City Greens brings golf from the course to the city centre

City Greens, on Queen Street, offers three fully kitted-out golf simulator rooms for private hire and events in the heart of the city.

City Greens, on Norwich's Queen Street (Image: Adam Barker)

Since opening in March, it has welcomed golfers of all abilities: from frequent players wanting to get some practice in before work or during their lunch breaks, to complete beginners swinging a club for the first time.

Fred Anthony, who co-founded City Greens alongside Stuart Wardle, said the indoor venue will offer golfers a place to practice during the cold and wet winter months, as well as being the perfect place for work dos and date nights, with its TrackMan simulators having a range of fun, interactive games.

Fred Anthony, City Greens co-founder (Image: Adam Barker)

Golf has grown in popularity since the pandemic, with more people playing the sport than ever before.

Mr Anthony said City Greens aims to reduce barriers to entry for people wanting to play the sport.

"We've got a partnership with Takomo, who supply all of our golf clubs, so you don't have to turn up with any kit, which can easily cost thousands of pounds just to start playing golf," he said.

"It's about keeping your golf going over the winter because in this country people just drop it for five months of the year.

City Greens has three private golf simulator rooms (Image: Supplied)

"We're getting a lot of women coming to us who are noting the privacy of the bays and say when they go to the driving range they feel like they are being watched, with people judging their swing and when they hit bad shots, which can be off-putting.

"We're also getting the older generation, who are stopping playing golf for mobility reasons, who come for an hour as it is less taxing on the body than walking around the golf course."

City Greens (Image: Supplied)

City Greens offers its own memberships and is in conversations with golf clubs across the county to host events and coaching for their members.

It is also working with local schools to introduce youngsters to the sport.

City Greens hopes to make golf more accessible for people who live and work in Norwich city centre (Image: Supplied)

"We're trying to work with golf clubs and their existing members, supplementing their winter training facilities for coaches, rather than compete against them," Mr Anthony added.

"We don't compare ourselves to golf clubs, but it's a natural comparison that gets made.

"You can get this product at a golf club - but not in this location."