UTS and GolfSpace join forces to increase accessibility of golf

SYDNEY, Australia – University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and GolfSpace, a premier indoor golf experience, have announced a pioneering collaboration aimed at revolutionising the way Australians play golf, exploring innovative ways to get more people playing the sport over the next 10 years.

The collaboration between the Sydney-based golf club, headquartered in Alexandria, and the UTS Human Performance Research Centre, marks the beginning of a groundbreaking journey into golf performance research and innovation, with a mission to fundamentally change how golf is practiced, learned and played – including by those who have never picked up a club before.

Those struggling to master the art – and science – of the swing or navigate the often complex world of golf course strategy, will have the opportunity to find faster routes to success with the research aiming to show how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve golf practice and coaching for all levels.

The collaboration marks the start of an era where advances in data-driven golf coaching will lead to transformative advancements in how players apply new skills, train and enhance their performance. The research streams will tackle pressing questions in golf training, skill retention, injury prevention, and player development. Through the research, the hope is to uncover an innovative AI-led coaching tool that will make it easier than ever for Australians to elevate their game to the next level.

GolfSpace and UTS have committed to becoming the epicentre of domestic and international golf performance research by 2030. The body of research will push the boundaries of how players approach their game, helping golfers of all abilities, improve in more efficient and effective ways. The collaboration will also focus on bridging the gap between simulated and real-world golf, ensuring that indoor practice translates seamlessly to outdoor play.

The launch of this collaboration comes amidst the growth of a global trend that has seen golf evolve from being a purely outdoor pursuit to one enjoyed indoors, through the proliferation of sophisticated indoor golfing experiences. These experiences enable players to play a full 18 holes – but in a quarter of the time it would take on an outdoor course while also providing dedicated coaching and training.

GolfSpace has seen its membership base surge by over 300% since January 2024. The company is also currently conducting a capital raise on an equity crowdfunding platform. This funding will support the expansion of its flagship Alexandria venue as well as support the planned opening of a new premium venue, Golfspace Black, in a Sydney CBD location, by 2025. Further expansion is planned over the next three years as part of the company’s plans to revolutionise indoor golf across Australia.

Dean Dewhirst, Founder of GolfSpace, expressed his excitement about the opportunity: “Our collaboration with UTS represents a bold new approach to golf performance. Golf is an iconic sport and a fantastic game to play with great potential to increase the volume of players and extend the participation of new and existing enthusiasts. We know many out there want to take their game to the next level, while others find it difficult to get into the sport altogether, especially because it can be technically challenging. We see a significant opportunity to bring a lot more players into the game through innovation in coaching to make it a lot more accessible.

In bringing together GolfSpace’s world-class facilities and coaching expertise with UTS’s renowned research capabilities, we’re not just enhancing how people play golf – we’re transforming the science of golf itself. And that can only mean good things when it comes to growing the sport domestically. We’d love to help unearth the next stars to follow in the footsteps of Adam Scott, Jason Day and Hannah Green.”

Distinguished Professor Aaron Coutts, Director of the UTS Human Performance Research Centre, added: “ Recent technical advancements have opened up new ways to assess golfing performance, however, this is only just the beginning. Our research will delve into new areas, providing invaluable evidence-informed insights into factors that underpin golf performance, including biomechanics, skill optimisation and player development.

This collaboration with GolfSpace will lead to new ways of training that are both scientifically validated and practically effective. In turn, we foresee this enabling a significant change in the way any golfer approaches their game, giving players more tools than they have ever had before to improve their performance.” 

The first phase of research will begin immediately with multiple programs running back to back over the next four years. Each program is expected to take up to 9 months to complete.