A local couple is behind an exciting new sporting and entertainment venture in the heart of Jamisontown.
Located inside the former Valentino’s pizzeria on York Road, X-Golf Penrith is being billed as “the ultimate indoor golf and entertainment experience”.
Husband and wife team Matt and Kylie Newton opened the state’s third X-Golf franchise in the area earlier this month, and it’s already got tongues wagging from golfers and non-golfers alike.
The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with six simulators, providing access to the world’s best digital courses, driving range and fun modes like putt-putt and mini golf.
Newton, who was born in and has lived in Penrith his entire life, said after more than a decade in the joinery business, he was eager for something new to invest in.
“We had a joinery business in Penrith for about 15 years… I love golf and this came across my desk and we started to seriously look at it,” he told the Weekender.
“My wife and I visited various X-Golf venues around Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and we liked what we saw.
“I saw a gap in the market for it out here and when we contacted X-Golf they said western Sydney, and Penrith in particular, was a location they wanted to be in – especially with the new airport coming.”
Similar to how ten-pin bowling reinvented itself over the last decade or so, X-Golf markets itself as an entertainment venue instead of just a place to hit golf balls into a giant screen.
With music pumping through the ceiling speakers, X-Golf Penrith is a fully licensed venue with a large full-service bar, yummy food, TVs to catch all the live sports, and a swanky lounge area where you can cheer others on while you wait your turn.
“It’s really targeted at the entertainment market as much as the golfing market,” Newton said.
“All golf simulators use very similar technology but X-Golf is the leading simulator in the world because the statistics that we’ve seen show that we’re the most accurate.”
X-Golf Penrith caters to players of all levels, offering golf lessons from PGA professionals who provide expert advice, golf swing analysis and game analysis.
This week, X-Golf also kicked off their X-League competition, which sees teams of three compete against each other in a fast format, handicapped round robin event with weekly and final prizes.
“To keep things exciting, we have 40 different courses from around the world – many that golfers would know from the PGA and European tours,” Newton said.
“We’re the perfect venue for your bucks night, birthday celebration, school holiday activity, Christmas party or fundraiser.
“Or perhaps age means you can no longer get around an 18-hole course anymore, or rain has washed out your golf day with mates, we want to be the place you go, to get your golfing fix.”
X-Golf Penrith is open seven days a week. For more information and to book, visit xgolf.com.au.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.