Work got underway yesterday (Mon) on an extension to the St Andrews Links Golf Practice Centre (GPC) which will incorporate a golf academy equipped with the latest digital analysis and ball-tracking technology.
Muirfield Construction has been appointed by St Andrews Links Trust as the lead contractor to carry out work on the GPC extension.
The new construction will be built on land to the west of the existing GPC building and will incorporate the new golf academy, the R&A’s external ball testing centre and a club-fitting facility. It will also see the creation of an additional 14 indoor bays, taking the total to 51.
Contractors moved on-site yesterday but the centre will remain open throughout the construction period. It is due to be completed next spring.
The redevelopment is designed to make the practice centre one of the foremost golf academies in the UK. Four of the new bays will be equipped with cutting-edge digital and video analysis equipment and specialist ball-tracking technology, and will be staffed by a team of professionals from PGA Golf Management Ltd, who will be based at the centre.
Alan McGregor, general manager of St Andrews Links Trust, said, "When we first opened the practice centre in 1993 it was one of the leading golf teaching facilities in the country. Golf teaching and technology have taken huge strides forward since then. We have embarked upon this extension to ensure that the St Andrews Links practice centre remains at the forefront and provides world class golf tuition.
"The new centre will greatly enhance the existing facilities for local and visiting golfers and will help attract many more people to St Andrews throughout the year including at traditionally quieter times. We have already had positive feedback from local tourist businesses and hoteliers and we look forward to working with them when the new centre opens."
The new golf academy will be headed up by PGA Golf Management director of coaching Steve North, who previously worked at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Malaysia and is now in post. For information or to book a lesson contact the practice centre on 01334 474489.
Notes to editors
St Andrews Links Trust is a charitable organisation responsible for the management and maintenance of the Links courses at St Andrews, including the famous Old Course, which hosted this year’s Open Championship. The Trust was established in 1974. It employs more than 200 permanent staff and seasonal workers during the high season. It manages a number of additional facilities including two clubhouses, a golf practice centre and two shops.
More than 200,000 rounds are played over six public courses, which feature two additional championship courses (the New and the Jubilee), two 18-hole courses (the Eden and the Strathtyrum) and a nine-hole course (the Balgove). A seventh course is currently under construction on a site south-east of St Andrews.
PGA Golf Management is part of the commercial division of the PGA and offer management and marketing services to owners and developers of golf facilities. In addition to working with St Andrews Links Trust, it has clients and projects in Ireland, France, Spain, Crete, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
For more information visit www.standrews.org.uk.
Contact:
Mike Woodcock
Communications manager
St Andrews Links Trust
01334 466610
E-mail mikewoodcock@standrews.org.uk
