News

A new indoor golf venue and restaurant coming to Edinburgh will be the first of its kind in Indiana.

 

Veteran PGA golf professional and business owner John Fairbanks is opening ChampionZone Virtual Golf and Patriot Cafe in the Mann’s Harley Davidson Building, adjacent to Indiana Premium Outlets. He is hoping to be open by Christmas.

“We’re creating a very family-friendly destination for sports entertainment,” Fairbanks said. “We really want to cater to kids, to beginners. With my passion for golf, this is just a perfect opportunity to do this.”

The 12,900-square-foot facility will feature seven GolfZon TwoVision NX simulators, an 800-square-foot putting green, a small retail space, bar, indoor and outdoor dining and 44 flat-screen TVs.

Fairbanks got the idea for the concept while on a business venture in Texas.

 

“I’ve been discussing it with various groups both here and in Dallas for a couple of years,” Fairbanks said. “I was on a business trip and had a chance to play golf, and they were developing this concept on the north side of Dallas. I asked them if they would be OK with me bringing the concept to Indiana, and they were OK, so we’re bringing it here.”

ChampionZone will have the ability to host private and group lessons with certified golf professionals, league play, tournaments, corporate events, junior golf programs and PGA Golf Professional instruction, fitting and fitness.

Folds of Honor Foundation will be a charitable partner of ChampionZone.

“We looked at a couple of locations, and this location fit our space needs and our location needs,” Fairbanks said. “We feel confident that we’re going to draw from the Columbus market and the south side of Indy and from Camp Atterbury. We’re going to be a military-themed location. With our relationship with Camp Atterbury, it just makes for a perfect location.”

 

With the Folds of Honor Foundation, a portion of the proceeds from sales will go to scholarships for children of fallen soldiers and first responders.

“We’re committed to it,” Fairbanks said. “It’s one of the reasons we’re doing what we’re doing. We’re very unique in what we’re doing here, not only with the golf and the restaurant, but with our mission with Folds of Honor.”

 

A 33-year PGA Golf Professional, Fairbanks worked at courses in Tampa and New Orleans before coming to Columbus as head pro at Harrison Lake Country Club from 1998-2002. After that, he got involved in golf real estate and now owns Pruv Mobility Ecosystem, a defense contractor that does commercial and military vehicle testing.

Fairbanks also was instrumental in bringing the AJGA to Columbus in 2013. He was chairman of the Otter Creek Junior Championship for 12 years and for the region’s 13th tournament that was played this summer at Indiana University’s Pfau Course.

 

Fairbanks said the new business will hire about 25-to-30 employees.

The facility currently is undergoing a demolition of its interior. Construction is expected to begin in two weeks.“We’re finishing up permitting for the code enforcement so we can begin construction,” Fairbanks said. “With a 60-to-75-day construction timeline, that puts us just ahead of Christmas.”