The the year-round, climate controlled range in Edison is set to open Dec. 23.
EDISON -- New Jersey will soon have two new high-tech driving ranges aimed at drawing in any type of player with beer, food and an arcade-like twist on the game.
The Texas-based Topgolf is a driving range chain with chipped golf balls that can track players shots, as they aim for a number of targets on the field.
In Edison, Topgolf announced Monday it would be hiring around 500 employees to run its 65,000-square-foot venue on Route 1, including openings for servers, bartenders and other guest services positions.
The year-round, climate controlled range is set to open Dec. 23. Another location in Mount Laurel will open late next year. The company said around 80 percent of its visitors are not serious golfers.
The driving bays are also a bit more upscale than traditional golf centers, equipped with couches and flat-screen TVs, as well as food and drink service -- similar to high-end bowling alleys, such as Lucky Strike.
Rates range between $30 and $50 per hour to rent a bay, where up to six people can play. There's also a one-time membership fee of $5.
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"We're proud to become part of the Edison community," said Justin Norvell, Edison's Topgolf director of operations.
The menu at its other 29 venues throughout the country offers American-fare options, with breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes. The locations also offer full bar service.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.