Major milestone in long-term strategy to support pediatric healthcare, strengthen region and serve local families
MADERA, Calif., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Valley Children’s Healthcare and Topgolf, the global leader in sports and entertainment, celebrated the groundbreaking of Topgolf San Joaquin Valley, a milestone for both organizations and the first major tenant in Valley Children’s planned mixed-use development.
The new facility on the Central California campus of Valley Children’s Hospital is a significant milestone toward fulfilling Valley Children’s vision of a community development that includes retail, dining, hospitality and entertainment offerings.
“We are celebrating Topgolf breaking ground here today and even more importantly, what this moment represents,” said Valley Children’s Healthcare President and CEO Todd Suntrapak. “Healthcare organizations across the country face significant challenges, and we have a responsibility to think differently about how we sustain our mission. Our partnership with Topgolf will help us build a stronger foundation so we can deliver the programs, services and extraordinary care our children and families rely on every single day.”
Topgolf San Joaquin Valley will feature 72 climate-controlled hitting bays, a full-service restaurant and bar, expansive arcade, patio and family-friendly mini golf course. The venue will also showcase a first-of-its-kind design for California and marks Topgolf’s first-ever partnership with a children’s hospital.
“From the moment we visited Valley Children’s, we knew this was something special,” said David McKillips, CEO at Topgolf. “Topgolf exists to bring people together, and there’s no better partner for that mission than a hospital that’s spent decades doing exactly that for families across the Valley. This venue brings something new to our California footprint, and we couldn’t be prouder to help strengthen this community for years to come.”
“Families travel up to hundreds of miles for specialized care, often spending days, weeks or even months away from home,” said William Chaltraw, Jr., president and chief administrative officer of Valley Children’s Hospital. “This development is about creating a more welcoming experience for children, families and visitors, while continuing to invest in the community that supports them.”
Construction is now underway, with Topgolf San Joaquin Valley expected to welcome its first guests in summer 2027.
About Valley Children’s Healthcare
Valley Children’s Healthcare provides Central California’s only high-quality, comprehensive care exclusively for children, from before birth to young adulthood. Our network offers highly specialized medical and surgical services to care for children with conditions ranging from common to the highly complex at its 358-bed stand-alone children’s hospital. In addition, the Valley Children’s Healthcare network includes specialty care centers, pediatric primary care practices and women’s health services.
Our family-centered, pediatric services extend from a leading pediatric cancer and blood diseases center on the West Coast, and a pediatric heart center known for its expertise and pioneering treatments, to an 88-bed Regional Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the highest-level referral center between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
Valley Children’s was the first children’s hospital west of the Rockies to receive Magnet ® Nursing designation, the highest nursing benchmark in the world. In 2026, U.S. News and World Report named Valley Children’s one of the best children’s hospitals in the country in pediatric neurology and neurosurgery. With more than 740 physicians and 4,000 staff, Valley Children’s delivers high-quality, comprehensive care to more than 1.3 million children from Kern County to the state capital and from the Central Coast to the Sierra. For more information, please visit www.valleychildrens.org
About Topgolf
Topgolf is the ultimate instigator of play. Thanks to our 100+ venues around the globe, which are powered by industry-leading Toptracer technology, we’re leading the charge of modern golf. We offer a variety of tech-driven games, a top-tier food and drink menu, space to host large events, and a vibe focused on more play for all. To learn more, plan an event or make plans to come play around, visit www.topgolf.com.
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SOURCE Valley Children’s Healthcare
