By GREGORY ZELLER //
Better late than never, X-Golf has swung into Samanea New York.
Almost two years after X-Golf America signed on as a cornerstone tenant, the California-based indoor golf-simulation franchise has finally teed off inside the 750,000-square-foot entertainment/dining/shopping destination, which is slowly – but quite convincingly – remaking Westbury’s former Fortunoff Mall at the Source on Old Country Road.
X-Golf combines a bar/restaurant (think snacks and pizza) with high-tech golf simulations. The brand’s second Long Island location (after X Golf-Commack) marks the first new entertainment tenant to open on the former Fortunoff property since 2000, according to Samanea New York.
Dominic Coluccio: Milestone moment.
It won’t be the last. The something-for-everyone mecca has already announced coming-soon deals with obstacle course operator Empire Adventure Park and adult-themed adventurer Ryco’s Escape Room and Lounge, among other funhouses.
But welcoming that first entertainment tenant – and the first new tenant of any kind since Asian grocery chain 99 Ranch Market opened last year – “marks a significant milestone for Samanea,” according to Samanea New York Director of Real Estate Dominic Coluccio.
“Not only is it the first new entertainment attraction to open at our property in many years, but it’s also the first new entertainment venue to open since the property underwent its $30 million renovation,” Coluccio said Wednesday. “[This] has been and will continue to be a very exciting year for us … including our new Restaurant Row with authentic Asian cuisine, there is lots of fun, immersive experiences ahead.”
Powered by proprietary visualization and projection software (6,000-plus calculations per second, promising 98 percent accuracy on ball speed, direction, spin and other shot metrics), the new X-Golf facility is planning to host skill-based leagues, tournaments and children’s instructional programming.
Private lessons with on-site pros, corporate team-building events and birthday parties are all in the mix.
Tee time: X-Golf Westbury held its grand opening Wednesday, almost two years after announcing it was coming to Samanea New York.
Launched in 2016, X-Golf America currently boasts 75 operations across the United States and Canada, with another 50 in development. Opening a 6,300-square-foot facility at Samanea New York – where the current and future tenant list includes a Bloomingdale’s furniture outlet, The Cheesecake Factory, sports bar/arcade/restaurant Dave & Buster’s and other high-end retail, entertainment and dining brands – was an easy call, according to X-Golf Westbury owner Christopher Sciocchetti.
“X-Golf Westbury is thrilled to be located … here at Samanea New York,” Sciocchetti said in a statement. “We’re very excited to be a part of the community, offering golfers of all skill levels, from beginner to expert, a start-of-the-art simulator golf experience.”
