Westfield couple planning miniature golf course, restaurant

A Westfield couple is planning to open a miniature golf course and restaurant on State Road 32 just south of Grand Park Sports Campus.

Jessica Lynch and husband Kevin Lynch, an American Hockey League player for the Syracuse Crunch, said they expect to spend about $4 million to open the attraction, tentatively called Birdies.

Jessica Lynch is the daughter of Ted Gelov, chairman and CEO of Carmel-based Heartland Food Products Group, which makes Splenda. She said Gelov plans to invest in the business.

Plans call for the 36-hole mini-golf course to feature a natural landscape and wrap around the 7,000-square-foot restaurant. Outdoor seating, a full bar and event space are planned.

The site is a 5.3-acre property at 632 E. SR 32, between Oak Ridge Road and Commerce Drive.

“We think it’s kind of a perfect location next to Grand Park,” Jessica Lynch said. “It will be a great place for teams to come and celebrate.”

The golf course will be seasonal, but the restaurant will operate year-round. The menu will include a variety of options and fresh food, but the owners said it was too soon to name specific dishes.

The facility is expected to emply 20 to 30 people.

And, to tie together the hockey and golf theme, the last hole from the “Happy Gilmore” movie will be replicated into the restaurant design.

Construction could start within three months, with a planned opening of spring 2018. A vacant single-family home is on the property and will need to be demolished.

“We were looking for something to do outside of hockey,” Lynch said. We wanted something that's a good place for entertainment. We hope it will be a destination.”

Lynch also launched a baby clothing business called Yogababy in December.