The world’s first commercial golf court will be opened on Wednesday, 23 May 2001 at Lensbury conference centre, at Teddington Lock, by the former world number one woman golfer, Laura Davies.
A golf court enables a full 18-hole round to be played on 18 acres of land compared to an average of 150 acres for a golf course. The concept can also be adapted to fit smaller areas of land.
The design includes four greens and eight tee areas and offers players the challenges of an 18-hole course, incorporating par 3, 4 and 5 holes, but one which can be completed in far less time. Each hole is different; they vary in both length and perspective.
The designers, Compac Golf Ltd, point out many benefits to playing golf on a golf court. As the game can be played by the hour, it can be enjoyed by younger, less experienced players, people with tight schedules and retired people who may not wish to spend four or more hours on the course. A golf court, being so compact, is easy to floodlight for night-time golf.
Bob Hunt of PGA Golf Management, who advises on the building of golf courses, commented, “It means having the opportunity to play golf safely and it will bring golf to a whole new category of players for whom golf has not been feasible or available before.”
Compac Golf Ltd www.golfcourts.co.uk