Co Armagh could be set to get a new state-of-the-art indoor golf course.
The development could be the latest unique sporting and leisure enterprise to locate within the county.
It is intended that it would be constructed at the Marlborough Retail Park in Craigavon.
Armagh I understands that the facility would include all manner of golfing facilities and features aimed at training, fun and competitive play.
And ‘players’ will be able to enjoy the ’19th hole’ experience with plans for a fully licensed cafe and restaurant on site.
The new outlet would create a number of jobs, both full and part-time positions, further boosting employment opportunities at the retail park.
The proposals are being brought forward by Turkington’s, the Portadown-based company behind the redevelopment of the old B&Q site at Highfield.
An application has been lodged to allow for a change of use from pre-approved retail development to leisure.
The plans relate to unit three at the park, for which permission had been given for ‘food retail’ purposes.
The proposal now is for the change of use for the ground floor retail unit and provision of a first floor mezzanine level for leisure use.
The development would stretch to over 1,500 sq metres and the intended operator is ‘Capital Green Indoor Golf’.
The facility would open at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week, with peak periods expected on weekends and school holidays, with up to 60 users an hours anticipated.
The golfing unit sits next door to what will be a new indoor trampoline park, to be run by the award-winning Bangor-based Air-Tastic, part of the Funky Monkeys brand.
Armagh I exclusively revealed plans for that exciting venture earlier in the year.
Creating 20 new jobs, it is expected to be similar to Bangor, which boasts, among other things,trampolines, obstacle course, foam pits, dodgeball, jump challenges, gladiator battle beams, huge airbag and much more!
Planning approval was given in June.
The new indoor golf course will sit well in an area decked out with leisure pursuits not particularly common or prevalent, including an artificial ski slope, with a new leisure centre under constuction too.
The golfing proposals will also add significantly to the Highfield site.
There are already plans too for three cafe/restaurant units, one of them a drive-thru, with Starbucks and Burger King two of the three lined up.
The proposals for the change of use to allow for the golf development and restaurant have been submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and are due to be publicly advertised next week.
