Tiger Woods’ second career as a golf entrepreneur got a boost Tuesday from one of his primary equipment sponsors when TaylorMade Golf made a “material investment” in PopStroke, Woods’ golf-entertainment business.
PopStroke venues combine premium putting courses with restaurants, bars and other gaming experiences. There are currently six locations (five in Florida and one in Texas) with two more under construction in Arizona. Terms of TaylorMade’s investment were not disclosed in the statement, but a press release described the relationship as a “partnership” between the company, PopStroke Entertainment Group and Woods.
PopStroke was founded in 2018 by Woods and Greg Bartoli, a former Wall Street executive who was managing director of the Interest Rate Trading Group at JPMorgan. Bartoli is also the founder and CEO of JEM Partners, a Florida-based real estate investment firm specializing in family entertainment and outdoor theme parks.
TaylorMade Golf CEO David Abeles will join PopStroke’s board of directors.
“We were really inspired by the family orientation of the PopStroke model,” Abeles said in a statement. “After experiencing it in person, seeing golfers of all generations and skill levels interact in a way that reflected the joy of golf, we knew this was something we had to be a part of. With Greg Bartoli’s vision, TaylorMade’s history with Tiger Woods and the alignment of our values, we believe this is an investment that will benefit not only our company, but the future of golf for generations to come.”
A typical PopStroke venue includes 36-hole synthetic grass outdoor courses designed by Woods, as well as family-friendly activities (foosball, a corn hole and an ice cream counter) and an upstairs bar reserved for the 21-and-over crowd.
TaylorMade’s investment in PopStroke values the golf entertainment company at $650 million, according to the announcement.
“I am extremely excited to partner with TaylorMade as we continue the rapid expansion of PopStroke,” said Woods, who signed on to endorse TaylorMade clubs in 2017. “TaylorMade has been a great and trusted partner of mine for many years, and I couldn’t be happier to expand my partnership with David and his team. I have spent my entire career developing the game of golf, and I know TaylorMade will enhance the guest experience at PopStroke as we continue to introduce millions of guests to the game I love.”
TaylorMade’s investment in the golf-entertainment space is not unique for a golf equipment company. Callaway was a significant investor in Topgolf before acquiring the company in 2021 for $2.6 billion in stock. The acquisition eventually led to the company being renamed Topgolf Callaway Brands last year. There are 70 Topgolf locations in North America, the UK, Australia, Germany and the UAE. PopStroke has a similar expansion vision.
“We are excited to partner with TaylorMade as we continue to bring our unique playing and dining experience to golfers of all ages and abilities,” Bartoli said in a statement. “The combination of PopStroke, Tiger and TaylorMade not only brings unique international visibility, but accelerates our trajectory as we strive to become the premier brand in golf entertainment.”