The industrial landscape of Oberhausen, Germany, has recently become the backdrop for a sophisticated fusion of sport, leisure, and high-end audio engineering. Gastro Golf, a forward-thinking operator in the "eatertainment" sector, has unveiled its latest venture, The Pitch. This indoor minigolf facility, located within a repurposed industrial warehouse, transcends the traditional expectations of a recreational venue by offering a high-energy club atmosphere. Central to this immersive environment is a state-of-the-art audio installation featuring 18 Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers, a system that streamlines power, audio signal, and management through a single network cable.
The transformation of the site—formerly a warehouse for a flower wholesaler—into a 760-square-meter, two-story entertainment hub required a meticulous approach to both interior design and technical integration. While the facility maintains its heritage through floral-themed décor and a massive central blooming tree, the underlying infrastructure is purely 21st-century. The integration, handled by Oberhausen-based Mike Tec Eventtechnik, represents a landmark case study in how networked audio can solve the complex acoustical and aesthetic challenges of modern multi-use spaces.
Architectural Transformation and Design Philosophy
The conversion of a commercial warehouse into a leisure destination involves significant structural and conceptual shifts. The Pitch is designed to function as a chameleon-like space, transitioning from a family-friendly afternoon venue to a high-octane evening destination featuring live DJ sets and a cocktail lounge atmosphere. This dual-purpose requirement dictated the need for an audio system that could deliver pristine clarity at low volumes while maintaining punchy, distortion-free performance during high-SPL (Sound Pressure Level) events.
The venue is split across two primary levels. The ground floor houses an intricate 18-hole minigolf course, while the newly constructed mezzanine level features a sophisticated bar area and a dedicated darts lounge. To honor the building’s history, the design team utilized artificial floral arrangements throughout the course, anchored by a large flowering tree that extends from the ground floor up to the lounge level. This vertical integration created a unique architectural volume that, while visually stunning, presented significant challenges for sound distribution.
Defining the Acoustical Vision and Technical Requirements
From the project’s inception, the operators of Gastro Golf were clear about their sonic objectives. Mike Terbeck, Managing Director of Mike Tec Eventtechnik, noted that the client demanded a "club-like" feel characterized by a robust bass foundation. However, this could not come at the expense of speech intelligibility. Guests needed to be able to converse comfortably without shouting, a common issue in large, reflective industrial spaces.
The technical brief specified a system that was virtually invisible yet sonically dominant. The open architecture of the warehouse, characterized by exposed steel trusses and a lack of flat wall surfaces, made traditional mounting difficult. Furthermore, the minigolf course itself is a maze of obstacles made from a variety of materials—some sound-absorbent and others highly reflective—creating a complex "acoustic shadow" environment.
To address these hurdles, Mike Tec Eventtechnik collaborated with Christoph Czempiel of Filterworks, who was responsible for the facility’s lighting design, and Volker Holtmeyer from Audio Pro, Genelec’s German distribution partner. The team conducted on-site testing using loaner equipment to map the acoustic response of the hall under real-world conditions before finalizing the hardware selection.
The Chronology of Installation and System Selection
The installation process followed a rigorous timeline, beginning with the structural reinforcement of the warehouse to accommodate the mezzanine level and ending with the fine-tuning of the Dante-based network. The decision to utilize Genelec’s Smart IP series was driven by the need for a decentralized, flexible system that could be managed remotely and scaled easily.
Volker Holtmeyer of Audio Pro played a pivotal role in the system design, selecting specific Genelec models and determining their optimal placement to ensure uniform coverage. The final configuration consists of:
- Seven 4436A Smart IP Pendant Loudspeakers: These units are suspended over the minigolf course. The pendant form factor was chosen to bypass the lack of mounting walls and to deliver sound directly to the playing areas from above. The wide dispersion characteristics of the 4436A allowed the team to cover the entire ground floor with only seven units.
- Three 3440A Smart IP Subwoofers: Also suspended from the ceiling, these subwoofers provide the "bass foundation" requested by the client. By offloading low-frequency duties to dedicated subwoofers, the main pendant speakers can operate with greater headroom and lower distortion, which is critical for evening DJ sets.
- Eight 4430A Smart IP Wall-Mount Loudspeakers: These larger bookshelf-style units are deployed in the entrance area, the bar, and the darts lounge. They provide the mid-high frequency detail necessary for a premium lounge experience.
Power over Ethernet and the Digital Backbone
The most significant technical advantage of the installation is the use of Genelec’s Smart IP technology. Traditionally, a high-performance audio system would require a central rack room filled with power amplifiers, heavy-gauge copper speaker wire, and separate control cables. The Smart IP approach replaces this with a single CAT cable for each loudspeaker.
The system utilizes Power over Ethernet (PoE+), which delivers both electricity and high-resolution digital audio (via the Dante protocol) to the active electronics inside each speaker. This eliminated the need for external amplifiers, significantly reducing the facility’s carbon footprint and installation labor.
The "brain" of the network is a Netgear AV Line M4250 switch. This specialized switch was chosen for its high PoE budget of 1,440 Watts, ensuring that every one of the 18 speakers receives full PoE+ power simultaneously. This is particularly important for maintaining dynamic range during loud musical passages. The use of the Dante protocol allows for pixel-perfect synchronization between all speakers, preventing the "echo" effect often found in large halls where sound travels at different speeds from different sources.
Operational Flexibility and User Experience
For the staff at The Pitch, the complexity of the underlying technology is hidden behind a simple, user-friendly interface. Using a dedicated control tablet, employees can switch between various presets tailored to the time of day and the size of the crowd.
"In the afternoon, we have subtle background music that complements the family-friendly atmosphere," Terbeck explained. "In the evening, the system shifts gears. The subwoofers take over the heavy lifting, and the volume levels rise to meet the energy of a live DJ, all without losing the clarity that allows people to socialize at the bar."
This flexibility extends to the physical installation as well. Because each speaker is an independent node on a network, the venue can be reconfigured without rewiring. If Gastro Golf decides to create distinct audio zones—for example, playing different music in the darts lounge than on the golf course—this can be achieved through software adjustments in the Genelec Smart IP Manager software.
Aesthetic Integration and Stakeholder Responses
Beyond the technical specifications, the visual impact of the technology was a primary concern for project manager Sebastian Bayer. The Pitch features an elaborate aesthetic design, and the integration team was determined that the audio hardware should not distract from the floral and industrial themes.
The choice of black housings for all Genelec units allowed the speakers to blend seamlessly with the black steel support structures of the warehouse roof. "The space is so visually rich that the technology needed to be invisible," Bayer noted. "The pendant design of the 4436A looks more like architectural lighting than a loudspeaker, which fits the ‘club’ vibe perfectly."
Christoph Czempiel of Filterworks added that the streamlined nature of the CAT-cabling made his job as a lighting designer much easier. "In a ceiling already crowded with trusses, ventilation, and lighting fixtures, finding room for bulky speaker cables is always a challenge. A single thin network cable is easy to hide and easy to route."
Broader Impact and Industry Implications
The successful launch of The Pitch serves as a compelling argument for the adoption of IP-based audio in the hospitality and leisure sectors. As "eatertainment" venues continue to grow in popularity, the demand for high-quality, flexible, and easy-to-manage AV systems is reaching an all-time high.
The use of Genelec Smart IP at The Pitch demonstrates three key trends currently shaping the industry:
- Convergence of IT and AV: The transition from analog wiring to networked solutions allows for greater diagnostic capabilities and remote monitoring, reducing long-term maintenance costs.
- Sustainability through Efficiency: By eliminating separate amplifiers and reducing the amount of copper cabling, venues can achieve high-end results with a smaller environmental footprint.
- Enhanced Consumer Expectations: Modern audiences, accustomed to high-fidelity sound in their homes and vehicles, no longer tolerate the "tannoy-style" paging systems of the past. The Pitch proves that even a minigolf course can—and should—sound like a world-class lounge.
As Gastro Golf looks toward future expansions, the blueprint established in Oberhausen provides a scalable model. The ability to plan for future additions simply by ensuring a CAT cable is available makes the facility "future-proof," a critical consideration in an era of rapidly evolving digital standards. The Pitch stands as a testament to the fact that when industrial heritage meets cutting-edge Finnish audio engineering, the result is a hole-in-one for both the operator and the guest.
