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The business blends a boutique private-club feel with public access.Provided \/ Stingers<\/p>\nZEPHYR COVE, Nev. \u2013 A long-vacant restaurant space near Nevada Beach is getting a new life \u2013 part golf lounge, part craft cocktail bar and elevated eatery, and part social hub \u2013 and the owners say it\u2019s unlike anything currently offered in the Tahoe Basin.<\/p>\n
Stingers Golf Lounge, located in the former Capisce location, will open to the public on Wednesday, November 19, offering lunch, dinner, elevated drinks, and high-end golf simulators.<\/p>\n
A New Concept for Tahoe<\/p>\n
Indoor golf simulators aren\u2019t new to the region, but Stingers\u2019 approach aims to set itself apart. The business blends a boutique private-club feel with public access, allowing customers to dine, socialize, watch major sporting events, and play on one of the most advanced golf simulator systems available \u2013 Trackman technology with access to more than 300 courses, including Pebble Beach, Pinehurst and St. Andrews.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis concept doesn\u2019t really exist in this area,\u201d said co-owner Randy Townsend, who has lived and worked in Tahoe for years. \u201cThere are simulators in Carson City and Reno, but nothing that\u2019s this elevated and nothing with this level of food and atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n
The business blends a boutique private-club feel with public access.Provided \/ Stingers<\/p>\n
The team began planning the project in 2021 when the space became available. Because they already owned the building, the biggest challenge wasn\u2019t securing a lease, it was transforming a former restaurant into a modern entertainment venue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a lot of pressure from our friends to do something fun, festive and social with the space,\u201d added Townsend. \u201cBringing community together is an absolute must.\u201d<\/p>\n
Starting in April of this year, walls were demolished, systems upgraded, finishes replaced, and simulators were installed with much of the work being done by the owners, local tradespeople and friends.<\/p>\n
Food, Cocktails and Community<\/p>\n
The business partners originally planned to serve only bar food. But early feedback pushed them toward a more complete menu.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople kept asking, \u2018Are you doing real food? Are you doing dinner?\u2019 So, we elevated the concept,\u201d said Stingers\u2019 other co-owner, Scott Wheelon. \u201cWe wanted it to feel special \u2013 not just a place to practice golf.\u201d<\/p>\n
The kitchen menu will range from wings and flatbreads to macadamia-crusted sea bass with house-made sauces along with the self-described best smash burger in town. On the bar side, all syrups and infusions for cocktails are made in-house, including bourbon-infused cherries and ginger-mint syrups.<\/p>\n
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All syrups and infusions for cocktails are made in-house.Provided \/ Stingers<\/p>\n
Membership Model with Public Access<\/p>\n
Led by Golf Director Mitch Wheelon, the golf side of Stingers will operate as a hybrid: open to the public but offering memberships with benefits, including discounted simulator time, 24-hour access, food and beverage discounts, and loyalty rewards. To start, memberships will be capped at 20 to ensure availability.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easier to add more members than take them away,\u201d Wheelon said. \u201cWe want people to feel like they have access and value.\u201d<\/p>\n
Public operating hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, with late-night hours on weekends.<\/p>\n
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Stingers will offer memberships but will still be open to the public. Provided \/ Stingers<\/p>\n
Aiming to Become a Local Fixture<\/p>\n
The owners say the business is primarily designed for locals, but they also know that there will be interest from surrounding high schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstructors can come here with their students and have sessions and actually learn the game during the winter then get outside in the summer,\u201d said Townsend.<\/p>\n
While the focus will be on the locals, the team also understands the importance of the visitors and tourists. And even though the business has not yet opened, they are already gaining interest for bachelor and holiday parties as well as corporate groups.<\/p>\n
With Nevada Beach campground expanding and limited dining options on that end of South Shore, they expect steady demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want this to be a place for the community to gather,\u201d Townsend said. \u201cSomewhere to watch the Masters, have dinner, or just hang out with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the response is as strong as we think it will be, we already have plans to build more simulator bays,\u201d Wheelon added.<\/p>\n
Until then, the team is focused on opening day and greeting the steady stream of curious locals already knocking on the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey walk by and yell, \u2018When are you opening?’\u201d laughed General Manager Meghan Gunn. \u201cSo now we finally get to answer.\u201d<\/p>\n