The National Golf Centre Academy at Woodhall Spa

The public has been given full access to the same world-class facilities previously enjoyed by the country’s elite golfers as The National Golf Centre Academy at Woodhall Spa launches a comprehensive ‘open-to-all’ teaching programme.

In a move to change the standard of teaching currently available to all UK golfers, The National Golf Centre Academy at Woodhall Spa, a facility that is responsible for consistently developing world-class talent, including Tour stars Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Nick Dougherty, has announced it is to open its doors to the public.

Under the leadership of its newly appointed Head Coach, Neil Harvey, visitors to The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa, will be able to take full advantage of the facilities through a series of new programmes specifically tailored for beginners, juniors, and those seeking 1:1 tuition or residential golf breaks.

The most visionary aspect of The National Golf Centre Academy – the aim of which is to provide ‘a coaching centre of excellence for golfers of all standards’ – is a four-acre area devoted to the development of short game skills.

The National Golf Centre Academy at Woodhall Spa key features:

• Eight target greens to aim at, offering shots of all lengths up to 100 yards

• A range of individually styled bunkers with varying grades of sand

• A large, high-quality putting green.

Head Coach, Neil Harvey, said: “This is an important step for The National Golf Centre Academy and fantastic news for people looking to sample the game for the first time or golfers seeking to improve their skills surrounded by some of the best practice facilities in the world.

“The Academy already has a strong reputation for nurturing great golf talent under the management of the English Golf Union’s Director of Elite Coaching, Peter Mattsson, and I will work alongside Peter to offer the general public a similar opportunity. We can’t promise to make every visitor a Tour star, but we do guarantee a first-class, highly personal and memorable experience for all.”

A floodlit, 18-bay, driving range takes centre stage at The National Golf Centre Academy. It looks out onto an area designed to replicate the challenges golfers face when on the course. Trees and woodland areas have been retained and greens are strategically located to assist and develop a golfer’s shot-making skills.

One of the key objectives for The National Golf Centre Academy is to encourage people interested in the sport to try golf for the first time. In its new Get into Golf programme, visitors will be given the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of the game, under the expert guidance of Neil and his team, PGA professionals Scott Emery and Alison Johns.

Richard Latham, Director of Operations at The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa, commented: “We are committed to growing the game of golf in the UK. I strongly believe that by opening up our facilities to the wider public we will encourage more people to play golf whilst helping existing players improve their skills through 1:1 tuition and an enjoyable residential golf programme.”

The residential golf breaks are key to the success of The National Golf Centre Academy and specifically tailored to give golfers a truly memorable game-improvement experience. They combine time on Woodhall Spa’s Bracken and world-renowned Hotchkin course, currently rated 20th in the World Top 100 Golf Courses ranking compiled by Golf World Magazine.

The National Golf Centre Academy at Woodhall Spa example packages:

‘Get into Golf’ Adult golfers’ programme

The emphasis of the Get into Golf program is on flexibility, effectiveness and enjoyment in the lessons pupils choose to take. The program offers pupils a chance to bias their learning towards their own needs, and focus on areas of their game that require the most improvement. There is a choice of lesson types, including ‘Ladies Only’ and ‘Mixed Sessions’, and for a monthly fee, pupils can sign up to unlimited sessions covering all aspects of the game.

Get into Golf covers four levels of achievement, starting at Beginner level, and working up through Improver, Player, and finally Golfer. By the end of the program, pupils will have the confidence, skills and knowledge to be able to play golf to a handicap standard.

Prices: As an introduction, people can sign up to a taster session for free to get a flavor of the program. If they then choose to continue, the cost is £49.99 per month.

Residential Golf Schools

Golfers can choose from a two or three-day program, each of which is relaxed, yet professionally structured, to ensure they enjoy the maximum benefit from their time at Woodhall Spa.

The golfer’s needs come first and each participant will receive as much one-to-one tuition as possible from our coaching team. Each Residential Golf School has a limit of eight visitors per group.

At the end of the two-day school, the golfer will be presented with their own personally tailored coaching plan that they can work on at their leisure – to ensure their game continues to improve.

Prices: from £215, excluding accommodation, of which the golfer has a choice.



Seve Ballesteros turned pro in 1974 and retired in 2007.  He passed away on Saturday morning 7th May 2011 aged 54, after losing his battle with a malignant brain tumour that was first diagnosed in 2008.

He burst onto the golf scene in 1976 when he finished second at the British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. He went on to win his first Open Championship in 1979.

In all, Seve Ballesteros won five major championships – The Masters in 1980 and 1983, and The Open Championship in 1979, 1984 and 1988.  He was also a major success in the Ryder Cup, helping the European team to five wins both as a player and captain.  Seve also won the World Match Play Championship a record-tying five times before being forced into early retirement due to on-going back problems; and in 1999, Ballesteros was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

But more than his victories, Seve Ballesteros changed a stuffy game in the mid-1970’s with his young enthusiasm, panache, style and film-star looks more than any other golfer.  Seve Ballesteros helped changed golf forever and pathed the way for young players and golf fashion that has helped revolutionise the sport in the past 30 years.

Growing up in the 1970’s I didn’t play or watch golf but knew Seve Ballesteros as one of the world’s most famous sportsmen of his generation.  Similar to the way that Tiger woods is known the world over today, ask a non-golf enthusiast to name one golfer from the mid-1970’s onwards and the majority of Europeans would have answered ‘Seve Ballesteros’.  His infectious smile, bubbly personality and the fact that he was very human, often hitting wayward shots only to pull off some amazing recoveries, made Seve Ballesteros a favourite with anyone that watched or played with him.

“I’d like to see the fairways more narrow. Then everyone would have to play from the rough, not just me.” – Seve Ballesteros

On hearing the news at the weekend, current World number 1 golfer Lee Westwood tweeted: ‘It’s a sad day. Lost an inspiration, genius, role model, hero and friend. Seve made European golf what it is today. RIP Seve.’

Seve Ballesteros R.I.P.

This week, golf betting fans should note that he’ll be teeing off with Mark Wilson at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Mark Wilson is a Green Bay Packers fan, which could make for a few awkward moments when they walk the fairways together. Wilson had a great time watching the Packers win their fourth Super Bowl and turn aside the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 at Super Bowl XLV.After watching his team win, he went out on Monday and finished up his second win of the young PGA Tour season, taking home the title of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which had been pushed back due to frost delays. He defeated Jason Dufner in a playoff to seal the win.

He’s one of the PGA Tour’s hottest young golfers and he’ll be paired with Brees, who was the Super Bowl MVP last year and is the reigning Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. They will play together for three rounds and will be joined by Chez Reavie and actor Chris O’Donnell.

It’s an interesting course that’s on the menu this week, especially for Mark Wilson. Typically, it tends to play better for long hitters who can crush the ball off the tee and that’s not Wilson’s forte. Even so, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with as he is the leader in the FedEx Cup standings.   He holds a 336-point lead, which is quite the wide margin considering it’s only the fifth week of the young season.

Following the Pro-Am, Wilson has stated that he plans to play through to the Arnold Palmer Invitational and then he’ll take a week off.

Brees is coming off a stellar season of his own but after winning the Super Bowl in 2010, falling in the first-round of the playoffs to the Seattle Seahawks is not what he had hoped for. The Saints battled injuries throughout the entire season and they simply didn’t look right from the get-go. They picked up steam in the second half but a loss to Seattle shows they were not ready to repeat.

Regardless, it should be a fun-filled week of action at Pebble Beach so tune in as pro golfers team up with celebrities and amateurs.

UKGCOA & OGRO combine for annual event at Dale Hill

The UK Golf Course Owners Association (UKGCOA) has joined forces with the The Organisation of Golf & Range Operators (OGRO) to host a combined annual golf industry event at Dale Hill Hotel and Golf Club, East Sussex, on March 31, 2011.

The one-day event, which builds on the success of the existing OGRO meeting, will bring together golf course and golf range owners and operators, to share best practice and industry experience.

The day will feature a golf competition in the morning over 18 holes on the acclaimed Woosnam Course, lunch, table-top exhibition, plus several informal presentations throughout the afternoon, including an update from Sports Marketing Surveys on the market and business performance data it has been commissioned to research by the UKGCOA and made available to members. The day will conclude with a special dinner at which Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to both Adrian Yallop of European Golf Machinery and Doug McClelland PGA for their outstanding contributions to the golf industry.

Colin Mayes, Chairman of the UKGCOA, and Chief Executive of Burhill Golf & Leisure, said:

“This is an excellent opportunity for members of both organisations, and all golf course and golf range operators, to come together in one place, for one day, to share industry intelligence and best practice.

“While the creation of accurate business performance data and benchmarking standards for the golf course industry is the number one objective of the UKGCOA – and the key benefit of membership – an annual conference is among our plans. So, in our first year, we are pleased to be working with OGRO and joining its successful event which already attracts 150 delegates.”

Owners and operators from golf courses of all sizes are welcome to attend the event and speak to other UKGCOA members and board members about the benefits of membership. Among the board members present will be Jane Montgomery (FSPA), Stephen Lewis (Crown Golf), John Weir (Cornerstone Golf) and Colin Mayes.

Event organiser Colin Jenkins of OGRO, said:

“Bringing OGRO and UKGCOA members together in this way will be beneficial for the industry as a whole.

“The OGRO Event 2011, sponsored by Global Ranges and Srixon-Cleveland, will be a practical, insightful and beneficial day. It will also be fun and an opportunity to share time with fellow industry professionals.”

For more information about the event and to register, visit: www.ogro.org.

For more information about the UKGCOA and membership benefits, please visit: www.ukgcoa.com.

Belek, in the Antalya region of Turkey, to host International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) 2011

International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) has announced that Belek, in the Antalya region of Turkey, will host the 14th edition of the world’s premier global event for golf tourism suppliers, buyers and media, from November 14-17, 2011.

Belek, one of the fastest growing and most successful golf destinations in the world, close to the cosmopolitan city of Antalya on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, boasts 14 world-class golf venues, featuring signature designed golf courses by Sir Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, among others, plus a wealth of high quality hotels.

Öner Uygun of Millennium Golf, commented: “We are delighted to be selected as the host of IGTM, which is a globally important event, and look forward to welcoming the industry’s leading golf tourism suppliers, buyers, official dignitaries and media from across the globe to Belek and Antalya.

“Since the opening of Belek’s first golf course, The National Golf Course, and the establishment of the Turkish Golf Association, in the early 1990s, Belek has benefited from huge investment with 14 top golf courses attracting a large and growing number of international visitors. In 2009, 349,000 rounds of golf were played, while 400,000 rounds were played in the first ten months of 2010.

Belek, on the Mediterranean coast, just 30 kilometres from Antalya airport, is at the heart of Turkish golf. The hotels are all 4 and 5-star standard and offer an excellent range of leisure facilities, with plenty to explore in the surrounding area.

“The climate has proven to be a clear attraction to Turkey, with people first visiting the country for its sun, sand and sea, as well as its historical and cultural appeal,” added Öner Uygun. “With the added benefits of high standards of service and accommodation, good value for money, and of course, a fantastic range of international standard golf courses, we are confident that visitors to Turkey and next year’s IGTM will have a great experience.”

Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director of Reed Travel Exhibitions, said: “Turkey, the 2008 IAGTO Best Golf Destination winner, and Belek Antalya, in particular, has enjoyed spectacular recent success and now is the right time to host the world’s largest gathering of golf tourism professionals in this exciting destination.

“The quality of the golf courses and resorts in Belek is outstanding, and combined with an excellent conference facility, The Antalya Expo Centre, we have all the necessary logistics to make IGTM 2011 a global success.”

Antalya boasts the world’s 26th busiest international airport with nearly 10 million passengers in 2010, an increase of more than 23% year-on-year.

IGTM will take place November 14-17, 2011, the week after the World Travel Market, London, also a Reed Travel Exhibitions event.

For more information about IGTM, please visit: www.igtm.co.uk

The Luzhniki Olympic Complex, Moscow

Golf is to be introduced at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Russia, Europe’s largest sports centre.

Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the golf course design practice founded by five-times Open Champion Peter Thomson with partners Ross Perrett and Tim Lobb, has been commissioned to design a new golf academy at Moscow’s Luzhniki Olympic Complex.

The landmark development will introduce golf to Europe’s largest sports centre, venue of the 1980 Olympics and 2008 Champions League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea, and which boasts facilities for more than 40 different sports with five million visits per year.

The new golf academy will include a new 9-hole par-3 golf course, driving range, practice putting, family adventure golf, plus a spacious clubhouse with indoor golf simulators.

TPL principal Tim Lobb said:

“The golf academy at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex will be an important development for Russia. This will be the closest golf facility to the city centre and will be a family friendly and social venue that will enable the people of Moscow to experience, enjoy and learn to play golf.

“It is a very exciting project to be working on and, with the return of golf to the Olympics in 2016, is befitting of the Luzhniki Complex’s vision to be a legacy of Olympic sport.”

Among the Russian sports stars who have benefited from the facilities at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex are tennis aces Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin. The question is, could Russia’s first golf star emerge from Luzhniki’s new golf academy?

Dimitry Aleshin, Deputy Director of Development and Commercial Affairs of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, said:

“We were impressed with TPL’s proposals for a golf academy and their skills in precisely realising our vision for this unique sports complex.

“TPL also has significant experience taking golf into new markets and understands what it takes to make golf an attractive and complementary choice to the established sports in Russia. We look forward to welcoming the people of Moscow to their first city centre golf academy, at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex.”

The presentation in the Sénat has received the full backing from the two French golfers to have represented Europe in the Ryder Cup, Jean Van de Velde and Thomas Levet.  Van de Velde, along with Rama Yade, France’s Secretary of State for Sports, accompanied the FFGolf as they handed over the bid book to Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director, and other senior members from the Ryder Cup committee.

The FFGolf have detailed their plans as to how they plan to use the Ryder Cup as a catalyst to grow the game across the whole of France and beyond into Europe.  There are already projects in place that aim to double the number of golfers in France and open the sport from the grassroots upwards to people from all social and economic backgrounds providing a meaningful legacy for the future of golf in France and Europe.

The French bid is bolstered by the Golf National course which is recognised as being a fantastic and established stadium course with superb matchplay holes, the last three of which finish over water.  This proven championship venue will continue to be enhanced to guarantee a compelling world class experience for players, spectators, press and partners.  The location of the course and its infrastructure allows for easy access for up to 70,000 spectators and its proximity to Paris ensures easy international travel.

Golf National’s location will deliver a Ryder Cup on the doorstep of a major European cultural city, with Paris being able to lay claim to being the most visited city in the world.  Golf National is also ideally located to visit many examples of France’s rich cultural heritage such as the Chateau de Versailles which will play host Ryder Cup dinners during the tournament infusing the event with “l’art de vivre à la française”, bringing French hospitality, flair and creativity to the event.

FFGolf aims to work with the Ryder Cup committee and the French government; utilising world leading experience in hosting global events to further enhance this prestigious tournament. Ryder Cup 2018 France will endorse European values and ensure that this is an event for the whole of Europe to celebrate in and benefit from and plans to be the most sustainable Ryder Cup to date creating a new environmental benchmark for all future golf events to follow.

The French bid has received unconditional backing from the French public authorities and Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic has given his personal endorsement:

“The Ryder Cup is a legendary golf event. Staging the Ryder Cup on French soil would not only help enhance the value of France’s policy of hosting major sporting events, but would also play a part in developing the game in France.  It is therefore with great conviction that I hereby lend my support to France’s bid to host the Ryder Cup.”

Rent Golf Clubs Online

Rentaclub.co.uk, the online golf service, which has been renting drivers since February, has now launched iron sets to rent, giving golfers the opportunity to hit their best shots with top equipment including the Nike VR Split Cavity Irons used by Open Champion Stewart Cink and the TaylorMade R9 TP Irons favoured by Spanish Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia.

Golfers will also be able to sample the latest equipment from Callaway, Bridgestone, Cleveland Golf, Wilson Staff, Srixon and Mizuno for just £45 for a five-day trial, putting their chosen clubs into play just 24-hours after ordering online.

Matthew Fagan, Rentaclub.co.uk Managing Director, said: “The site has been incredibly successful since launching earlier this year, and we will now build on that success by giving golfers the opportunity to get their hands on the latest iron sets from golf’s biggest and best manufacturers.”

Rentaclub.co.uk features a simple process for golfers to select their desired clubs. They are then delivered securely next day by UPS to the golfer’s home, or a location of their choice, ready to be put into play.

Rentaclub.co.uk customers receive their clubs in pre-paid packaging, making it easy to return products. On the fourth day of their rental they will be sent an SMS text message reminding them to call UPS to arrange a pick-up the next day from a location of their choosing, including home or work.

GEO - Sustainable Golf Development

During a packed Environment Session at the World Forum of Golf Architects in St Andrews, the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) debuted their draft Guidelines for Sustainable Golf Development.

Since the groundbreaking project commenced in 2009, GEO has been co-ordinating a team of experts in the creation of globally applicable guidelines that will enable the diverse stakeholders in golf development to achieve higher standards of social, economic and environmental return on investment.

As golf development around the world is increasingly influenced by the expectations of government and local communities, the golf design industry has recognised that it must take the initiative to foster mutual understanding between developers and regulators, and find common goals and solutions to social and environmental issues. GEO’s Development Guidelines will provide a basis for all parties to work constructively in maximising the shareholder and stakeholder potential of projects. For the first time, golf development has been interfaced with society’s 21st Century sustainability agenda, resulting in a framework of processes, principles and technical information that can be applied to any project, anywhere in the world, from a 6-star resort to a 6-hole children’s course.

After the presentation Jonathan Smith of GEO commented:

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to present this project to such a large and knowledgeable audience, and we are buoyed by the positive feedback and encouragement we received. The combination of credible content and international partnership will represent a robust and valuable statement on behalf of golf architects worldwide – that they recognise and understand their unique opportunity to leave positive long-term social and environmental legacies. We are now set to open the guidance for consultation among selected institute and association representatives during the coming months, with a view to launching the final version at regional events in the second half of 2010.”

The summary brochure distributed at the World Forum, also detailing the next steps for the project partners, can be downloaded from www.golfenvironment.org.

As hosts of the Environment Session, European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) President David Krause was delighted with the engagement of the international audience:

“We were all impressed with GEO’s achievements to date and the golf course design industry unanimously agreed to support their Guidelines project. Together with our global colleagues we realise that the future of golf development will depend on a sustainable approach and that our designs will need to evolve in response to environmental and social issues. The EIGCA is proud to have played a leading role in aligning the golf course design industry with GEO’s efforts, and we look forward to adopting these guidelines when they are published in the summer.”

Speaking on behalf of his ASGCA colleagues, newly inaugurated President Erik Larsen added:

“The American Society of Golf Course Architects applauds GEO for their efforts towards establishing guidelines for sustainable golf development. This is an important issue and warrants careful study as it could affect our profession and the golf industry for the long term. We look forward to being involved with GEO to further develop sustainable principles for golf courses.”

Takeshi Sato, Chairman of the Japanese Society of Golf Course Architects (JSGCA), was equally supportive:

“The JSGCA pledge their full support to the work being undertaken by GEO. The relationship between golf, people and nature must be one of kinship and mutual support. Whether in new development or the renovation of existing facilities, our profession must strive to achieve sustainable outcomes at every opportunity. We applaud GEO’s efforts in developing internationally applicable guidelines.”

Five-time British Open champion and Patron of the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects (SAGCA), Peter Thomson was keen to speak on behalf of his society:

“I am delighted that the golf architects of Europe, The USA, Japan and Australia have pledged to support the initiatives of GEO to provide a common voice for the golf industry on the important issue of golf and the environment. Jonathan Smith and his team are to be congratulated on their work to date and for their Sustainable Golf Development Guidelines. Golf is and has always been a game with nature and it is time that non-golfers became aware of this fact.”

R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson was also pleased by the enthusiastic reception to GEO’s challenging project:

“The R&A has made substantial financial and ethical investment in the production of these guidelines. Whilst new golf developments that damage the environment and disenfranchise local people do more than anything to harm the game’s reputation, we also know that golf facilities can be social, economic and environmental assets. We anticipate that these guidelines will help developers and architects to build courses that are in line with sustainable requirements, and will be of great assistance to planning authorities that seek to better understand the needs of golf and make more informed judgements on project proposals.”

The results of the study confirm that golfers commonly sustain injuries; the lower back being the most commonly injured area, however, the knee was the most frequently injured area with female golfers (29%).

Of the injuries sustained by both male and female golfers, 58% were significant enough to require treatment, with the most commonly sought help being their GP. However, physiotherapists were more commonly consulted by the female participants. Overall, Osteopathy was reported as providing the most effective treatment. Of those seeking treatment, 29% of those visited an Osteopath, which had the highest ‘mean response’ to treatment with the average of 4 (3.97) on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being ‘strongly agreed that treatment aided recovery’. The ‘mean response’ to the GP visit dropped to an average of 3 (2.92) on the same scale, and 3 (3.06) for visits to other health care professionals, such as those offering acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropody and hospital.

The survey also demonstrated a significant difference between age group and knowledge of Osteopathy, with 43% of the participants having a basic knowledge of Osteopathy having a mean age of 53 years. Those who did not know of Osteopathy had a younger mean age of 49. Whilst the survey showed a significant difference in knowledge of Osteopathy between age groups, there was no significant difference between male and female respondents.

As to possible reasons why female amateurs sustained more injuries than their male counterparts, these could be that the male respondents of the survey were generally younger, with a lower mean handicap in comparison to the female participants. Yet the female respondents played on average four rounds per month more than male respondents and also had a greater number of years experience. One reason may be that the majority of women (44%) reported never having warmed up prior to play, whereas 49% of men responding reported sometimes warming up prior to play.

The research also showed that the most popular means of golf club transportation with women amateur golfers was by electric trolley (84%), whereas most male golfers pulled a standard trolley (46%). Furthermore, none of the female respondents reported carrying a double strap golf bag because of their use of the electric trolley, compared to 20% of men.

Tilly Vesely, the report’s author, said, “It’s really no surprise that golfing causing injuries that warrant the attention of a healthcare professional; contrary to popular belief, golf requires the use of nearly every muscle in the body, from the intrinsic musculature of the foot to the deep muscles of the neck. The satisfaction of treatment, however, was markedly increased with Osteopathy, compared to other treatments.”

Ironically, however, exercise was the most common advice suggested to those seeking help from all healthcare providers (GPs, Osteopaths, Physiotherapist, and Chiropractor).

A Survey of Golfing Injuries

The research paper, ‘A Survey of Golfing Injuries’ was conducted by BCOM final year Masters student, Tilly Vesely. A total of 300 questionnaires were sent to randomly selected golfers.