Central Florida

Tap In Tavern Launching Food and Beverage at Zen Springs Golf Club

Here are the details on Zen Springs' food and beverage, plus more about a new 18-hole course.

Image from Zen Woods Golf Club

DUNNELLON, FL — Tap In Tavern is set to anchor the food and beverage program at Zen Springs Golf Club at 20650 SW 80th Place Road, Dunnellon, FL 34430, with related concepts already operating in Inverness and under development in Ridge Manor, director of food and beverage Andrew Ferrel told Business Debut.

Ferrel oversees food and beverage for Zen Woods in Inverness, Zen Springs in Dunnellon and Zen Oaks in Ridge Manor, he shared with Business Debut in a phone interview. Each course will carry the Tap In Tavern menu in formats tailored to the site, Ferrel said.

What to Expect

Ferrel said Zen Woods in Inverness operates as a nine-hole par-3 boutique course with Toptracer bays and a calendar of glow golf, night golf and live music. The course uses globe balls, black lights and a blow-up stage for bands and DJs, he told Business Debut. The property also sets up lawn games such as giant beer pong and a putting area for guests.

Zen Springs in Dunnellon is adding Toptracer technology, night golf several nights a week and an outdoor bar supported by a food trailer, Ferrel said. He shared that plans include music bingo, music trivia with Gypsy Sparrow, live music on weekends and nighttime scrambles and leagues.

Zen Oaks in Ridge Manor is undergoing restoration of an 18-hole championship course with a 20-bay Toptracer range and an 18-hole putting course, Ferrel told Business Debut. Ferrel described Zen Oaks as a flagship property for the group.

Ferrel said Tap In Tavern serves as the core food and beverage concept across Zen Woods, Zen Springs and Zen Oaks. Zen Woods already runs Tap In Tavern from a food trailer with a wide-ranging menu, and Zen Springs will use a mobile kitchen and commissary model built from that operation, he told Business Debut.

The Tap In Tavern menu lists wings, shareable appetizers, salads and bowls such as poke bowls, rice bowls and Korean steak bowls. Flatbreads and handhelds are central, including items like the Balsamic Steak Bomb with shaved steak, arugula, roasted garlic mayo and balsamic onion jam, according to the menu. The menu also includes burgers, chicken sandwiches, fish tacos, a kids menu, and desserts.

Ferrel said glow golf events feature buffet spreads built around rotating themes, including taco bars and barbecue. At Zen Oaks, he is planning a full-service kitchen and a separate banquet kitchen to support catering, along with Tap In Tavern branding and a small rotating dinner menu with entrees such as veal Milanese, steaks and smoked items.

Opening Timeline

Zen Woods in Inverness is open with a full Tap In Tavern food and beverage operation and has already held a ribbon cutting with the city, Ferrel told Business Debut.

Zen Springs in Dunnellon was taken over in June and is targeting about three months from that point for full food, beverage and Toptracer operations, subject to licensing and build-out, he said.

Zen Oaks in Ridge Manor, at the former Whispering Oaks Golf Club site, is targeting the end of this year for completion of course restoration and the launch of its full kitchen, banquet facility, and Toptracer complex, Ferrel shared.

Hours

Specific operating hours for Zen Woods, Zen Springs, and Zen Oaks are to be announced. Ferrel said teams are planning regular weeknight programming and expanded evening activity on weekends as new features open.