An indoor golf-facility owner has been left furious after a late-night incident at his Brisbane venue saw a guest allegedly ransack a vending machine and damage a wall, in footage that has since gone viral, according to a news.com.au report.
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The incident occurred at Hooked on Golf, a 24-hour, member-only indoor golf simulator and gym in Darra, south-west of the CBD, where the owner, Dan, says his family-run business relies on an extensive AI-enabled security network and constant surveillance cameras to monitor activity.
In a viral Instagram video attracting hundreds of thousands of views, CCTV shows a young man grappling with a vending machine overnight, reportedly shaking it for about half an hour before removing most of its contents and accidentally punching a hole in a wall.
Dan told news.com.au the machine was not functioning properly at the time, but said the guest still managed to empty most of it. He confirmed the offender was not a member but a guest of a member, and that the membership agreement allows the venue to recover costs for damage and theft directly from accounts.
The venue has since issued a lifetime ban for those involved, with their images reportedly logged into its AI security system. After a public call-out, the member has apologised and offered to cover damages, with discussions ongoing as to whether the guest will come forward.
Social media reaction to the footage was swift, with viewers labelling the behaviour reckless and unnecessary, while others joked about the effort involved in forcing open the machine when a fully equipped gym was located just metres away. Despite the online attention, the venue says its focus remains on accountability, safety and maintaining 24/7 access for members under strict security monitoring and member responsibility standards going forward.
