{"id":848339,"date":"2026-09-15T06:40:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T06:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/848339\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T06:40:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T06:40:18","slug":"early-look-at-the-golf-loft-indoor-golf-facility-restaurant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/848339\/","title":{"rendered":"Early look at The Golf Loft indoor golf facility & restaurant"},"content":{"rendered":"

COLLEGE TOWNSHIP<\/p>\n

A cutting-edge indoor golf facility \u2014 with 10 Trackman golf simulators and a full-service restaurant\/bar \u2014 is expected to open later this month in the State College area, and company founder Logan Mummert is hoping Centre County\u2019s newest business doesn\u2019t just attract golfers but \u201canybody with a pulse.\u201d<\/p>\n

The spacious 12,500-square-foot property housing The Golf Loft<\/a> is designed with the greater community in mind, Mummert said. A 28-seat bar will complement a dining room and terrace that can fit about 24 tables, with \u201celevated bar food\u201d that \u2014 outside of a lobster roll and four entr\u00e9es \u2014 prices every dish under $20.<\/p>\n

The Golf Loft has even partnered with Rotunda Brewing Co. to develop its own light lager, called \u201cFore 09<\/a>\u201d in reference to Joe Paterno\u2019s win total. And there are small touches around every nook and cranny in hopes to make visitors feel more at home.<\/p>\n

\"A A beer named Fore 09 made for the Golf Loft by Rotunda Brewing Co. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a little bit of everything,\u201d Mummert said. \u201cWith our food and beverage program, entertainment, friendly staff, nice parking and young professional\/college living all around, I think we\u2019re trying to create a product that caters to this person and that person and that person \u2014 and, when you add all those people together, you have everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mummert doesn\u2019t yet have an exact date for the grand opening. But when The Golf Loft does open at The Plaza at Aspen (250 Squirrel Drive<\/a>), likely later this month, he expects it to remain open seven days a week \u2014 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Golf Loft initially hoped to open by March 2026 but, due to delays in building permits, that estimate was pushed back significantly. Still, Mummert intimated he\u2019s spared no expense \u2014 even going so far as installing a five-figure augmented reality PuttView putting green, believed to be the only such publicly accessible system in Centre County. Mummert said it required engineers from Germany to be flown in for setup back in July.<\/p>\n

The putting green, which utilizes an overhead projector to show putting lines, is free to use. \u201cWe did it for the customer,\u201d Mummert added. \u201cIt\u2019s completely for their benefit; we\u2019re not profiting off it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to expect from The Golf Loft.<\/p>\n

\"The The Golf Loft, which will feature 10 golf simulators and a restaurant, continues construction on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com Food, drink & darts (for the non-golfers)<\/p>\n

Although plans for The Golf Loft were first publicly announced around November, Mummert and others have been preparing for a location like this for much longer \u2014 including culinary director and executive chef Tessa Stambaugh.<\/p>\n

Stambaugh, who attended culinary school and previously worked at Harrisburg area\u2019s well-reviewed Millworks<\/a> and Watershed Pub<\/a>, said she and others have spent at least two years on building the new menu. They wanted to make it approachable but unique, affordable but still high quality.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would describe it as elevated bar food,\u201d Stambaugh said. \u201cWe want to keep some classics \u2014 what people know, what\u2019s approachable \u2014 but put a twist on it and make it different. Like one thing specifically is we\u2019re going to have a wagyu corn dog … and, hopefully, it\u2019s the best corn dog of their life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A A look at the tentative menu at The Golf Loft\u2019s location in Happy Valley. Courtesy of The Golf Loft <\/p>\n

Many foods will be sourced locally, with Centre County favorite Fasta Pasta set to partner with The Golf Loft on its spinach & artichoke pierogies \u2014 The Golf Loft will send its spinach-and-artichoke mix straight to Fasta Pasta \u2014 and the local pasta maker will also be responsible for part of the pappardelle entr\u00e9e, which will also include grilled chicken, spinach, blistered tomato, Parmesan and garlic cream.<\/p>\n

Nearly a dozen appetizers will be available to diners, from corn ribs ($13) to truffle fries ($10) to ahi tuna crispy rice ($18). Three different burgers, with half-pound beef sourced from New York\u2019s Plymouth Beef, will range from $17 to $19. And there will also be sandwiches such as Nashville hot chicken ($19), entr\u00e9es like steak frites ($36) and salads like the Caesar ($16).<\/p>\n

Sous chef Nick Swanson, who previously helped open local staples Nittany Lion Inn and Carnegie House, said they\u2019ve taken a lot of pride in constructing a menu that should appeal to much of the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really want to focus on putting the best food out that we can,\u201d Swanson said. \u201cI know that we have a bar, but we really want to take it a step further than being bar food \u2014 and me and Tess both have great experience working in this industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Construction Construction continues for the restaurant and bar area of The Golf Loft on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com <\/p>\n

Mummert put significant resources into the bar, which includes a glass chiller for cocktails like espresso martinis and craft ice storage for drinks like Old Fashioneds or a simple whisky on the rocks. A dozen beers will be on tap, in addition to cans and seltzers also being available, and 12 cocktails will initially be featured on the menu.<\/p>\n

In an effort to be a little different, three golf-themed cocktails \u2014 the John Daly, Water Hazard and Transfusion \u2014 will be served in custom, hard-plastic cans with removable pop-tops so golfers can enjoy a beverage between swings, without worrying about spilling it near the Trackman bays.<\/p>\n

\"Three Three made-to-order cocktails will be made in a Golf Loft plastic can, the Transfusion, John Daly and Water Hazard. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com <\/p>\n

The venue is for all ages, and servers can take drink orders throughout the property.<\/p>\n

In addition to the bar and restaurant, The Golf Loft will also have four Dartsee Dart Lane machines<\/a> that will be priced around $30\/hour.<\/p>\n

Dartsee is basically a high-tech form of darts that uses state-of-the-art technology to track scores, show replays and even animate targets.<\/p>\n

\"One One of the Dartsee bays at The Golf Loft on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com For the golfers<\/p>\n

Centre County has seen a number of golf simulators spring up around the area over the last few years, with many from competitor Centre Swing 24\/7 \u2014 including a new space just a half-mile<\/a> from The Golf Loft.<\/p>\n

Mummert declined to address the competition directly, saying he wished nothing but the best for Centre Swing. But he intimated the experiences should feel very different, which is why The Golf Loft is priced higher at $65\/hour. (The overall hourly price does not increase based on the number of participants, as 1-6 golfers can play at a time on a single simulator.)<\/p>\n

The Golf Loft is utilizing 10 of the newest Trackman iO indoor golf simulators with industry-maximum 18.5-foot screens and two additional swing feedback screens, one of which can instead be tuned to TV or a football game. The installation cost for each bay was about $50,000, Mummert said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Trackman iO is the best of the best,\u201d Mummert added. \u201cThat\u2019s the best of the best across the industry with its data and ball-tracking capabilities. … It captures your ball data with Doppler radar technology, as well as imaging, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"One One of the 10 golf simulator bays at The Golf Loft on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com <\/p>\n

Trackman is the official measurement technology of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LPGA Tour. Trackman contends on its website that it is trusted by 90 of the top 100 PGA Tour players.<\/p>\n

More than 500 highly detailed, licensed courses are available to play on Trackman, from Pennsylvania favorites like Aronimink Golf Club and Merion Golf Club to international staples such as St. Andrews and Royal County Down Championship Links.<\/p>\n

And, thanks to a partnership with TaylorMade, golfers who decide to try out the simulators are also free to use the clubmaker\u2019s newest Qi clubs at no additional cost. Mummert envisions formal fittings with TaylorMade and other manufacturers in the not-so-distant future.<\/p>\n

Each simulator bay will include a table with four bar stools and a 94-inch leather sofa. And technically, Mummert said, those renting a simulator are welcome to use it in any capacity \u2014 as the 18.5-foot screens are also capable of displaying whatever\u2019s on TV, including Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers games. (Although, Mummert acknowledged, most people just use one of the two swing feedback screens to watch sports.)<\/p>\n

Mummert anticipates The Golf Loft offering golf lessons, simulator leagues and one-day tournaments. In other words, as far as the latter, Mummert said his business plans to host one-day tournaments to reflect whatever major tournament is being played that week. If it\u2019s the Ryder Cup next year, for example, The Golf Loft will host a simulator tournament using the relevant course \u2014 in that case The Golf Course at Adare Manor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose tournaments are really popular,\u201d Mummert said.<\/p>\n

Between all the Trackman bays, near the entrance, is the unique PuttView putting green. Although it can be used to play augmented reality golf games like tic-tac-toe and putt pong, it\u2019s typically installed as a training aid.<\/p>\n

\"A A PuttView putting green in the lobby of The Golf Loft on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. The system uses an overhead projector to show putting paths. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com <\/p>\n

The Golf Loft\u2019s green measures 18×15 feet, and an overhead projector can show the topography \u2014 and putting lines \u2014 of the green. Put another way, it can inform golfers exactly where to hit the ball to get it into the hole.<\/p>\n

PuttView counts PGA pros such as Tiger Woods and Tommy Fleetwood among its notable users.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur staff will happily show anyone how to use it,\u201d Mummert added.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead<\/p>\n

Mummert has invested a lot in The Golf Loft \u2014 but this isn\u2019t his first such location.<\/p>\n

He first opened a smaller location in Hanover in 2023, one that currently boasts a 4.9-star rating on Google<\/a> based on 41 reviews. And, after market research involving factors such as days with precipitation, annual temperature, average household income, and more, he decided to open his second \u2014 and larger \u2014 location near State College.<\/p>\n

Buoyed by Hanover customers who told him they loved the business even if they didn\u2019t golf, Mummert has tried to cater to as many audiences as he can in Happy Valley. For example, the bar features three 85-inch TVs \u2014 but the dining room itself is largely void of televisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to keep this a dining room for the diner and not make it feel like such a sports bar,\u201d Mummert said. \u201c… So we\u2019re trying to cater to everyone \u2014 that\u2019s the big thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The The bar at The Golf Loft on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com <\/p>\n

The golf activities are designed for beginners and experts alike, while the restaurant menu has something for vegetarians, those who are gluten-free and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to establish ourselves as a place that, whether you\u2019ve never golfed a day in your life or golf every day, we want to be considered for your dinner and lunch options,\u201d Mummert added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to put out the best possible product we can. We have the right people in place. We have the right team. We have the right technology. And we\u2019re extremely detail-oriented.\u201d<\/p>\n

Future updates on The Golf Loft can be found at thegolftloft.us<\/a> and facebook.com\/hanovergolfloft<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Follow More of Our Reporting on CDT Inside Look<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Josh Moyer<\/a><\/p>\n

Centre Daily Times<\/p>\n

Josh Moyer earned his B.A. in journalism from Penn State and his M.S. from Columbia. He\u2019s been involved in sports and news writing for more than 20 years. He counts the best athlete he\u2019s ever seen as Tecmo Super Bowl\u2019s Bo Jackson.\n <\/p>\n