wide.
Resort guests who may be interested in golf, but don’t have much skill or aren’t willing to invest the four hours to play a round may end up just staying by the resort pools — not the worst way to spend a travel day.
Now there’s a place there that melds a driving range and an upscale bar and grille. Eagles Edge, owned and operated by the Omni, recently opened at the resort as an amenity that casual and serious golfers alike will compare to Drive Shack and TopGolf, similar local offerings.
“This is better than TopGolf. We own and run this ourselves,” said Omni ChampionsGate Director of Convention Services and Catering Amanda Perales. “It’s connected to the hotel.”
The golf side features 30 hitting bays, that feature the TopTracer tracking and telemetry technology, with HDTVs; that portion, which grew out of a former golf instruction facility, can be expanded. It’s a covered outdoor area, but there is also an expansive dining area available inside. Didn’t bring your clubs? They have complimentary ones to use.
No matter where you sit or play, elevated food and beverage offerings, like exotic burgers, tacos, salads and flatbreads, are available.
“Our whole culinary team is used to preparing five-star meals for all our guests,” said LeAnn Davis, the Director of Sales and Marketing.
She said the clientele thus far has been 20% golfers and 80% “tryers” — those likely picking up a golf club for the first time, or who’ve never been on a golf course.
“There’s serious stuff, with the tracers for the true golfers, and fun games for those who aren’t,” Davis said. “It’s designed as a place for offsite events onsite, so now you don’t have to pay for transportation, and you can spend it on the experience. We’re hoping it’ll be something nice in the evening, it can be a draw for the leisure guests, that will match the level of luxury inside.”
