Tag: indoor golf

North Lakes Mates Swing Into National Indoor Golf Finals

Powered by high-tech simulators, three North Lakes golfers are swinging into Australasia’s largest indoor golf championship in Melbourne.

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From Cricket Pitch to Golf Simulator

Three North Lakes friends have earned a place in Australasia’s largest indoor golf championship, representing South East Queensland at the national finals in Melbourne later this month.

Photo Credit: Supplied

Shane Myers, Paul Fraser and Jason Ash first met as cricket teammates before turning to X-Golf, a tech-powered indoor golf competition. Busy schedules, injuries and family commitments made cricket harder to continue, prompting the switch.

Photo Credit: Supplied

Within a year of joining their local X-League, they advanced through seasonal matches to reach the national final. The championship will bring together top teams from across Australia and New Zealand.

A Growing Sporting Trend

The X-League is run across 32 X-Golf venues in Australia and New Zealand, attracting more than 1,000 players annually. Each year features three 10-week seasons where teams compete in nine-hole, handicapped match-play rounds. 

Photo Credit: Supplied
Photo Credit: Supplied

Winning teams advance from local venues to state contests before reaching the national championship. The 2025 event will be held at X-Golf Clyde North in Victoria on 30 and 31 August, with nine top teams from across Australasia.

More Than Just Golf

The friends said that while the technology and competition are exciting, it is the social aspect that keeps them coming back. X-League games are far from the quiet traditional golf setting, with friendly banter and laughs throughout the night. 

Photo Credit: Supplied

According to X-Golf representatives, the format combines the camaraderie of local team sports with the pace and energy of esports, making golf more accessible to a wider audience.

Technology Meets Accessibility

X-Golf simulators use high-definition cameras, lasers, impact sensors and infrared tracking to capture every shot with accuracy. This blend of technology and sport has helped drive a nine per cent year-on-year increase in golf participation in Australia, according to industry data. 

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The national growth of X-League also reflects the wider popularity of hybrid sports experiences that merge physical skill with digital tools.

Published 13-August-2025

North Lakes Tradies to Compete in National Indoor Golf Event

Three North Lakes tradies are swapping their work boots for golf shoes as they prepare to compete in the prestigious Australia and New Zealand Indoor Golf Championship later this month.

Read: Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre in Petrie Validated as Olympic Venue

Joshua Govan, Dominic Jenkins, and Matthew Lowe, high school friends turned indoor golf enthusiasts, have qualified as finalists among 58 other teams from South East Queensland.

“We’ve all worked really hard to make it to nationals, constantly getting lessons and putting work in,” Matthew shared, his excitement palpable. 

Photo credit: X-Golf/Facebook

“We’ve never had the opportunity to travel for our sport, so we’re super excited to head down to Geelong and compete against the best golfers in the League – maybe we’ll even bring the title home!”

The 12th annual X-League Championship, hosted by X-Golf, will take place in Geelong, Victoria. The North Lakes trio will face off against teams from Western Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, and New Zealand, showcasing the growing popularity of indoor golf across the Pacific region.

Indoor golf’s rise to prominence is evident in the numbers. With 3.5 million Australians engaging in some form of golf last year, the sport’s indoor variant has seen a significant surge in interest. X-League itself has experienced remarkable growth, now boasting over 1,000 competitors across the Pacific since its inception in 2012.

For Matthew, the appeal of indoor golf lies in its ability to enhance real-world performance. “You can pretty much anticipate the shape of a shot outside based on how you’re refining your skills on the sims,” he explained, highlighting the transferable skills developed through simulator technology.

The championship not only reflects the growing trend of indoor golf but also taps into the booming eSports market in Australia, which is expected to reach a staggering value of $294 billion this year. This convergence of traditional sport and technology has created a new breed of golfers, honing their skills in the controlled environment of simulators at venues like X-Golf North Lakes.

Photo credit: X-Golf/Facebook

The X-League Championships, set for Saturday, August 24, in Geelong, will host eight finalist teams competing for major prizes. These include a coveted golf trip to Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania and high-end Ping golfing equipment.

As these North Lakes tradies prepare to represent North Lakes on the national stage, their journey from local tradies to potential indoor golf champions serves as an inspiring tale of passion, dedication, and the evolving landscape of modern sports.

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For those interested in following the championship results and potentially witnessing the crowning of new indoor golf champions, updates will be available at xgolf.com.au.

Published 16-August-2024