Wollongong Golf Club hopes to cash-in on overseas golfing tourism and after-dark games, revealing plans to build a double storey driving range at its beach-side course.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club has lodged an application with Wollongong City Council to build 44 hitting bays over two levels at the southern end of the CBD clubhouse.
If approved, the driving range would be built in two stages, with the upper level connecting to the golf club’s bar and kitchen.
The ground level bays would be used by pro-shop staff for lessons and members to practice, while the upper levels “will be used to encourage a more relaxed social atmosphere, akin to barefoot bowling”.
The landing area would involve part of the existing sixth and 18th holes, prompting a “minor” reconfiguration of the course. The plans also include construction of a golf cart shed to house carts, maintenance equipment and ball collection equipment for the driving range.
To “reduce the risk of errant trajectories” the golf club plans to keep its existing 20 metre fence along Corrimal Street.
A report from “golfing expert” Ken Tannar attached to the application says a net of this height would mean less than one ball per day (0.79 balls a day) would cross the net. However, he said high winds may cause 2.7 balls to fly over the net.
He said a net double the height of the existing one was needed for “full containment”, but believed balls crossing the 20 metre net would land in trees or water, rather than on the road.
Destination Wollongong’s Mark Sleigh backed the driving range plan, writing in a letter of support that it could be “one of the most iconic golfing experiences in NSW”.
He said golf tourism was acknowledged in Destination NSW’s Chinese tourism plans as a “priority area” and noted the driving range project would be “a unique selling point” for Wollongong compared to other regional areas
“The opportunity to practise at the facility at night, while playing a range of courses during the day would be extremely attractive to golf tourists,” Mr Sleigh said.
According to the application, the driving range will also “significantly increase” the golf club’s revenue, providing a way for “time poor” members to play golf after work and in wet weather.
“A growing number of the population are time-poor, with many people working long hours and as a result, golf participation is declining,” the application said.
“The proposed driving range will provide many social benefits ... including the diversification of current tourism offerings in the city centre and contribute to the evening economy.”
The proposal is on exhibition until September 23.