Rod, Stacey and Nathan.

BUSINESS owners Rod Newell, Nathan Hooker and Stacey McCartney are well-known faces in the Penrith community, not only for their Drummond Golf and Big Swing Golf operations on Mulgoa Road but also for their ongoing financial and moral support within the local community.

CBD Corporation Chief Executive Gai Hawthorn nominated Rod as a Legend of the Nepean and he is adamant his two business partners share the acknowledgement, as it is definitely a team effort.

“(Through Drummond Golf and Big Swing Golf) Rod and his business partners donate to Pink Up Penrith, NADO, the Luke Priddis Foundation and many more, including Henry Lawson Club soccer, who just did a Pink Up event for us, and Blaxland Redbacks for both soccer and netball. A man (and team) worthy of a mention and a legend(s) in Penrith,” Gai said.

Rod worked for Arnold Palmer Golf in a sales role before moving to Drummond Golf as Store Manager, then taking ownership three years later.

Fast forward another three years and the partners opened Big Swing Golf at the same location, moving both businesses a few doors down the complex four years later to its current location.

Rod, Nathan and Stacey recognised Golf’s declining popularity (pre-Covid 19) and introduced Big Swing into the business to provide a convenient, all-weather golf experience which has not only taken off for the three partners but driven a growing market for indoor golf facilities.

“A big feature is the ability to come in and play 18 holes in an hour,” Rod said.

Big Swing Penrith has been rated the #1 franchise in Australia for
the past three years and Drummond Golf Penrith is currently ranked in
the Top Ten in Australia of that franchise.

Rod and his partners have introduced Australia’s first-ever All-Women League, which is run nationally with 17 teams (eight from Penrith) and still growing in popularity, and there is also an Open League (run locally).

The ‘Open League’ runs for eight rounds (weeks), with four weeks of playoffs, whilst ‘Her League’ runs for six rounds (weeks), with two weeks of playoffs.

The Winter League is currently underway, with 28 teams contesting the local (men) and national (women) competitions, the latter features participation from all states and territories, apart from the Northern Territory.

“It’s like having a whole lot of friends over,” Rod said. “The appeal of Golf for all ages is developing genuine relationships with like-minded people.”

Big Swing also attracts school groups for their Sport competitions from throughout NSW.

“We sponsor many different charities, events, sports and organisations,” Rod said. “We have been supporting the Luke Priddis Foundation since its first-ever event, we have supported ‘Pink Up’ and ‘Little Wings’. We don’t always sponsor the same event each year and we prefer to help out non-Government-funded charities and events.

“We’re often touched deeply by stories from locals and it’s great to be able to make a difference to someone’s day. We always keep our sponsorship decisions local. It is very important to us as a 100% locally-owned and operated business.

“We also teamed up with Lithgow Golf Club to ease the burden of travel following the closure of the Great Western Highway at the Convict Bridge.