Open for business: New South Wales Cross Border Comissioner James McTavish opened the new facility with Sporties president Gary Hunt.
Photo by
Isabelle Harris
A new virtual sport and entertainment facility at Sporties in Barooga was officially opened on Friday, December 3.
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The $1.4 million Golf Entertainment Precinct features an 18-hole mini golf course and four high definition multi-sport simulators.
The simulators can be booked in timeslots of up to three hours and feature simulated sports including shooting, soccer and golf.
The mini golf course has been created by award-winning course architects Mini Golf Creations and is designed to cater to every golf ability.
Putt putt: The new mini golf course is expected to cater for everyone young and old.
Photo by
Isabelle Harris
New South Wales Cross Border Commissioner James McTavish, who opened the precinct, said the facility upgrade would bring a broader economic benefit to the area.
“People (will be) coming into Barooga and Cobram for a weekend, they’ll be playing golf, visiting their family and friends you know, contributing to the economy in that way,” he said.
“There’s also the direct economic benefit of people spending money locally, so local people spending money locally and increasing the use of the facilities here.”
“There’s also the pivotal role of the club plays in promoting Barooga socially means that any investment here is just an investment in the community fabric and social fabric we have here,” Mr McTavish said.
Berrigan Shire Mayor Matt Hannan echoed this sentiment and said the facility will help encourage tourists to return.
“Economically it’s going to be massive, the biggest sports club in the shire in the last 18 months,” he said.
“To be able to get all this infrastructure in place to come out of COVID restrictions is going to have a huge impact on Berrigan Shire, and especially the Cobram and Barooga touristy area.”
Line ‘em up: An event attendee tries out a shooting game on one of the multi-sport simulators.
Photo by
Isabelle Harris
Sporties CEO Bobby Brooks said the point of the attraction was to provide a wider variety of tourism attractions in the area.
“We’re a traditional golf sports club with all the normal hospitality attractions and we’ve probably lacked engagement with families to some degree,” he said.
Traditionally, the club has focused on hospitality aspects including food, beverage and golf.
“Both of these attractions, the mini golf and the simulators, it’s got a real family focus to it,” Mr Brooks said.
“That is absolutely the aim, more visitors and in different revenue streams to our traditional means.”
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