Golf Daze: taking the game anywhere

Mark Forster thought he had a pretty good handle on who Golf Daze's first customers would be. Corporate clients, golf clubs, junior programs and major sporting events all featured prominently in the business plan … weddings certainly didn’t.

Yet when Australia’s first mobile golf simulator officially launched, the very first booking – invoice number 0001 – came from a bride in the Hunter Valley who wanted to surprise her golf-mad groom with something memorable while the bridal party disappeared for photographs.

“It was a fantastic afternoon,” Forster recalls. “The bride and groom headed off for their photos and everyone else stayed behind hitting golf balls, having a drink and having a great time. It actually became difficult to drag the groom away from the simulator when it was time for him to have his photos taken.”

That first booking proved to be more than just an enjoyable afternoon. It validated the thinking behind Golf Daze and confirmed something Forster and his business partners had only hoped might happen. People didn’t have to be passionate golfers to enjoy the experience. They simply had to be looking for something different.

Within days, two more bookings had come directly from guests who attended the wedding, while the venue itself invited Golf Daze back to become part of its ongoing events offering.

“You always think you have a good idea,” Forster says. “But when people experience it for themselves and immediately start talking about having it at their own wedding or function, that’s when you realise you’ve created something people genuinely enjoy.”

Founded in the Hunter region by Forster alongside entrepreneur and Camplify founder Justin Hales and investor and ambassador Clint Newton OAM, Golf Daze has taken one of golf’s fastest-growing trends and added a uniquely Australian twist. Instead of asking people to visit a simulator venue, the simulator comes to them.

Housed inside a purpose-built caravan custom-designed by JB Caravans Australia, Golf Daze combines premium technology with complete mobility, allowing it to be set up anywhere. Whether parked beside the fairway at a golf tournament, outside a conference venue, at a wedding reception or in the middle of a country showground, it delivers the same immersive golfing experience.

We spent a lot of time finding the right people to help us bring the van to life,” Forster says. “Alex and Sharon at JB Caravans have more than 25 years of experience building some of Australia’s premium caravans, as well as extensive business interests across the globe.

Golf Daze is bringing an immersive golf experience to events and audiences far beyond the traditional golf course. (PHOTO: Supplied)

“When they first saw what we were creating with GolfDaze, they immediately recognised the potential. They not only helped us bring the vision for the van to life, but also believed strongly enough in the business to invest in GolfDaze themselves.

“Having people with their experience, knowledge and networks behind us has been incredibly valuable. Sharon has since taken that commitment a step further and joined the GolfDaze Board of Directors, which is a huge vote of confidence in what we’re building and where we believe the business can go.”

At the heart of the experience is Full Swing KIT technology, the same simulator platform developed with the input of Tiger Woods. More than 1000 courses are available in stunning 4K resolution, while sophisticated launch monitor technology captures every aspect of ball flight, providing detailed feedback for golfers wanting to analyse their game.

Forster says the technology is impressive enough to satisfy elite players while remaining incredibly accessible for complete beginners. “You can play a full round of golf, hit every club in the bag and even putt,” he says. “For golf professionals there’s an enormous amount of data available, but for someone who’s never picked up a club before, it’s simply a really enjoyable experience.”

That accessibility has become one of Golf Daze’s greatest strengths. While corporate functions remain an important part of the business, the company has quickly expanded into children’s birthday parties, charity days, sporting events, agricultural shows and community festivals.

“We get asked all the time who our target market is,” Forster says. “The answer is that it’s really everyone. We certainly wanted to work with corporate clients and golf professionals, but we also wanted to create something that could introduce more people to golf.”

That philosophy extends well beyond entertaining existing golfers. Golf Daze will feature at Golf Australia events, the Royal Melbourne Show and the Royal Adelaide Show, giving thousands of people who may never have visited a golf course the opportunity to hit their first golf shot.

“Our goal is simply to get a golf club into as many people’s hands as possible,” Forster says. “We all love the game and if this helps more people discover how enjoyable golf can be, then we’ve achieved exactly what we set out to do.”

Once the simulator arrives at an event, it rarely takes long before a crowd begins to gather. While nearest-the-pin and longest drive competitions remain popular, one particular challenge has quickly become a favourite.

Golf Daze is housed inside a purpose-built caravan custom-designed by JB Caravans Australia. (PHOTO: Supplied)

Known as “Guess Your Drive”, the competition asks participants to predict how far they believe they’ll hit the ball before taking their swing. The simulator then measures the actual distance, with prizes awarded to those whose estimates are closest. “It’s amazing how many people think they hit it 300 metres,” Forster laughs.

The competition has become a popular team activity, with wildly optimistic predictions often producing the biggest laughs. “It creates a fantastic atmosphere because people are cheering each other on and comparing their guesses. It becomes just as much about the fun as the golf.”
Another feature adding to that atmosphere is Golf Daze’s live digital leaderboard, displayed outside the caravan. Whether it’s nearest the pin, longest drive or Guess Your Drive, competitors can watch the standings update in real time, creating plenty of interaction throughout the day.

“It keeps everyone engaged,” Forster says. “People are constantly checking the leaderboard to see who’s moved into the lead or whether someone has knocked them out of first place.”

While entertainment sits at the centre of the business, Golf Daze has also developed strong relationships with charitable organisations. Among the company’s early clients have been Ronald McDonald House and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, with every dollar generated through those events donated back to the organisations involved.

“It’s one of those organisations you hope you never need, but you’re incredibly grateful it’s there. Being able to support them through what we’re doing is something we’re really proud of.”
As Golf Daze’s reputation continues to spread, the business has reached a stage every start-up hopes to achieve. Demand is beginning to outstrip capacity. The company is now actively seeking franchise partners around Australia, although Forster insists maintaining quality is more important than rapid expansion.

“We’ve developed all of the systems and backend support operators will need, and we’re currently putting together national partnerships,” he says. “But we’re also being very selective because protecting the brand is incredibly important.

“We’re looking for people who love the game and want to introduce others to it,” Forster says. “There are genuine business opportunities available, but it’s important that everyone represents the brand the right way.”

These days, people don’t need to belong to a golf club, own expensive equipment or even know the rules to enjoy the sport. They simply need to walk into the caravan, pick up a club and have a swing.

Judging by the response so far, that’s proving to be a winning formula. What started as an innovative idea conceived in the Hunter Valley has quickly evolved into a business introducing thousands of Australians to golf in places they never expected to find it. Whether it’s entertaining wedding guests during cocktail hour, raising money for charity, adding something different to a corporate event or creating a memorable attraction at one of the country’s biggest public shows, Golf Daze is demonstrating that sometimes the best way to grow the game isn’t to wait for people to come to golf. It’s to take golf directly to them.

For more information or for franchise enquiries, find out more here.