Mount Maunganui Golf Club is driving into the future with an exciting new project estimated at $2.5 million.
The club is planning a state-of-the-art driving range on their golf course – recently receiving a $300,000 boost to the project from the New Zealand Community Trust.
Mount Maunganui Golf Club's manager Michael Williams says the driving range is just one part of a greater 'master plan” the club created last year.
'This is phase one of implementing that master plan for the club by going ahead and doing the driving range first, but we do have plans to renovate 18 holes on the golf course as well but that will be down the track a little bit.”
The club will borrow the rest of the money to cover the shortfall for the driving range project, which is priced up at $2.5 million in total, says Michael.
Although it may be costing a bit of dough, Michael says the driving range will be a club asset for decades to come. 'It will be great for golfers to come and use for experience but also for people looking to learn the game as well. It's a great starting point before you get out on the golf course and come and get some coaching or just give the game a go.”
The driving range won't be your run of the mill set up either, says Michael. 'It'll be a short driving range, so you hit your balls into big nets for about 50 metres then each of the bays has ball tracking technology to show you where the ball would've ended up.”
With the technology, Michael says it will be an entertainment-style range. 'There will be all sorts of things you can do in there. You can practise, play virtual golf, there's even games for kids on the technology as well where you hit your ball and try blow up a monster.”
'It'll be in a nice and friendly environment and basically it's helping futureproof not only our club but I think the sport in the wider Bay of Plenty.” 'We are grateful to NZCT for their grant, which is a major contribution and easily the biggest contribution we're going to receive for this and I guess without them it just wouldn't be a reality.”
Michael says the timeframe for the driving range is dependent on the design process and council consents. 'Our early indications are we will hopefully have it open by next May-June.” Watch this space!