New Lange modular building company sees opportunity in golf

With its newest company, ModuAll, Lange — the parent of Lange Real Estate, RedGuard and more — sees strong potential for modular buildings locally and across the country.

One of those opportunities is in golf.

ModuAll is behind the modular quick service restaurant building for Wichita's first Sticky Bird. But officials at Lange also believe they've found a market in a game that the public is increasingly viewing as more fun and accessible thanks to the popularity of Topgolf.

"Topgolf has really set a new market standard when it comes to golf and entertainment," said Adam Tannehill, networking officer at Lange and a former collegiate and professional golfer. "Country clubs and golf courses are trying to figure out how to do that with their own members."

ModuAll's modular hitting bay buildings can have two, three or four bays, and the company has the flexibility to add further amenities — such as bathrooms or breakrooms — depending on the needs of a client.

Tannehill said the idea was spurred by a nonprofit that had reached out looking for a hitting bay option in an indoor facility, but it did not have the funds available for a traditional ground-up build.

In addition to modular hitting bay buildings being a potential lower-cost option for nonprofits and educational institutions, Tannehill said Lange also saw demand with country clubs and public courses whose users may not have the appetite for lengthy on-site construction times.

With modular buildings, they're constructed off site and then are moved to the designated location on a specific delivery date.

Tannehill said there is also demand for modular buildings used as "halfway houses," a station between holes on a golf course where players can use the restroom and grab a drink or snack as they work through their round.

"One of the things that we've seen ... members do not like disruption on their course," he said. "They don't like to have us out there for six to seven months to build this — so that's where ModuAll comes in. We're able to build this inside our factory, produce it and put it into place."

Tannehill said he couldn't disclose names, but that he expects a deal to close with ModuAll's first modular golf building client by the end of the month.

For clients, ModuAll would only handle the building work and would not tackle the netting or any other construction features outside of the modular structure.

Joe Robertson, Lange brand manager, said costs for the modular buildings can vary, as ModuAll has flexibility in meeting a client's budget and feature needs.

"That's the beauty of this thing," he said.

As for modular QSR restaurant buildings, in addition to working with Sticky Bird as it preps to open later this summer at 616 S. Tyler in west Wichita, ModuAll is also engaging with 7 Brew Coffee on locations.

According to a recent ModuAll and Sticky Bird news release, ModuAll — which leverages the experiences of its sister companies Lange Real Estate and RedGuard — sees its flexible approach connecting well with restaurateurs as it "offers full-service real estate site selection, construction, site prep and building installation services under one roof, but can also provide tailored services a la carte to meet the unique needs of each partner."

In addition to restaurants and golf buildings, Robertson said there is interest in Kansas and beyond in the company's modular housing structures — also including lodging structures at remote golf course sites.

Overall, Lange sees "exponential growth" potential in the business, Tannehill said.

Robertson said while Lange has significant modular building experience with RedGuard, that company focuses specifically on blast-resistant buildings and heavy industrial.

"ModuAll opens us up to a whole nother world of opportunities," he said.