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Mulligan's Island changes course, sells to high-tech golf giant. * By ROSEGALIE CINEUS Beacon Media Staff Writer * Aug 27, 2026 On Monday morning, Jan Violante enjoyed the nice summer weather with some golf at Mulligans. She says every time she visits the facility, she enjoys her experience, adding that the staff there are very nice. Beacon Media photo by Rosegalie Cineus Last week, Mulligan's Island LLC announced that it has agreed to sell its 64-acre property and the operating business to Golf Ranch. Beacon Media photo by Rosegalie Cineus A long-adored, local mom-and-pop landmark in Cranston is about to take its last mulligan. After more than 25 years in business, Mulligan's Island announced last Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its 64-acre property at 1000 New London Ave., and the operating business, to Golf Ranch, a growing network of technology-enabled driving ranges with six locations nationwide. According to their press release, the transaction is expected to close on Monday, Sept. 21. The facility's final day of operation under current ownership will be Sunday, Sept. 20, and construction on the renovated facility is scheduled to begin the week of Monday, Sept. 21. Michael Friedman, managing partner of Mulligan's Island LLC, said the move to sell came from a combination of different factors, but at the top of the list was that after nearly 26 years, "we had a lot of ideas on how we needed to improve the facility...to make Mulligan's Island great for the next 25 years." However, Friedman said that in that process, they realized how expensive it was going to be, and that there were other companies who were already doing a lot of what they did. "What started as almost a consulting partnership relationship turned into them looking to rebrand Mulligan's Island and bring their full Golf Ranch partnership program to Cranston," Friedman said. He acknowledged that over the years, they had also brought many different ideas to Cranston on how they felt they could develop the land at Mulligan's into what they considered "higher and better uses." Proposals included different retail like Costco to a recent idea of mixed income housing, but "it never seemed like we could reach a consensus...so that really changed our perspective." Another factor Friedman noted was when the city approved TopGolf down the road from Mulligan's, which created more competition to attract people. Friedman said this brought on some "significant urgency for us to implement changes." However, despite these different factors, Friedman said it was still a tough decision to sell the business. How Mulligan's got its start The idea for Mulligan's started in 1997 with Friedman's grandfather, who was approached by a gentleman to help in putting a golf-oriented facility on what was state land at the time. Friedman's grandfather bought the land from the state and, in the following years, the family focused on developing the land as a family entertainment version of the property with not just golf, but also mini golf, batting cages and hosting parties. A longtime family business, the facility opened in April 2001. With help from Friedman's brother, Mark, and another person named Jim Piquette, they all went in together to build what has become Mulligan's for the past two decades. A riff on Gilligan's Island - the classic 1960s TV sitcom - the name Mulligan's Island was chosen, Friedman said, out of the three different concepts presented by the ad agency they hired. In golf, a Mulligan is a "do-over," and Friedman said that keeping in line with what they felt was a learning environment encouraging people to have fun with golf and learn the game, Mulligan's was a funny way in bringing those concepts together. Mulligan's is just one of the businesses Friedman's family operates, but many of their other businesses are servicing other businesses. But Mulligan's was different. With it, they serviced consumers and developed a very community-oriented destination for people. From hosting parties and fundraising events for nonprofits to community concerts and food truck events, Friedman said it's been a great experience "to be able to share something built with your neighbors and your community on a daily level." "It's a generational impact," Friedman said, explaining that through Mulligan's, many young people have found jobs and met their spouses at the facility. "What we found over the subsequent 25 seasons was that Mulligan's Island meant something to everybody in the state," Friedman shared. "It really resonated with people. They share memories from it. When you say, 'Mulligan's Island' to them, they have an emotional reaction, and that's a unique experience for me." In response to the news, Mayor Kenneth Hopkins acknowledged Mulligan's long history in the community, and he said the best part of the announcement is that the memories many families have made at the facility won't have to end. "I welcome Golf Ranch to Cranston and appreciate their commitment to improving the property, while building on what has made Mulligan's Island such a special part of our community," Hopkins said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to seeing what they create and to welcoming families back when the new facility opens next spring." Friedman said some of his favorite memories over the years have been the many parties they've hosted with their own family celebrating milestones. "In a world where everyone seems to be tied to their screens, this is a place where people can go out and get away, get outside, have fun the old-fashioned way," Friedman said. "And that's been fun." Jan Violante has been coming to Mulligan's almost every season. An avid golfer, Violante says she's been playing the sport since she was 25, adding that it's a nice way to get some exercise and have fun. She described Mulligan's as a great place for families, noting that the staff at Mulligan's is always pleasant, and that the facility is in a beautiful spot. Violante, who lived in Cranston for 35 years before moving, said she hadn't been aware of the news regarding the upcoming change in ownership, but she felt reassured that the facility itself would remain the same with some improvements. New ownership to bring in major improvements With a grand reopening planned for spring 2027 under new ownership, Friedman said that, rather than any major changes, what people may see at the facility are major improvements. And he says with the little he does know, in learning what Golf Ranch does at its other facilities across the country, he believes that it's going to be a "really positive improvement for everybody." Friedman said he already feels nostalgic about this transition, noting that it will be sad, but he explained that this move comes as an answer to people's calls over the past couple of years for a major renovation. According to the release, planned improvements include Trackman Range technology at every hitting bay, a three-bay indoor/outdoor golf performance center, an extension to the covered tee line with new Cover the Tees hitting bays, a shaded relaxation space behind every bay and renovations to the short-game practice area. Visitors can also expect to see changes made to the driving range experience, along with expanded food and beverage service and improvements to the mini golf course and batting cages. Thinking back on what he says has been an amazing experience, Friedman is reminded of a quote that someone once told him. "When you started Mulligan's Island, no one thought they could live with a family entertainment center next to their homes, and now nobody feels they can live without it." Friedman shared. "And I really take that as a pat on the back and an affirmation of the work that the team has done over 26 years to make this a place that people have an emotional attachment to and enjoy."

Mulligan's Island acquired by Top Golf competitor. Posted: Aug 19, 2026 / 06:32 PM EDT Updated: Aug 19, 2026 / 06:33 PM EDT The Cranston landmark announced Wednesday that it has been acquired by Golf Ranch, a Top Golf competitor that describes itself as "a growing network of technology-enabled driving ranges." The outdoor entertainment center's final day of operation under current ownership will be Sunday, Sept. 20. Golf Ranch will then renovate the entire 64-acre property with the goal of opening it back up by spring 2027. "Since we opened in 2001, Mulligan's Island has been where Rhode Islanders learned the game, celebrated birthdays, went on first dates and spent summer nights with their families," Mulligan's Island managing partner Michael Friedman said. "But after 26 seasons, the property deserves an investment bigger than any one family can make." "Golf Ranch is going to give this facility the reinvestment it has earned," he continued. "I'm proud that what we built here is going to continue and get better." Specifically, Golf Ranch plans to construct an indoor-outdoor golf performance center with three private bays. Each of those bays will be covered and equipped with ball tracking technology. Golf Ranch will also expand the entertainment center's food and beverage offerings, and extensively renovate the miniature golf and pitch-and-putt courses, as well as the batting cages. | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | Daily roundup.