Golf Simulator Bar Five Iron Opens a Huge D.C. Location in Penn Quarter | Eater DC
"I visited the new Five Iron Golf in Penn Quarter, a 12,000-square-foot, air-conditioned space at 575 Seventh Street NW that opened earlier this month and houses 10 simulator screens, a putting green, two bars, and seating for about 160 with additional bar seating and high tops. D.C. chef Bedros Alboyadjian — who once worked as an assistant caddie manager at Pebble Beach — sends out starters like mac and “cheesesteak” eggrolls, tuna poke, fritto misto, chicken lemongrass potstickers, and grilled broccolini, while a “Miami Beach” arepa with pulled pork and tequila mango salsa nods to his South Florida upbringing. Cocktails include a John Daly (a spiked Arnold Palmer), a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned, fruity margaritas, a rotating cocktail of the week and the current draft special, the “5i Transfusion” (Absolut vodka, ginger ale, grape concentrate), plus beers, seltzers, ciders, and wine; food and drinks are available starting at noon on weekdays (earlier on weekends). The simulators, which fit four to six people each and cost about $50–$65 per hour to rent, use HD video-enabled TrackMan technology to capture ball speed, attack angle, club path, and face angle, letting golfers play famous PGA courses or fictional environments like a waterfall-filled Devil’s Island and Jurassic World, try gamer modes (capture the flag, hit-a-bullseye), or book lessons, tournaments, leagues, and club-fitting. The industrial-styled space is livened by retro rainbow and pop art murals, neon golf-pun signage like “find your balls” and “talk birdie to me,” and bathrooms papered with bananas, flamingos, and jellyfish (some with showers for sweaty golfers); D.C. GM Michael Sensenig says they cater both to serious golfers who want to practice and to casual or non-golfers drawn by the art, food, drinks, and game modes. The venue opens daily (6 a.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. weekends) and closes at 10 p.m. Sunday–Wednesday and 11 p.m. Thursday–Saturday." - Tierney Plumb