The Topgolf brand of entertainment is opening soon in downtown Fort Myers inside a new sports bar. Instead of hitting the ball up to 215 yards surrounded by soaring protective netting, golfers will take their swings inside of a virtual simulation experience.

Chips Sports Pub, which will feature two Topgolf Swing Suites, will be opening soon at 2200 Edwards Drive as a complement to the adjacent Luminary Hotel & Co., which opened in September 2021. The new sports bar faces Bay Street and is next door to Ella Mae’s Diner.

The opening date hasn’t been finalized, but it will be within two weeks, said Nick Wymore, director of food and beverages for the Luminary.

“I think the concept is perfect for the market,” Wymore said. “It’s great for downtown Fort Myers. First Street has had such a great success. This continues that for Bay Street.”

The Topgolf facility near Colonial Boulevard and Interstate 75 opened November 2021. Joe Collier and his team at Mainsail Resorts worked out a contract to bring the Topgolf brand inside their new sports bar.

“When we built this retail space, we didn’t know exactly what we were going to do with it,” said Collier, who owns Tampa-based Mainsail Lodging & Development, which owns the Luminary. “Topgolf contacted us with this concept. We want to keep trying to bring people to downtown Fort Myers.”

Golf won’t be the only sport patrons can try at Chips as the simulators also include soccer, a quarterback challenge, baseball hitting, hockey shots, zombie dodgeball and a few others.

Booking a bay costs $35 an hour, and reservations can be made via the sports bar’s website.

“We’re excited to add Chips to our lineup of restaurants and introduce Fort Myers to the Topgolf Swing Suite experience,” said Bobby Nokley, general manager of the Luminary. “Chips will be a fun spot for locals and our guests to hang out, gather for parties and meetings and, of course, grab a club and work on their swing.”

The private game suites can be booked for groups ranging from 11 to 60 people.

Mark Heiman, executive chef at the Luminary, created Chips’ menu, which includes hickory-smoked wings, smoked brisket tacos, an assortment of sliders and more. Most menu items range from $11 to $23.

Chips will be open from 3 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and Fridays and Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., with a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m.