Topgolf saved over $11.3 million after leaving VMware

Topgolf has successfully migrated 12,000 virtual machines from VMware to VergeIO’s VergeOS platform, resulting in savings exceeding $11.3 million. The transition was prompted by a projected 400 percent increase in VMware licensing costs following Broadcom’s acquisition. Scott Forehand, Topgolf’s global infrastructure manager, noted that the company had a long-standing relationship with VMware, utilizing vSphere, ESXi, and VxRail for decades to support its global network of over 100 locations. Despite deep historical ties—including active participation in customer councils—the significant price hike necessitated a shift in infrastructure strategy. By moving to VergeOS, Topgolf managed to avoid the steep cost increases while maintaining the operational stability required for its interactive golf games and real-time digital analytics. This migration highlights the growing trend of enterprises re-evaluating their virtualization dependencies in response to changing vendor pricing models and the pursuit of more cost-effective cloud infrastructure solutions.