Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent
Now there’s no excuse not to play a round at Yamba Golf and Country Club in even the most extreme weather after last week’s unveiling of a high-tech golf simulator which uses tournament technology to deliver a realistic golf experience.
The only one of its kind on the Far North Coast, Yamba Golf Simulators Trackman facility uses radar technology used to track missiles to relay specific details of a golfer’s swing and ball contact to deliver high resolution 3D graphics.
Yamba Golf and Country Club Golf Operations Manager Chris Durrington said by using local trades to help build the two bays used to house the massive screens, the club saved $100,000.
“Around the world 30 per cent more golf is played indoors these days, than actual rounds on the course,” he said.
“In April this year we got some quotes and we decided to do it ourselves, which turned out even better…local tradesmen built the bays for us, there were local electricians, and a local IT man hooked it up for us.”
Mr Durrington said players use a regular golf club and ball which is hit into the screen and the software measures the full flight of golf shots from 4 feet to 400 yards with impressive accuracy.
“The radars that the Navy use to track missiles are built into the software and hardware so it’s very accurate,” he said.
“It tracks the ball as soon as you hit and it detects speed and spin and direction and converts it into data, which it shows on the screen, how far it’s going, how fast it’s going, which way it’s being influenced by spin.”
The simulator caters for all ages, Mr Durrington said, with children’s games available too.
The Professional Golfers Association PGA uses the same technology on every tee, Mr Durrington said to deliver ball distance and speed for television broadcasts.
Growing in popularity worldwide and used by hundreds of professional golfers to hone their technique, the simulator allows you to play more than 85 of the world’s best courses, with up to eight players.
“The Australian courses you can play are Bonnie Doon and Royal Melbourne, and they are releasing new courses all the time,” Mr Durrington said.
“The members are saying they really like it and it’s a good investment, especially coming up to Christmas, if it rains it provides things for people to do in town.
“With the option of playing the kids games, it will give locals and tourists a new activity to try over the holidays.”
Yamba Golf Simulators are set up in the club’s auditorium but can be easily and quickly packed away to allow for any functions, Mr Durrington said.
“The way it’s been designed and made, we can pack it away quickly and it folds away into almost nothing,” he said.
“Plus, you can use it at functions…we used it for the Melbourne Cup and people hired out the bays so they could sit and watch the races on the big screen.”
Mr Durrington said just in time for the Christmas holidays, Yamba Golf and Country Club will be introducing the online menu ‘Me and U’ system, so people can order and pay on their mobile phones.
Golf Simulator prices start at $20 for 30 mins for one player, or $80 per hour for a group of four, and club hire is available.
Bookings can be made on www.yambagolf.com.au or by calling the club on 6646 2104.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 30 November 2022.
