Virtual Golf Range Tapping into latest trend in Australia 108 Tower

Virtual golf ranges in residential complexes seem to be the latest trend for upmarket developments across Australia.In virtual golf concept, a resident is given a golf club where he/she can physically swing to hit a real ball which is then visualised on a screen. In the past, this practice was popular only at resorts but now residential complexes are also focused on providing such kind of facilities for its residents. Whereas now, it may be set to take off as residential apartment developers provide increasing levels of facilities to its residents. Australia 108, the upcoming highest residential tower in the Southern Hemisphere , designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects, will also soon boast the virtual golf driving range in its tower. It will be located in the "Sky Rise Club" on level 11. This golf range will be an inclusion to a wide range of facilities, including a private theatre, pool, sauna room and outdoor barbecue features. Australia 108 residential tower is not the first one to implement this. A recently completely Southbank development, Prima Pearl was also one of the adopters of the virtual golf range concept in their tower. Prima Pearl's tower manager Tony Gatto told that the it was a good selling point when the agents were advertising the apartments. It is very easy for the residents to make use of the virtual golf room, they can do this using an online booking system. The golf simulator is from X Golf, whose general manager Mr. Charles Styles explain that the system is based on real golf courses around the world. He also added that at present the courses are basically from Asia and America. "For an average game, it would take 45 minutes for someone to get through what would normally be a 3-4 hour course," said Mr Styles. He also added that the smallest room to fit a virtual golf course into would be preferably 4.5 metres wide and a minimum of 3 metres tall. Mr Styles conveyed that Melbourne would be seeing more virtual golf ranges down the line. London's Wessex House and Riverlight also include the virtual golf courses in its apartment buildings.