An indoor putting green from Huxley Golf has been installed within the impressive new golf science laboratory at the PGA National Training Academy at The Belfry.
Measuring 15ft x 15ft (4.5m square), the putting green is being used to help train budding professional golfers as part of a three year sandwich course leading to the PGA Diploma in Golf. The majority of graduates will go on to become professionals at golf clubs throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as overseas.
The Huxley Golf putting green will be used also for practice by and coaching of elite national player squads and for continuing development programmes undertaken by experienced touring and club professionals.
“There is a growing awareness and understanding of the close relationship between science and sport,” explained Dr Kyle Phillpots, head of training and education at the PGA National Training Academy. “Our new laboratory is designed to demonstrate how golf science can be applied to golf performance and contains a range of equipment which will help recreate the physical and mental stresses encountered on a golf course. The aim is to help golfers maintain control over the mind and the body, for example, when faced with a three foot putt to win a tournament having walked 120 yards up hill to the green.”
The indoor putting green, supplied by Huxley Golf to the PGA National Training Centre, was installed in conjunction with local Huxley Golf distributor, Intercity Ltd. It is of similar “all-weather” composition to the outdoor practice greens installed by the company at the homes of leading tournament golfers including Darren Clarke, Ian Woosnam and Alison Nicholas.
“The PGA wanted a surface that looks, feels and plays just like a normal golf green,” commented Dr Phillpots. “Positive feedback from our members and from keen club golfers pointed us towards Huxley Golf. We are delighted with the installation, the quality of the surface and with the contribution being made by the Huxley putting green to our training programmes.”
Huxley Golf www.huxleygolf.co.uk
PGA National Training Academy kyle.phillpots@pga.org.uk