A new “cutting-edge” indoor golf centre opened its doors on Friday, April 18, welcoming the public at Sneinton Market. Bunker in Nottingham is the newest addition to the up-and-coming indoor golf franchise set up by four Derbyshire engineers.
The venue comes equipped with five indoor golf bays where you can choose from an array of different games, practice modes and professional golf courses. The technology allows users to get an introspective look at their style of golf as the bays will automatically analyse each swing, telling you what you need to improve on in your next round.
I went along to check out the new venue and have a go. As someone who has never really tried golf, it was an enjoyable and welcoming experience.
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When I walked through the doors, I was greeted by Adam, one of the owners, who explained the premise of the venue and showed me the ropes of the technology. So while the nearby driving range does have the tracking data for the golf side, it doesn’t have the analytical side of the golf bays available at Bunkers.
Adam and Luke owners of Nottingham Bunker and Heanor Bunker
The new venue offers a mix of experiences – anything from family games or professional golf coaching to a couple of games with a group of friends, all accompanied by a well-stocked bar.
So I briefly hopped onto one of the simulators to take a few cack-handed swings on a simulated version of one of the 400 real-life golf courses they offer. After Adam kindly inputted all the details, I had a go on the St Andrew’s course, a famed UK golfing spot that is one of the centre’s most popular courses.
After teeing off terribly, the simulator then helpfully explained what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong, something that felt quite welcoming in a sport I’ve never really played. I really did enjoy the feel of the venue and the friendly welcome of the owners to their new venture.
-Credit:Nottinghamshire Live
Adam explained that professionals looking to hone their skills frequently visit their venue in Heanor when they are in the local area for a competition.
The golf isn’t the only attraction to look out for when visiting, either, with two interactive dart boards also available and a pool table coming to the venue soon.
Adam said: “It’s been going really well. We are early doors yet in terms of being open but we have had a lot of people pop down. Families have loved the games that we have available on the golf simulators. We do have a lot of people coming down to practice their golf, especially in winter when the courses are closed. People love to choose the courses that they see on the Masters all the time, so it gets quite popular after a big tournament.
-Credit:Nottinghamshire Live
“We are for the golfer, the non-golfer and families. We also have a unique feature of being able to let people play anyone from around the world that has access to one of the Trackmans, so if you had a person in Australia, you could theoretically play them.”
Open from 12pm until 10pm, the venue will look to open even earlier in the coming months. A normal session will cost around £7.50 with balls included. Adam said that the clubs are included as a freebie for a limited time, but will be available to rent after.
