THERE are few enough golf courses on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast that we shouldn’t welcome another one – even if it’s not of a resort standard, or the likely home of a future Queensland PGA Championship.
In fact it’s a nine-hole course situated on 9ha of land at Diddillabah, less than 8km from Maroochydore beach, and is known as Dojo Golf Club – ‘dojo’ being the Japanese word for ‘practice’.
And that’s the purpose to which operator Atomu Watanabe intends to put the facility.
“It’s not officially a golf course,” said Watanabe, a former associate professional at Horton Park Golf Club, who was part of high-profile coach Grant Field’s team at Pelican Waters before launching his own indoor Sunshine Coast Golf Centre in 2020.
“It’s more a facility to keep young golfers in the game – a gateway between hitting balls on a driving range to playing a full-size championship course,” he said. “It’s part of my vision of a golf eco-system.”
The course, which is being transformed by Andy Boswell, the superintendent at nearby Nambour Golf Club, comprises a 360m par-five hole, two par-fours and six par-threes.
Watanabe says it is intended that players use seven-irons from the tees on the longer holes, and the use of drivers is not encouraged.
He took out a lease on the property before Christmas, and immediately began a program of land improvement and maintenance.
Watanabe says he plans to schedule regular open days at the property, situated at Gibbs Court, off Diddillibah Road, between Maroochydore and Nambour. These will cost $40 and include a round of golf, equipment and tuition.
“If somebody wants to just come and give it a go, on their own or with a mate, there’s no charge,” said Watanabe.
He said he has gained the support of some Sunshine Coast golf clubs, whose practice facilities are limited, and their members will be welcome to play at Dojo Golf Club.
Watanabe said anybody wishing to play should phone him on 0400 666 527.
