Beyond the Green

Every golfer knows the key to improvement is practice, practice, practice. Now, Lakers who want to polish their skills can do so while enjoying tasty food, a cold beverage and festive atmosphere at Beyond the Green Indoor Golf & Sportsbar in Downtown Moneta. And they don’t have to worry about the weather, either.
Lake resident and avid golfer Tony Montgomery met up with a few buddies on a chilly afternoon recently to play Miami’s TPC Blue Monster on one of the restaurant’s two high-definition golf simulators.
    “I thought it was pretty cool, especially since we couldn’t play outside,” Montgomery said. “The clubs were pretty close as far as the yardages you usually hit, and the scenery and graphics were all really good.”
    Each simulator projects realistic images of some of the world’s most renowned golf courses on a 10-by-15-foot screen. Players, who choose from 18 different layouts or a variety of golf-related games, can bring their own clubs or use the ones available at the restaurant.
    The cost is $35 per hour regardless of the number of people playing, and Ryan Drake, chief operating officer, said most people can play 18 holes in an hour.
    “Pebble [Beach] is definitely the one of the first courses everyone wants to play,” he said. “Casa de Campo, PGA National, Bethpage Black and Pinehurst [No. 2] are also popular.”
    Drake gave up his job as a sales trainer to start the venture with his mom, Sharon Landi, a retired health care executive. Husband Brett Landi handles the finances and niece Danielle Gawronski manages the restaurant, which opened last October. The reception from the lake community has exceeded the family’s expectations.
    “We expected the people who golf to love it,” Gawronski said, “but we didn’t expect it to be such a big hit with non-golfers. It’s something everyone can do.”
    The restaurant takes tee times just like a regular golf course, Drake said. Leagues for 9-hole and 18-hole play have formed for weekday play and several local golf professionals offer indoor lessons.
    “The golf pros come in and love it,” Landi said. “The simulator breaks down and analyzes club speed, spine angle of the body, all sorts of things.”
    In addition to the simulators, the restaurant features eight 42-inch flat-screen TVs that show a variety of sporting events. Customers can listen to the game of their choice on tabletop speakers that broadcast the audio to whatever channel they’re watching. The simulators also can be turned into HD TVs to broadcast big events such as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
The restaurant serves traditional pub-style food, including appetizers, salads, burgers and a variety of sandwiches. The full-service bar offers a wide selection of beverages.
    Local real estate agent Audrey Agee tried Beyond the Green for the first time recently and said she’ll definitely return.
    “The food was really good,” she said. “I had the [Greek] portabella salad and hot wings. I loved the salad. … It’s a different concept. It gives our visitors as well as the local people something new and unique.”
    Beyond the Green can accommodate 65 people and plans are already in the works to build an outdoor seating area for the warmer months, said Drake who would also like to market the restaurant for corporate events.
    “People can eat and play team-building exercises on the simulator,” he said. “It’s great for PowerPoint presentations because we can have 40 people fit around a big screen and everyone can see it.”
    Live music is scheduled nearly every Friday night and some Saturdays.
    “We started bringing in bands because customers kept asking,” Gawronski said. “It’s been a big hit.”

The Sampler

Sampler Platter
A basket of mozzarella sticks, potato skins, portabella mushroom bites and homemade onion rings.
$12.99

Caesar Salad
Crisp romaine lettuce tossed with a Caesar dressing and topped with boiled egg, red onions, Parmesan cheese and croutons. $7.99

Hazards Burger
(Pictured at right) Beef burger with melted pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, onion rings, a fried egg and barbecue sauce. $9.99

Want to go?
Beyond the Green Indoor Golf & Sportsbar

Address: Downtown Moneta, 1035 Mercantile St., Suite 101, Moneta

Phone: 540.296.0871

Hours:  Monday 4-11 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday noon-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday noon-12 a.m.; Sunday noon-11 p.m.

Tee Times: To ensure one of the bar’s two golf simulators is available when you want to play, be sure to call in advance or e-mail danielle@beyondthegreensportsbar.com.

More Info: Food specials, a schedule of live music and more can be found online at www.beyondthegreensportsbar.com