Indoor golf a game for all
GOLFING RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE AT NEW CENTRE
GOLFERS of all abilities — even those with none — will be able to play the world’s best courses in the comfort of an airconditioned lounge bar in Fairfield Homemaker Centre next year.
Franchisees Daniel Blinkhorn and Matt Smith are bringing XGolf to Townsville, a golf simulation game now being rolled out around Australia and the world.
“It’s amazing technology. It’s inclusive to all skill levels. We appeal to not only good golfers but also to people who just want some fun entertainment and who want to come for a drink and some food,” Mr Blinkhorn said.
The technology simulates the golfing experience indoors.
It measures the trajectory of the club and ball to replicate the ball’s flight on a computer-generated screen.
The Townsville venue will be the franchisees’ second store after opening in Enoggera in Brisbane about two years ago.
Mr Blinkhorn said they saw a really good opportunity to bring the game to a regional centre such as Townsville where it could sometimes be too hot or wet to play outside.
“Bringing another option to the demographic up there was really appealing to us. We saw Townsville as a really good fit, especially being in the same state, considering what’s happening with Covid,” he said.
The cost of a game for three or four players will be pitched from $60 an hour for the group. There will also be memberships from $25 a week and tournaments to play.
There are almost 50 courses to choose from including US tour courses like Pebble Beach in California and top Australian courses including Kingston Heath, the Metropolitan and Royal Pines.
Mr Blinkhorn said the Old Course at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland, was coming soon with an update to software but that most majestic of courses, Augusta National in Georgia, might be some way off.
Mr Blinkhorn said he understood the digital rights to Augusta, held by EA Sports, were worth $10m. Ben and Charles Styles acquired the Australian and New Zealand rights to X-golf, developed by a South Korean software engineering company, with about 14 franchise stores so far operating in Australia and more to come. The 650sq m Townsville tenancy is under construction at present as part of the next stage of Fairfield Homemaker Centre in Darcy Drive.
Townsville builder Phoenix Constructions is developing the building for Geon Property.
It will include X-golf, an Urban Climb bouldering facility, a Rackleys swim school called Fish n Flips and a Fitstop gym.
X-golf Townsville will be equipped with six golf simulators, a fully licensed food and beverage offering and a mini golf course.
Mr Blinkhorn said they hoped to open in March, depending on construction time.
They looked forward to getting in the swing of things, engaging with the community, creating local jobs and forging partnerships with other businesses, he said.