Tiger Woods-backed PopStroke is changing its game plan in Gilbert. Instead of an indoor setup, developers are now pitching a 36-hole outdoor putting course at the SanTan Village entertainment district, on about 4.25 acres just south of Ray Road and SanTan Village Parkway. The project would join the existing entertainment cluster that already features Topgolf and Main Event.
Plan Gets A Mulligan
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, the latest submittal scraps the earlier indoor concept in favor of an outdoor layout built around a 36-hole putting experience. The outlet reports that the revision changes how the project would sit on the site and alters the approach to parking, landscaping and the clubhouse.
Original Pitch: Big Box Of Mini Golf
The first application filed with Gilbert's planning commission called for a 64,306-square-foot building that would house a 36-hole indoor miniature golf facility plus a 10,450-square-foot clubhouse with dining and a full-service bar, according to the Town of Gilbert. That packet placed the concept on a 4.25-acre parcel in the Gilbert Crossroads Center, immediately west of Main Event and south of Topgolf.
Zoning Quirk Puts Parking In Play
Town staff flagged an unusual zoning wrinkle in that same packet, noting that "the ULDC’s 'Commercial Amusement Indoor' definition excludes miniature golf, while the 'Commercial Amusement Outdoor' definition includes it," the Town of Gilbert says. That distinction is not just legal fine print, it drives how much parking the town requires, with an indoor designation triggering a much higher parking standard than an outdoor one.
PopStroke’s Usual Game
PopStroke’s Arizona locations typically follow an outdoor formula: twin 18-hole putting courses paired with on-site food, drinks and family-focused amenities, a format the company has highlighted in its press materials. PopStroke describes its venues as combining competitive putting with restaurant and bar service and other entertainment elements geared toward groups and families.
Next Steps At Town Hall
The Phoenix Business Journal reports that the developer has submitted revised plans to the town, but any new site plan will still have to clear Gilbert’s review process and win formal approvals before construction can start. For now, the company has not put out a construction schedule or targeted opening date, according to the outlet.
What It Could Mean For SanTan Village
Locally, swapping a large enclosed building for an open-air layout could help PopStroke blend more naturally into the existing SanTan Village entertainment cluster and ease some of the pressure on parking and site infrastructure, although traffic and design details will still be dissected at public hearings. initial indoor filing last year was previously reported, and this outdoor reboot marks the first major change to that plan since then.
