Topgolf has started building a new venue on the Central California campus of Valley Children's Hospital in Madera, the company announced Oct. 6. Called Topgolf San Joaquin Valley, it is scheduled to open in summer 2027.
The venue is the first major tenant in a mixed-use development the hospital plans for its campus, which Valley Children's envisions with shops, restaurants, lodging and entertainment.
Plans call for a two-story building with 72 hitting bays that are climate controlled, along with a restaurant and bar, an arcade, a patio and a mini golf course aimed at families. Topgolf said the design is the first of its kind in California and that the project is its first partnership with a children's hospital.
Why the hospital is involved
Todd Suntrapak, who leads Valley Children's Healthcare as president and CEO, tied the project to the pressures on health systems. "Healthcare organizations across the country face significant challenges, and we have a responsibility to think differently about how we sustain our mission," he said. He said the Topgolf partnership would help the hospital "build a stronger foundation" for the programs and care families depend on.
William Chaltraw Jr., the hospital's president and chief administrative officer, noted that many families come from far away for treatment. "Families travel up to hundreds of miles for specialized care, often spending days, weeks or even months away from home," he said, adding that the development is meant to make the campus more welcoming for children, families and visitors.
