At Top Golf, You Don’t Need to be a Master to have Fun

The Masters teed off today, signaling the unofficial start of golf season for the general public. The weather is warming up and it’s time to hit the links.

Of course, most people’s golf clubs have been in storage somewhere for the past six months. And golf requires a level of practice that people just don’t get in the cold snowy months. Anyone that’s headed straight to the course after a winter off, knows it’s better to hit the driving range a few days beforehand.

But heading to any old driving range and smacking hundreds of golf balls can be a tedious affair. So if you are looking for a way to jazz up your warm up, then Top Golf in Alexandria is just the place to visit.

Top Golf is located directly across from the Kingstowne Towne Center at the corner of Kingstowne Boulevard and South Van Dorn Street. The massive facility is the perfect place to hone your game before the season kicks off.

What exactly is Top Golf? Well, in essence, it’s a game of competitive practice.

To play at Top Golf, one must first become a member of the range. But that’s simple to do. Top Golf has all sorts of membership deals for first-timers and friendly staff members are there to explain it all. A membership can be purchased for as little as five dollars, with a game (twenty balls) costing six dollars after that.

Top Golf staff member, Ian, explaining all the package options.

The higher level of membership you purchase, the cheaper games become. If you plan on going frequently, be sure to explore the multi-visit options. To play competitively, everyone in your party must purchase a membership.

After signing up, you’ll head to an electronic golf ball dispenser and receive a bucket of balls, each containing an undetectable computer chip inside.  These balls are assigned specifically to you and the system uses the chip to track your shots.

Insert your Membership Card into the electronic ball dispenser to receive your golf balls

With a bucket of balls in hand, you are now ready to head to the two-story range, find a bay and start golfing. When it’s your turn, place your balls in the holder and drop one ball at a time through the dispenser so the scanner can read the ball and record your score after you hit it.

Throughout the range are a number of targets varying in size. Targets close to the driving range are smaller, approximately five yards wide. The further away the targets get from the golfer, the wider they become. In the middle of each target is a pin. The closer you get the ball to the pin, the more points you can score. The targets farther away are naturally worth more points. For example, the target farthest from the range, simply landing anywhere within the zone scores the golfer six points, whereas getting very close to the pin in one of the shorter targets will only net a golfer four.

View of the targets from a second story bay.

There’s also extra points offered throughout the golfer’s round. The 11th ball of every game is a bonus ball. If you get your ball in a certain area of a certain target, the score for that shot doubles. Additionally, making shots in a row helps increase your score.

Top Golf can be fun for all golfers, no matter your handicap. There are all sorts of contests to level out the playing field. There are accuracy games you can play on the closest targets; consistency challenges for hitting the same targets consecutively; and of course, for the big hitters, driving contests aimed at the range’s farthest target.

Throughout your games, servers stroll through the area, offering food and drinks at reasonable prices.

If you are looking to make your visit to Top Golf a family affair, the facility also has one of the biggest miniature golf courses in the area. There are two different 18-hole courses. To play, it costs just six dollars for kids under 13 and seven for adults.

So while you may not be able to play with the pros in Augusta this weekend, you can feel like one, competing with your friends at Top Golf.

-David

Alexandria, VA Market Report – 3/9/11

Old Town Alexandria is a year round tourist area and the showcase of the city. As you leave the city on the south end and follow Route 1 you pass through diverse neighborhoods leading down to Ft. Belvoir.

Leaving the city going north brings you to Crystal City, and going west towards I-95 will bring you to The Mark Center at Seminary Rd. I mention these other locales in that they are all part of the Army’s BRAC program, the base relocation program that will bring more than 20,000 jobs to that area.

With the City of Alexandria right in the middle of it all, it offers the best of all worlds for those seeking shorter work commutes and all the fine amenities of an All- American city. The early part of 2011 shows an improved market condition from the previous year and a continued upward trend in prices.

Of the 116 units sold, only 15 were single family detached with an average sales price of $755,880. The remaining 101 were attached housing with an average sales price of $400,301. So the townhouse/condo market is seeing the most activity for now.  Interest rates are still very low so now is a great time to take advantage of an opportunity to find your home in a vibrant location near world-class shopping and dining. Spend your summer evenings on the Alexandria waterfront and visit your favorite night spots before your short drive home.

Market data and commentary by Charlie Carroll, Managing Broker at Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for homes in the City of Alexandria, and the rest of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

A Charming Winter Evening in Old Town Alexandria

When the thermometer drops and the wind turns brisk, many people head indoors for the comfort of a soft couch and a crackling fire.

But some places are made for visiting when the mercury is low and jackets, scarves, and mittens are a must. In the D.C. area, no winter season is complete without an evening out in Old Town Alexandria.

Built in colonial times, Old Town retains a great deal of the original feel and character of the 1700s. And while it’s a delight to visit any time of the year, cold winter nights really bring out the charm of the neighborhood.

To begin a wonderful evening enjoying Old Town, park near the corner of Union Street and Wales Alley. From there, head to a brick building with wrought iron lanterns outside. If Union Street Public House feels like something out of the Revolutionary War, it’s because it is. The restaurant was built inside an old Colonial warehouse and still feels like one with exposed brick interior walls.

Union Street Public House

When your meal is over, walk a block down Union Street to the Torpedo Factory. While no longer in service, the building really was a missile manufacturing plant during World War II.  It now houses studios for local artists and a gallery that’s open six days a week. Be sure to check online to see what exhibit is on display (Currently showing is “5 x 5” a small works photography collection that is part of FotoWeek DC). The best day to visit the Torpedo Factory is Thursday, when the gallery stays open an extra three hours, until 9 p.m.

After viewing the gallery, head out the back of the building to witness an Alexandria institution. Set up on a pier overlooking the Potomac River you’ll find Jamey Harper making beautiful music using just stemware, water and his own fingers. He conducts amazing symphonies with wineglasses and it’s a sight that needs to be seen to be believed.

Continuing along the pier, you’ll find Founders Park, where gravel paths meander along the banks of the Potomac River. Gaze across the water and see the newly constructed Wilson Bridge and the ever-expanding National Harbor. Look up and you can catch planes landing at Reagan National Airport. When you’ve finished strolling through the two-block park, turn around and head back toward King Street for one of the prettiest walks in all of America.

A few blocks west, the massive monolith that is the George Washington Masonic Memorial comes into view. Rising well above the surrounding area, the brightly illuminated building is stunning at night, and can be seen from any spot on the road. It’s wonderful to walk all the way up King St., surrounded by quaint shops and restaurants, and sit on the steps of the temple and look at the expanse below. If the winter chill is getting to you though, a warmer treat awaits.

George Washington Masonic Memorial

At the corner of King and Washington sits a Cosi. The chain is ubiquitous in Washington nowadays, but the King Street location was originally an XandO and it retains the charm from its pre-chain days. Sit in the lounge and grab an order of S’mores, which comes to the table with a tiny fire pit and burning flame, over which you can roast marshmallows.

A fine way to end a crisp, cold night.

-David

Alexandria, VA Market Report – 11/6/09

The market statistics for October are remarkably similar to those in September for the City of Alexandria, Virginia:

• New listings: 239 (-1%)
• Total active listings: 478 (-1%)
• Under contract: 79 (-1%)
• Closed sales: 164 (+1%)

Last month we were hearing that discussions were underway in Congress to extend the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit. Well, it’s official now. The Senate and House have passed the bill and this afternoon the President signed it through. In addition to extending the existing credit, it has also added a provision for “step-up” buyers, that is, those who have lived in their homes for at least five consecutive years and are looking to move to a new home. This credit is for $6,500. The extended time allows for purchaser’s to be under contract by April 30, 2010 and settled by June 30, 2010.

Market data and commentary by Charlie Carroll, Managing Broker at Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for homes in the City of Alexandria, and the rest of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

Alexandria, VA Market Report – 10/7/09

The City of Alexandria is a quaint Historic District located across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. It has been home to many historical figures since before the American Revolution. The city is made up of several neighborhoods with homes in all price ranges–from subsidized housing to million dollar properties. The official Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRlS) statistics for the month of September have not been released as of yet but the following represents some of the market activity for the month.

• New listings: 244
• Total active listings: 500+
• Under contract: 85
• Closed sales: 149

It appears that new inventory is being added to the market which will begin to satisfy the buyer demand. Approximately two-thirds of the homes sold in September were under $500,000. First time buyers are hurrying to get under contract and to settlement before the end of November to qualify for the $8000 federal tax credit. There has been conversation from politicians expressing support for an extension of this benefit. It appears to have bi-partisan interest and we’re hoping Congress acts favorably. The time has never been better for buyers to purchase a home. Sellers can take advantage of the pent-up demand for homes now while the inventory of homes remains low.

Market data and commentary by Charlie Carroll, Managing Broker at Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for homes in the City of Alexandria, and the rest of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

Alexandria, VA Market Report – 9/25/09

The activity in the City of Alexandria parallels Arlington County. Both are close in proximity to Washington, DC with Metro Access.

• New listings: 241
• Pending sales: 179
• Closed sales: 168
• Average sales price: $436,273
• Average DOM: 66

August statistics for 2009 are consistent with those of the previous year. The average sales price is down by 6.5%, but the median sold price is up 3.25% reflecting a little more activity in the higher end properties. Meanwhile, the average days on market (DOM) dropped only 2%. There were 179 contracts approved, but 241 new listings replaced them in the active inventory. Condo sales accounted for half of the sales for the month.

Interest rates remain favorable as well, making conditions just right for buyers.

Market data and commentary by Charlie Carroll, Managing Broker at Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for homes in the City of Alexandria, and the rest of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com