Bannockburn golfer Russell Lucas reveals how X-Golf helped his game, plus the sport’s impact dealing with life as prison officer

Bannockburn’s Russell Lucas has long been bitten by the golf bug, but increasingly popular technology is allowing him to play in a way he never expected alongside son Joel.

Geelong Prison’s Golf Club members Joel and Russell Lucas often trade the greens for machines in play in the Pacific’s largest tech-driven golf competition. Picture: Alison Wynd

Russell Lucas’ short game has never been stronger.

So to is his banter game and bond with youngest son Joel – the pair both bitten by the golf bug – amid a new season in X-Golf Geelong’s X-League.

Hopeful this is the year of a breakthrough grand final victory, the Lucas’ campaign, along with teammate Colin Jarratt, is yet to take flight after a narrow loss in a nine-hole handicapped match at the Fyans Street venue on Monday night.

Joel and Russell Lucas have become closer over their shared love of golf. Picture: Alison Wynd

Forming part of two Geelong Prison’s Golf Club three-strong teams, ironically named ‘Green Mile’ and ‘Shawshank’, the father-and-son have more than a dozen seasons under their belt teeing off with the advanced simulator technology.

Now in its 13th year, X-League takes place over three 10-week seasons, culminating in a major championship featuring the best of the best from Australia and New Zealand.

With Joel first venturing into the growing phenomenon of X-Golf in late 2018, before ex-prison guard Russell quickly followed in early 2019, the pair lost a grand final in their first year playing together by just one shot – with a few more following since.

“We’ve made grand finals but we haven’t quite won one yet,” Joel, 31, said.

“That’s the goal.”

Playing the iconic greens of the pros, from St Andrews to Pebble Beach, Russell, 58, sees the non-traditional realm of X-Golf as great practice for his outdoor game, his short game in particular improving in leaps and bounds.

“I don’t hit it as far as the young fellas, so I rely on my accuracy and my short game brings me back into it,” he said.

Joel Lucas (left) takes a swing using X-Golf technology, while Russell (right) has seen his short game improve at the South Geelong venue. Picture: Alison Wynd

An early convert to golf, Russell is now a life member of Geelong Prison’s Golf Club after a 14-year career as a prison officer at Barwon Prison, before transitioning into development and training roles and semi-retiring in 2023.

Initially a social golf club for Barwon Prison officers, the club has grown to around 40 members, opening up to other local correctional facilities as well as friends and family, including Joel, whose early taste of the sport was caddying for his parents before sparking his own interest out of high school.

For Russell, time on the golf course was well-needed during his time as an officer.

“When I worked in there (Barwon Prison), it was ‘what happened in there stayed in there’ type thing,” Russell said.

“There are things I’ll never unseen again … the golf was actually a really good outlet for the officers.

“There was hardly any work talked about on the golf course.”

Golf course banter is firmly a part of the Lucas’ bond, with plenty flying around during their Monday night X-Golf games.

And that sense of camaraderie and enjoyment of the game, at the end of the day, has only strengthened their relationship.

“He’s started to catch me,” Russell said of Joel’s game.

“He hits a nice ball, I enjoy playing with him.

“It’s definitely improved our relationship as father and son.”

Originally published as Bannockburn golfer Russell Lucas reveals how X-Golf helped his game, plus the sport’s impact dealing with life as prison officer