Golf sims popularity on the rise

TUCKED away in Golden Gully is a golf venue where you can play eighteen holes, sip a cocktail, grab something to eat, and catch live sports on the big screen all at one time without breaking a sweat.

Known as Intagolf, the venue is a golf simulator and entertainment space managed by Andrew Miller who said the facilities are becoming more popular.

“Golf sims are popping up more and more everywhere,” he said. “I guess people these days are so time poor. We’ve been there about five years now and it’s definitely grown in that time.”

The simulators use technology that makes them “99 per cent accurate” with the ability to choose courses from all over the world to play on.

And, with no walking involved it cuts the length of time a round takes down considerably.

The time-saving aspect is the simulator’s most appealing aspect Mr Miller said.

“If you say to the wife or husband, I’m going out to play a round of golf, see you in five or six hours, they’re like, ‘yeah, no chance’,” he said.

“If you’re a golfer and you don’t have a lot of time it’s just perfect to get your fix, so you get to at least have a hit. If you’ve only got a couple of hours here and there it’s a great place to play.”

Taking the weather out of the equation is another big drawcard Mr Miller said, with rainy days proofing their busiest.

“On Sunday it was pretty quiet and we didn’t have much on, and then soon as people found out it was going to be a rainy weekend, the phone wouldn’t stop ringing,” he said.

“That’s the beauty of it, if you really want to play golf that weekend and you’re excited but it starts raining you don’t have to miss out because you can come to a place like Intagolf.”

Golf simulator venues, including Intagolf have proven popular for parties and with non-golfers who want to try something different.

Mr Miller said there are also other offerings available.

“We’ve got a league night every Wednesday,” he said. “That’s a mixture of people, and ages, who play and love the competitive aspect.”