Latest news with #X-Golf
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Multifamily Golf Amenities That Top The Leaderboard
The first couple decades of this century witnessed a marked decline in golf's popularity. Some 1,200 golf courses were shuttered nationwide, and from 2003 to 2018, U.S. golf participation plunged by 6.8 million participants. Golf pros feared for the sport's future. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic, and its corresponding recommendation of social distancing. Moving outdoors onto the wide-open golf links seemed an ideal response. Interest in the game has surged ever since, and is reflected in the growing popularity of golf simulator experiences like TopGolf and X-Golf, as well as in golf driving ranges. The opportunity to play a round on 3D virtual representations of legendary golf courses has hooked legions of linksters. Golf simulator settings have become a relaxed place for fun, social gatherings, as well as corporate events and team-building experiences. Never one to pass on crowd-pleasing features that can attract move-ins to their residential offerings, shrewd developers have increasingly found reason to incorporate golf simulators into their buildings. The move ensures residents can hone their swings or play a round with friends without ever booking a tee time. Here's a look at several residential communities that top the leaderboard in golf-related amenities and extras. Pairing Up Wingspan Development Group nicely leveraged proximity to not one but two courses when it developed The Ruby at Brookfield Square in Brookfield, Wisc., a western suburb of Milwaukee. With the courses literally across the street, Wingspan opted to bring the game to the residents, guaranteeing golfing fun regardless of rain or shine. The developer incorporated a year-round golf simulator as one of the many amenities residents can enjoy within the 231-unit apartment community. The property's golfing enthusiasts can perfect their games on the simulator before transitioning immediately south to the 54-year-old Brookfield Hills Golf Club, or immediately east to the century-old Westmore Country Club, one of the nation's premiere private clubs. 'In a market like Wisconsin, where the golf season is really only seven months [long]Optima, Inc., an architectural firm and developer with properties in the Chicago area and Arizona's Valley of the Sun, integrates golf simulators in various ways. They fit nicely alongside indoor hoops and pickleball courts at Wilmette, Ill.'s Optima Verdana, and Chicago's Optima Lakeview. They join basketball court, squash courts and bocce courts in Chicago's Near North Side Optima Signature. At 7190 Optima Kierland in Scottsdale, Ariz., the golf simulator didn't sway resident Morris Lippert's decision to ink a lease agreement, but since has become part of his golf routine. 'I hadn't really used simulators before moving in,' he says. 'But now I use it once or twice a week to take shots between rounds at my club, where I usually play two to three times a week.' Indoors, outdoors Both an indoor golf simulator and an outdoor putting green are attractions at Apex 41, an apartment community managed by RMK Management in Lombard, Ill. Both help golf-enthusiast residents polish their games between contests at several area courses. Golf simulators are a terrific way to perfect swings and savor sociability all year long, says Diana Pittro, executive vice president of RMK Management Corp. But, she adds, 'Low-tech golf amenities like outdoor putting greens are convenient when residents want to practice their short game in the fresh air, without driving to a course or range.' The student housing sector hasn't overlooked the popularity of golf, as evidenced by communities such as The 87, a newly constructed student housing community near Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind. The property's Tee Box Sports Lounge, designed by Mary Cook Associates, features a golf simulator, TVs tuned to sports events and a pop-a-shot basketball game. Not just student golfers have flocked to the simulator. It's also proven popular, when not booked by students, by building staff. With golf's ascendency in full flight, look for more multifamily communities to get into the swing of things by viewing inclusion of golf-related amenities as par for the course.
Techday NZ
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Techday NZ
X-League golf finals unite Aussies & Kiwis with tech & team spirit
Nine teams from across Australia and New Zealand will compete in Melbourne this month for the title in X-Golf's X-League, described as Australasia's largest technology-powered golf competition. The event, now in its 14th year, brings together participants from cities including Christchurch, Darwin, Perth, Cairns, and several Victorian regions. Teams are comprised of self-described weekend hackers and more experienced golfers, each with their eyes set on the championship, which will be hosted at a facility in Clyde North, south-east of Melbourne. The X-League was created by Melbourne-based brothers Ben and Charles Styles in partnership with Korean developers. It serves as a platform that blends traditional golf with advanced simulator technologies, such as high-definition cameras, lasers, impact sensors, and infrared systems, to provide accurate shot tracking and realistic play. The competition runs across three 10-week seasons per year, with teams of three contesting nine-hole matches using handicap scoring. Over 1,000 players engage in the league annually through X-Golf's 32 venues spanning Australia and New Zealand. The reach of the X-League is evident in the diversity of its finalists, with teams hailing from Christchurch, Darwin, Perth, Cairns, and other cities. Contestants include workers from various backgrounds, such as tradespeople and office colleagues, reflecting the accessible nature of the competition. "The buzz is real," said Christchurch X-League finalist Justin Salter. "We went from hitting balls after work to preparing to fly to Australia for the Championship. It's certainly the most any of us have achieved in sport and we still can't believe it!" Participation continues to rise in line with broader trends reported by Golf Australia, which noted a 9% year-on-year increase in the sport's uptake. In tandem, the growth of Esports in Australia is notable, with recent market research estimating that the local Esports industry will generate over AUD $200 million in revenue during 2024. The X-League aims to provide an alternative to solitary golf by encouraging team play and competition through digital technology. According to Nick Treble from X-Golf, the league offers an experience that merges the camaraderie of team sports with the realism of advanced simulator technology. "You've got the mate ship of a local footy team, the buzz of Esports and the realism of the best tech currently on the global market," he said. "We're very proud to reimagine the traditional game of golf and to bring the opportunity to get involved to more interested players than ever before." Finalists from Darwin have also highlighted their surprise at progressing through the competition. Terry, a participant from the Northern Territory, commented on the surreal experience. "We're what you'd call the quintessential Aussie hackers," Darwin X-League finalist Terry laughed. "Every time we say it out loud, we still can't believe we won this thing and that we're heading off to represent the NT." This year's championship prizes are valued at AUD $20,000, with winners also set to receive a trip to the Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links in Tasmania. The championship event is scheduled for the last week of August, with venues located in various urban and regional areas, including Townsville, Toowoomba, Marion, Balcatta, and Launceston, as well as Christchurch and other locations in New Zealand. X-League's continued expansion suggests ongoing interest in combining traditional sports with modern digital experiences, and the league's organisers report strong engagement from both recreational and competitive golfers.
