‘The Close House vision is to create a golf destination in the North of England, which will offer the quality and service of resorts like Wentworth and Gleneagles giving North East golfers the best golfing experience in their own region.
Being situated just ten minutes from Newcastle City Centre and International Airport also means we are accessible for golfers from throughout the UK and internationally” quotes North East entrepreneur Graham Wylie at the opening of the state of the art Golf Academy and Driving Range at Close House Hotel and Golf in the Tyne valley close to Heddon on the Wall and Wylam in Northumberland.
The new Academy marks the completion of the first major phase of a £8m investment in golf, in addition to the already very popular Filly Course at Close House Hotel and Golf. Phase two being a superb new Golf Club House in build now and opening late spring 2011 prior to the ‘jewel in the crown’; the new Colt Championship Golf Course designed by international golf architect Scott MacPherson opening in summer 2011.
The Golf Academy is unique in the North of England and follows painstaking research by Close House Golf Manager, John Glendinning and his team, combining the very latest in world golf technology within a contemporary and attractive environment.
The Academy offers golfers of all abilities the opportunity to improve their playing technique with expert advice from resident golf professionals and the Driving Range then enables this to be put into practice.
The Driving Range enjoys the benefit of the world’s leading automated teeing system with power tees, negating the need for golfers to bend down to put another ball on the tee – conserving both energy and concentration.
Close House is also the first venue in the North East to offer the ‘Flightscope’ launch monitor – a system actually based on a South African missile tracking device. Golfers can see instant analysis of their ball in flight helping in the process of fitting their own clubs with similar technology available to Tour Professionals.
Other high tech tuition technology includes ‘Explanar’, the ‘Gasp Lab’ video system and ‘Forceplate’ (comparable to the ‘Wii Fit Board’ monitoring how you balance your body) which enables the professional to identify the often minute changes which can dramatically improve your posture and thus your game.
The Explanar training system concentrates on the golf swing plane and allows the golfer to focus on executing shots more effectively and is endorsed by Butch Harmon, one of the world’s leading golf coaches, who has worked with golfing greats Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
Gasp Lab and Forceplate give video analysis of posture and the golf swing itself and provide golfers with instant visual feedback and the opportunity to compare this with a top pro golfer.
The privately owned Close House is set in 400 acres with stunning views of the Tyne Valley and also includes Close House Hotel, currently with 19 luxurious bedrooms, though Phase three will see this enhanced by a further 12 bedrooms opening in the summer of 2011. Close House Hotel is an excellent conference and event venue and is also very popular for weddings.
Close House Hotel and Golf www.closehouse.co.uk