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A new kind of golf experience is teeing off in the Barossa, and it’s flipping expectations of what the sport can look and feel like.
The Nest Golf Studio has opened as Barossa Valley’s first 24/7 indoor golf studio. It’s a high-tech, premium, weather-proof way to play, train and learn, without stepping onto a traditional course.
Created by local couple Rashelle Eastwood and her partner Jed, the studio is already gaining popularity. First-timers, serious golfers and curious locals have been checking it out in its opening weeks. Officially opening on 12 January, The Nest welcomed close to 100 players through its doors in the first few weeks alone, a response Rashelle says has confirmed there was a real gap to fill.
The studio was designed as a year-round alternative to outdoor golf, especially appealing during extreme summer heat, winter nights, or for people short on time.
Rather than positioning itself as a replacement for outdoor courses, The Nest is intentionally framed as a training and development space. “Of course, you can’t replace being out on a course,” Rashelle says. “But this gives people a place to train, practise and build confidence, then take that back outside on the weekend.”
The studio uses Trackman iO technology, the same elite system used by many professional golfers, giving players access to hundreds of virtual courses and detailed swing data. Despite the high-end tech, the focus is firmly on approachability. The space has been kept small and calm, with two simulator bays operating inside a private studio-style setting.
“We wanted it to feel welcoming and homey, not overwhelming,” Rashelle explains. “New technology can be intimidating, so I personally walk everyone through the system.”
While Rashelle and Jed co-own the business, it is female-operated day-to-day, something still rare in the golf world. Rashelle says that was intentional.
“Golf can be intimidating, especially for women who are learning,” she says. “I wanted to create a space where everyone feels comfortable, beginners, women, kids, older players, anyone who wants to give it a go without feeling watched or rushed.”
The 24/7 access for members has also opened the doors to a surprisingly diverse crowd. Shift workers are dropping in outside regular hours, new parents are booking late-night sessions once the kids are asleep, and older locals are finding a way to keep playing without tackling 18 holes in the heat.
While The Nest doesn’t operate as a hospitality venue, the focus on training is only set to grow. Plans are already in motion to bring coaches into the space and expand to a third simulator bay within the next year, depending on demand.
For Rashelle and Jed, who’ve been together since their teenage years and are now raising two children in the Barossa, the studio is the outcome of a long-held dream to start their own business, and something meaningful for their community at that.
“There was nothing like this out here,” Rashelle says. “We wanted to create something that people genuinely enjoy using, and that brings something new to the Barossa.”
The Nest Golf Studio
Where: 3/6-10 Railway Terrace, Nuriootpa
When: Open 24 hours
For more info, click here.
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