Outdoor activity giant, Zip World, has launched a brand-new activity at its Llechwedd site in North Wales.
The adventure company behind the world’s fastest zipline has broken yet another record and developed the world’s first cavern-style underground golf course. The introduction of Underground Golf represents the next stage in the evolution of North Wales’s new tourism offering.
A total of eight local businesses and 13 local contractors helped Zip World’s in-house team to develop the new attraction, and with over 535,000 visitors visiting their sites each year, the new adventure is set to add to the demand.
Launching July 29, the activity is set 500ft below the ground in a disused mining cavern, and only accessible by Europe’s steepest cable railway. Visitors to the park will be transported back in time and challenged to take on the 18-hole course.
The impressive build, which is perpendicular in shape and purpose-built to fit the cavern space, was an engineering feat and a first for Zip World and its sub-contractors. Each shipment had to fit into an opening no bigger than 1.2m and a purpose-built system was created to transport the construction materials to a loading bay deep underground.
Underground Golf welcomes adults and children aged three and above and will be the 21st attraction at the resort. Other activities on offer at Zip World’s Llechwedd Slate Caverns site include a four-person zip line, an underground bouncy net playground, a high ropes obstacle course and a deep mine tour.
Sean Taylor, founder of Zip World, said: “It’s always a great feeling being able to announce a brand-new attraction and the launch of Underground Golf is no exception. We were keen to introduce an activity that was inclusive to families and groups of people of all ages without taking away the thrill and excitement factor.
“The setting is what makes Underground Golf so unique and it’s unlike any other adventure golf course. It’s a superstructure built to impress, and we weren’t afraid to push boundaries or incorporate a number of quirky ideas throughout, such as ending the course via a slide.
Andrew Hudson, commercial director at Zip World, added: “We’re always consciously trying to make use of the space we have, and we wanted to draw even more attention to this vast underground area and showcase the uniqueness of this historic location.
“The crazy golf market has been evolving for a while now and thanks to the introduction of new technology and innovative adventure course designs it’s come a long way from windmills and tacky-themed experiences! We wanted to create something that allowed our consumers to have fun and interact with each other all whilst in a breath-taking subterranean setting.”
