Family run Cottrell Park Golf Resort, in the Vale of Glamorgan, launched their latest major investment on 31 August with stars of sport and golf present to try their skills on two recently installed GPS Surround Proshot Sports Golf Simulators.
The launch invited sporting legends like rugby’s Ieuan Evans, Welsh 400m hurdler and new head coach for Welsh Athletics Matt Elias and former boxer Nicky Piper to test their golfing skills against the simulators advanced based professional golfers.
The simulators, installed at a cost of £120,000, where completed in June this year making them the first complete installation of these advanced training machines in theUK. The club removed 10 bays of their previous 21 bay driving range to make room for the state-of-the-art centre making it something that General Manager Derek Smith is hugely proud of.
At the launch Smith said, “These simulators are much more than an all weather course. It is part of our forward thinking business model where we are always looking to offer much more than just traditional rounds of golf. The simulators are going to benefit our members and visitors to the club immensely, as the state of the art training facilities will give professional coaching lessons more information and analysis than ever before.” Before showing off the technology he finished by stating that, “Cottrell Park can now truly offer 365 golfing no matter what the weather or time of year.”
The simulators were installed to meet the club’s high standards and the makers, Proshot Sports stated that they this installation is “truly the best indoor golf facility in theUnited Kingdom” due to the high quality finishing.
The simulators offer over 100 courses from around the world, including the 2010 Ryder Cup Celtic Manor course and the clubs own two courses, the Mackintosh and Button Gwinnett have been especially GPS mapped and available on the system library.
The training facility on these machines is a powerful tool for both professional and amateur golfer. The three screens and the high speed CCTV cameras allow video imagery to be stored, reviewed and replayed of the pupil, the golf course and ball path in front of the player and technical data of the shot played on the right hand screen. Wind speeds, weather conditions can all be played out to help a player achieve their potential.
At the launch guests were invited to take part in a closest the pin competition on the simulators. Editor of Sporting Wales magazine Hamish Stuart beat other members of the media, Ieuan and Matt in the amateur both. Whilst PGA golfer Simon Cox hit a brilliant shot to be a few feet away from the pin in the Pro booth.
The indoor golf academy at Cottrell Park is available for use free of charge for club members and included in professional coaching sessions. It is also open for visitors to the club to hire and corporate events.
The programme offers Virtual Practise area for driving, chipping and putting and a choice of over 50 major courses from around the world, including 2010 Ryder Cup Celtic Manor course. The installation cost of £120,000 included building works.
The launch of these simulators is one of many developments that the club is producing to open up its appeal to the local community and non members.
Proshot Sports www.proshotsports.co.uk
Cottrell Park Golf Resort www.cottrellpark.com