A new licenced venue which labels itself “Australia’s craziest and most unique mini golf venue” is hoping to set up shop in the Wollongong CBD, according to documents lodged with Wollongong City Council.
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The GPT Group has lodged an application for a Holey Moley Golf Club to open in the space between the David Jones Food Court and Rivers store in its south Crown Street building.
The fast-expanding indoor golf course and cocktail bar – which has NSW outlets in Newtown, Castle Hill and Charlestown – is run by Funlab, which also operates Strike Bowling.
The golf club recently signed a lease under the Coca Cola sign in Kings Cross, which Funlab chief Michael Schreiber said “will help revive the Cross and make it a destination to visit again”.
At the opening of the Newtown venue in mid-2017, Mr Schreiber told Fairfax Media the golf club was aimed at Millennials who wanted experiences outside clubbing.
"A lot of old-time pastimes are now back in favour, like crocheting, Jenga and bowling,” he said.
“Hospitality now is about experiences, offering real ice-breakers and places you can have a conversation.”
“Our market, the Millennials, like 18- to 35-year-olds, want to spend money on experiences, things you can document on social media.”
The Wollongong venue will be capable of serving up to 300 people at any one time, according to the application.
If approved, it will open from 10am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 1am on Friday and Saturday.
Access to the mini-golf club will be via the normal Keira Street mall entry, or via Globe Lane, which is home to several other night time venues.
Details of the fit-out for the Wollongong venue are not included in the application, but the three other NSW outlets each have private karaoke rooms and 18 holes of mini golf. The menus are slightly different at each location, but generally include Amercian-style offerings of fries, wings, hot dogs, burgers and pizza.
At the Newtown venue, golfers tee off from The Simpsons loungeroom or in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory before moving through a split-level retro course which includes a donkey with Donald Trump's head plastered near its tail standing outside a small barn emblazoned with the motto: "Make Mini Golf Great Again".
To allow the venue to open within GPT’s Wollongong centre, the council will need to approve a change of use – from retail premises to a part ‘food and drink premises’ and part ‘recreation facility – within the shopping centre.
“The proposed change of use will have positive social and economic impacts,” GPT said.
“The proposal will contribute positively to the overall customer experience and recreational offer at the centre, particularly in regards to the activation of the night time economy.”
The change of use proposal is on exhibition through the council’s website until February 9.