Birdie Club, a golf simulator, will open next to the new Isgro Pastries and Angelo’s Pizzeria in South Philly
Beer, wine, and snack items designed for eating between swings will be on the menu at the family-friendly Birdie Club.
By the end of the year, you’ll be able to order a cheesesteak, buy a cannoli, and play a round of simulated golf all within a few steps of Swanson and Wolf Streets in South Philadelphia.
Birdie Club, an indoor golf simulator whose first location opened in 2023 in Tampa, Fla., will occupy much of the ground floor of 21 Wolf St., part of a onetime warehouse that Isgro Pastries hopes to open this summer as a commercial bakery with a small cafe.
Across Wolf Street, Angelo’s Pizzeria is also expanding its footprint by moving into the shuttered Federal Donuts & Chicken location. Up Swanson Street, the former Inolex Chemical plant has been cleared for a retail development.
Birdie Club owner Adria Rebbecchi and her husband, Brad Ricciardi, say they plan to feature five Trackman simulator bays designed for practice, casual play, and family-friendly games.
This will become Birdie Club’s third location. Rebbecchi and Ricciardi, who hope to open in October, are licensing the concept from a friend who opened the original. A second Florida location is expected to open soon, Rebbecchi said.
“We’re really golf-first,” said Rebbecchi, a Philadelphia native who returned to the area about five years ago after living in Tampa, where the couple met while she was in college. “The simulators have everything — you can play courses from around the world, and there are games like mini golf and things for kids — but the emphasis is on the golf.”
Rebbecchi concedes that the golf bug in the household belongs more to her husband. “I mostly stick to the mini golf and the games,” she said with a laugh. “Brad’s the golfer. He’s about a 20 handicap.”
The couple plans a pared-down food and beverage program. They are seeking a liquor license but expect to serve only beer, wine, and canned hard seltzers rather than a full bar. Food will be simple and golf-themed: hot dogs with toppings, plus soft pretzels and snack items designed for eating between swings.
Rebbecchi said the area’s mix of industrial buildings, long-established rowhouse blocks, and easy I-95 access made it a natural fit for the concept. She and her husband were married at the nearby 2300 Arena in 2019.
“We always felt that part of South Philly had so much potential,” she said. “There are a lot of families nearby. It just felt like the right place.”
Indoor golf simulators are multiplying across the Philadelphia region, carving out a niche that blends sports practice, nightlife, and corporate entertainment.
Five Iron Golf operates three Philadelphia locations. In Conshohocken, Fairways & Dreams Indoor Golf operates a six-bay simulator facility with memberships, lessons, and leagues aimed at serious golfers.
In Delaware County, X-Golf Garnet Valley combines simulator play with instruction, leagues, and a bar.
In South Jersey, venues have opened or expanded in recent years, including Dogleg Golf in Cinnaminson, Elevate Golf Lounge in Barrington, and Sector X in Cherry Hill, which combines simulators with an arcade, restaurant, and full bar — a sign that the category is evolving into broader “eatertainment.”
Even venues that are not strictly golf businesses are entering the space. Ballers Sports & Social in Fishtown includes simulators among its sports-themed attractions, and private clubs such as Fitler Club offer them as member amenities.