A new owner is helping a local golf establishment swing in a new direction.
The Laurel Golf Center, a 34-year-old recreational golf facility along Route 198 on the edge of the city, is undergoing a $2 million renovation after being acquired by Kim Cayce, a former professional golfer and entrepreneur specializing in startups and turnarounds.
Cayce took over the facility last year following the death of her father, Kent Cayce, one of the three original founders. Since then, she has introduced new programs aimed at making golf more accessible and affordable.
“The future of the facility was really uncertain,” Cayce said. “I … stepped in after [my father’s] death to help stabilize the business.”
Renovations began in November 2023 as part of a three-year project. Cayce said she opted to complete the work in phases to keep the facility open to the public.
The renovation includes a rebuilt mini golf course, major structural upgrades such as a new roof, windows and walls, and modernized equipment and amenities. Improvements also include new golf balls, mats and targets, upgraded heating and cooling systems, and the planned reconstruction of the facility’s batting cage, with work continuing through December.
The facility will also receive a technology upgrade. Cayce said she licensed Toptracer, a ball-tracking system used at driving ranges and by the golf entertainment company Topgolf. The technology allows visitors to simulate play on well-known courses such as Pebble Beach.
Cayce said she is financing the renovations through personal investments.
“We’ve invested in technology, improved the facility, and still worked hard to keep entry-level options affordable [for casual players],” Cayce said. “You can come here, hit balls, hang out outdoors … for about the price of a bucket of balls [as low as $8].”
The official reopening of the range is scheduled for April 10 to coincide with the same weekend as the Masters Tournament. Cayce said she plans to host a celebration where visitors can watch the competition at the facility.
With the renovation, Cayce hopes to buck the decline of golf facilities in the region. Patuxent Greens Country Club, the city’s only full golf course, closed in 2018 after 60 years in business. The closest full course is Gunpowder Golf Course near West Laurel, while the nearest driving range is Rocky Gorge 4 Seasons Golf Fairway in North Laurel.
“There’s been quite a few golf courses and ranges that have been sold to real estate developers in the last few years,” Cayce said. “So there are fewer options and new facilities tend to skew toward the high end.”
The center is not a full golf course, but Cayce said that makes it more accessible and affordable.
“Technology is making golf take less time than a traditional golf course,” Cayce said. “And so there’s lots of people in Laurel interested in golf, and hopefully we’re helping to fill that void and make it more attainable for people.”
The center is also expanding youth programming.
Cayce is partnering with First Tee, a national nonprofit youth development organization that uses golf to teach life skills. Through the partnership, the center offers golf classes for children ages 7 to 18. Lessons cost $100.
Kevin Williams of Laurel has his 12-year-old son enrolled in the program. Williams said the facility and classes provide an opportunity for African American children to experience golf.
“This place is like an oasis where young people can develop a love for the game as well as the mechanics of the game,” Williams said. “And they do an excellent job of teaching the fundamentals of the game to our young kids.”
Brent Mitchell, a Laurel resident who has visited the range for 15 years, said he prefers Laurel Golf Center over more entertainment-focused venues.
“Top Golf really isn’t for practicing, it’s for entertainment,” Mitchell said. “I’m a real golfer so I prefer to practice as a real golfer versus just taking friends for entertainment.”