Belmont Golf & Bowls Club has taken a swing at propelling the organisation into the future by unveiling its new driving range.
The Marks Point-based club will host its official opening on Saturday.
The facility has an undercover 18-bay synthetic driving range with a TrackMan golf-ball tracking system, a putting green, hitting bays and a fully licensed kiosk.
It's taken three years to build the upgrade, after it was proposed to the board in 2021 by former general manager Glenn Phillips.
Belmont Golf & Bowls chief executive officer Stuart MacAskill said the technological side of golf had become more important post-COVID.
"The first thing was extra revenue for the club, but since COVID, Golf Australia has been trying to get women more involved in the game," Mr MacAskill said.
"We saw it as an opportunity to promote the game of golf in the local area and help the juniors coming through."
The club has 3000 golf, bowls and social members, of whom 169 are junior golfers.
With people becoming more time-poor due to work and other commitments, Mr MacAskill said virtual golf was becoming increasingly popular.
Instead of taking half a day to walk around and play 18 holes, golfers can virtually play some of the world's most famous courses in a fraction of the time.
"On the TrackMan facility, they've got Barnbougle, Bonnie Doon, the US Open courses, Royal Portrush, and Bethpage Black," he said.
"So you can play courses around the world, and you've got nearest-the-pin challenges."
Mr MacAskill said the club also hoped to attract non-golfers through the new kiosk.
"The gate opens to the Fernleigh Track, so cyclists and walkers can come through and get a cup of coffee or soft drink," he said.
In recent years the Hunter's golf offerings have diversified.
In 2022 Charlestown Golf Club opened its $1.5 million driving range with 26 bays using Toptracer Range technology.
Waratah Golf Club at Argenton also lodged plans with Lake Macquarie City Council in January to build an 85-metre netted driving range with 20 simulation bays and lounge suites, an 18-hole mini-golf course and a car park.
The development application is still pending.
