Australia’s largest theme park operator Village Roadshow has launched a new venture, expanding its attractions presence on the Gold Coast even further with the first Topgolf attraction to open outside of the US or Britain.

The AU$35m (US$26m, €22.5m) joint venture development brings the popular brand to Australia, which combines point-scoring golf games for all skill levels with a family entertainment centre.

Using microchipped balls, Topgolf players aim for a number of giant circular targets to score points and measure distance, completely changing the driving range experience. The three-storey venue is kitted out with 90 climate-controlled driving bays, as well as 2,690sq ft (250sq m) of private event space, while other entertainment options, such as dining, music and gaming are also on offer.

"This is an exciting time for everyone involved, with our team now focused on creating great times for all guests and we cannot wait to welcome the local community for an unforgettable experience,” said Topgolf Australia CEO, Kirk Edwards.

"While the concept is hugely appealing to golfers, the majority of our guests will be non-golfers who enjoy the social and interactive ambience, and we can’t wait to welcome them to the venue."

The Topgolf attraction sits adjacent to Village Roadshow's Movie World theme park. In addition to the 168 hectare park, the operator has a further 140 hectares which it plans to develop with new accommodation and visitor attractions.

"We’ve got the room for expansion and have looked at models like Universal’s City Walk or Disney Springs, and we believe there’s an opportunity to do something like that," said Bob White, COO of Village Roadshow, speaking to Attractions Management.

“We’d like four or five things like Topgolf on that land. We want to be worthy of three or four-day visits on our properties. Someone can, for example, spend a full day at Movie World, then go to Topgolf, then the Australian Outback Spectacular, and so on.”

The Gold Coast destination is the first of eight Topgolf facilities that Village Roadshow is planning to open across the country in what is an exclusive Australian partnership with the US-based business. Topgolf and Village Roadshow are also eyeing opportunities in Asian markets.

For more from Bob White, check out the Q1 edition of Attractions Management, available for free online here.