HOUSTON  – Oct. 23, 2013 – Global golf entertainment leader Topgolf has been named a winner in the Large Corporate category of the 2013 British-American Business Council Houston International Business Awards.

The award program encourages and recognizes companies that have made significant contributions and demonstrated leadership to further trade, commerce, civic, philanthropic, and/or cultural relations between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Founded in London in 2000, Topgolf is the only entertainment center of its kind, offering competitive golfing games for all ages and skill levels and advanced technology to track every player’s shots. Topgolf Houston has welcomed more than 250,000 guests in its first six months of operation, quickly establishing itself as one of Houston’s most beloved recreational activities.

This year’s International Business Awards winners were announced during the annual luncheon on Oct. 15 at the Omni Houston Hotel in Houston. More than 200 executives from across the Houston area attended. Shara Fryer, anchor at News Radio 740 KTRH emceed the event. Keynote speaker was Bill Schneider, former senior analyst at CNN and a Distinguished Senior Fellow and Resident Scholar at Third Way and the Omer L. and Nancy Hirst Professor of Public and International Policy at George Mason University in Washington, D.C.

Entries for the awards were accepted from companies of all sizes and sectors doing business in both Texas and the U.K. in three categories: Small to Mid-Sized Business, Large Corporate and the Consul General’s Award for Corporate Social Responsibility. To qualify for the Large Corporate category, companies must have more than 500 employees worldwide or annual revenue greater than $100 million.

"The BABC International Business Awards were created to recognize companies, large and small, that are excelling in trade and investment between the U.K. and the U.S.," said BABC Houston Executive Director Becci Himes. "We have a very strict set of judging criteria based on percentage of revenue growth, job creation, capital expenditure and innovation. Topgolf excelled in every category. Their determination, passion, and success impressed us all. Topgolf is British-American business.”

Earlier this year, Topgolf was recognized as one of the city’s most influential real estate projects when it was awarded the Houston Business Journal’s 2013 Landmark Award for the hospitality/entertainment category. As of today, Topgolf ranks #29 of 159 attractions in Houston on the popular travel website TripAdvisor.

On July 8, 2013, Topgolf confirmed it will open a second Houston-area location to serve residents in north Houston and The Woodlands in Spring, TX. Also included in Topgolf’s 2014 development plans: Scottsdale, AZ and Alpharetta, GA.  

“Topgolf’s locations in the United Kingdom were the model from which we built the U.S. locations, so it is a very special honor for our company to be recognized by the British-American Business Council,” said Topgolf CEO Tom Leverton. “Promoting positive cultural relations between the U.K and the U.S. remains a top priority for Topgolf.”   

Details about the BABC Houston International Business Awards and the list of finalists in all categories are available at www.babchouston.org.  

About The BABC Houston International Business Awards
The British-American Business Council Houston’s International Business Awards recognizes companies’ impact within the international business community. The awards recognize the roles of small- to mid-sized companies and large corporations elevating the international esteem of the Texas business community. The awards also recognize how companies conduct their business and their leadership in the civic community.

Sponsors and partners of The 2013 BABC Houston International Business Awards include United Airlines, Wood Group PSN, Blue Atlas Marketing, The Houston Business Journal and The Hotel Granduca.

About Topgolf
Topgolf is the emerging global leader in golf entertainment, with nine locations serving more than 1.5 million guests annually. Players hit golf balls containing computer microchips that track each shot’s accuracy and distance while also awarding points for hitting targets on the outfield. Each facility offers an upscale, laid-back experience that features climate-controlled hitting bays and an impressive food and beverage menu crafted by an executive chef. Mix in dynamic event spaces for groups of all sizes, and Topgolf stands as the premier entertainment complex where the competition of sport meets the neighborhood’s favorite hangout. To learn more about Topgolf, visit www.topgolf.com.

Media Contact:
Adrienne Browne
Senior Communications Manager, Topgolf
Ph: (469) 546-5370
E-mail: adrienne.browne@topgolf.com