Newcastle's Newest Social Hub Swings into Action

The owners of Newcastle’s latest ‘active-tainment’ venue, Rippit Golf, are on a mission to create Australia’s number one golf experience venue, and they’re well on the way.

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Rippit Golf has golfing technology that is unique within Australia, plenty of golf-based activities for novices and pros alike, a bar with 12 beers on tap and a kitchen that serves arguably Newcastle’s best pizza. Located in Broadmeadow, off Lambton Road, it’s open seven days per week.

The brainchild of John Schneider and Aaron Spalding, who worked together for 20 years at Schneider’s Computer Systems Australia, the pair are keen golfers who have both been on the board of the Merewether Golf Club and wanted to bring their skills in technology to improve golfing in Newcastle. Schneider sold the business in 2018, and they created Rippit Golf, which has developed in stages – Mini-Golf opened in 2022, the bar at Christmas 2023 and the state-of-the-art Driving Range in May this year.

“We’re at full capacity now,” said Operations Manager Mark Forster, who has worked for Rippit Golf for two years.

“John and Aaron are both proud Novocastrians who wanted to give back to Newcastle. When it comes to our technology, we are second to none anywhere in the world. It’s a game changer – literally!”

Forster refers to the technology behind the Driving Range, which features Uneekor Launch Monitors and Power Tee. This industry-leading technology provides feedback to the player on each shot in terms of ball flight and the characteristics of the swing, enabling players to improve their game. The Power Tee tees up the ball for you!

“This technology provides greater access to the activity for different groups in the community. It’s popular with school groups because they get instant feedback and with the older sect and people on NDIS because they can participate without having to bend and move too much."

"We have golfers ranging from two years old to our oldest at 96!”

“We are a fun place for everyone. For serious golfers, we’ve got state-of-the-art technology, we have seven golf pros on site that give lessons and clinics, and our virtual golf courses (the Simulator Bays) have an unusually high level of capacity. After all, we are run by tech nerds! Golfers can virtually play on 650 courses worldwide; we have 95 of the top 120 courses.

“Then for the less experienced golfers and families they can have a go on the Driving Range, the Simulator Bays and, of course, enjoy the Mini Golf. We recently discovered that Mini Golf is a widely accepted safe first date option, and apparently, we’ve helped a lot of love on the way here!

There’s an outdoor seating area, and on Sundays over summer, there’ll be live entertainment with families encouraged to come and spend the day on the Mini Green to get the kids off their devices – there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Friday nights there will be a DJ on the Driving Range, targeted at the 20 to 40 age group, and the Make Friday Funner promotion, which includes $10 Mini Golf, $3 bubbles and $15 schnitzels from 4pm to 6pm.

“The aim is to create a relaxed, chilled vibe after a big working week and to provide somewhere you can have some fun and keep some money in your pocket for the rest of the weekend. It’s also worth noting that kids eat free on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.

“We’re on a mission to be the good guys in Newcastle. We support a lot of community groups, such as Newcastle Cricket and Newcastle Netball. We’ve just joined Newcastle Jets in Business, and we have three charity partners that we are passionate about. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter are our neighbours and we’ve built a great relationship, the Mark Hughes Foundation because we Kurri boys stick together, and Ronald McDonald House, which was there for my family when my daughter had a serious injury. Newcastle is the sort of place where if you give to the town, the town will give back to you.”

The team at Rippit Golf are heading into peak Christmas party time (they also sell Christmas Gift Vouchers and have a great selection of gifts from the Pro Shop), and in January, they will be running an event to search for Newcastle’s Longest across six Sundays with the finals taking place on 15 February. They’ll be searching for the longest male, female and senior golf drives. The winner will take away a pallet of Travla beer.

In terms of the future, Forster promises that there’s more to come, both for the venue and in terms of tech. Watch this space (and visit www.rippitgolf.com).