Celtic Manor Resort has acquired a ZEN Golf Green Stage through the Women’s Golf Legacy Fund, marking the start of what ZEN Golf believes could become a first-of-its-kind global partnership model for activating golf technology beyond conventional coaching.
The Women’s Golf Legacy Fund was established to ensure the AIG Women’s Open in Wales delivers long-term benefits, helping address barriers faced by women and girls in golf through more inclusive, family-friendly and gender-equal facilities.
The Women’s Golf Legacy Fund was established with Welsh Government funding, delivered through Sport Wales, to ensure the AIG Women’s Open in Wales delivers long-term benefits, helping address barriers faced by women and girls in golf through more inclusive, family-friendly and gender-equal facilities.
The initiative’s purpose aligns with ZEN’s wider vision for Green Stage: not only as an elite coaching and fitting tool, but as infrastructure capable of supporting participation growth, accessible first experiences, community wellbeing, social prescribing and future clinical applications.
With the Green Stage now installed, ZEN Golf will support Celtic Manor and Wales Golf in turning the platform into a long-term asset through staff familiarisation, activation ideas, content planning, programme development and future innovation.
The Green Stage is a dynamic golf playing surface that automatically recreates the slopes and contours found on real golf courses, allowing golfers to experience realistic putting indoors in a controlled environment, whatever the weather. Rather than practising on a flat artificial surface, players can experience the changing terrain they encounter on the course, creating a more authentic, engaging and effective learning experience.
Zen is the creator and early leader of this emerging product category, which it calls Active Terrain, a new generation of intelligent playing surfaces that form the foundation for a connected ecosystem of coaching, performance analysis, and immersive entertainment technologies.
Interactive putting experiences add another layer to the Green Stage proposition. Through ZEN’s enhanced software and the forthcoming ZEN Eye© putting analysis and augmented reality system, Celtic Manor will be able to build immersive putting experiences that combine ZEN’s active terrain technology©, interactive visuals, performance feedback and famous-putt recreations, including Graeme McDowell’s decisive putt on the 16th green during the 2010 Ryder Cup. It turns technical practice into something more interactive and memorable, linking performance, education and entertainment through one connected ZEN Golf ecosystem.
Nick Middleton, Founder of Zen Golf, added: “It’s truly exciting to realise that the same technology capable of developing elite performance can also help more people discover, enjoy and benefit from golf.
“Putting is often the first meaningful interaction people have with the game. By making that experience more engaging, immersive and accessible, we can help venues create environments where beginners, families, women, juniors, disabled golfers and elite players all learn together and share the same stage.
“We believe this is a world first, and the beginning of a new model for golf. One where technology is not viewed solely as a coaching aid, but as shared infrastructure that supports participation, player development, wellbeing and, ultimately, healthier communities. Celtic Manor has shown real leadership in embracing that vision, and we look forward to working alongside them and Wales Golf to demonstrate what is possible.”
The platform will provide Celtic Manor and Wales Golf with a dedicated active-terrain putting environment for elite and development squad sessions, women’s and junior pathways, disability golf, and high-performance putting and coaching sessions, built around slope, break, and on-course putting conditions.
Brian Duncan, Head of Golf, Spa and Leisure at Celtic Manor Resort, said: “The installation of the ZEN Green Stage represents far more than an exciting new facility for Celtic Manor Resort; it is a significant investment in the future growth, accessibility and inclusivity of golf. We are incredibly grateful to Wales Golf and the Women’s Golf Legacy Fund, whose support was instrumental in bringing this project to life. Growing female participation in golf is a priority for us, and the Green Stage provides a welcoming, engaging and supportive environment where all golfers can develop their skills and confidence while practising one of the most important aspects of the game.
“A busy driving range can feel intimidating, so this facility offers a more comfortable and private setting to remove barriers that may otherwise prevent people from taking up golf or progressing their skills. This will be particularly valuable as we prepare to launch our forthcoming New2Golf programme, introducing beginners to the game in a fun, modern and supportive environment.
“As a host venue for Wales Golf’s development and elite squads, we are also proud to provide training facilities that support the country’s most promising players and this world class technology will also help them prepare for success at national and international level . The Zen Green Stage demonstrates our commitment to promoting golf at all levels and this is an exciting next step for Celtic Manor and the future of the game in Wales.”
The project reflects Wales Golf’s strategy, “Everyone’s Game – For Fun, For Sport, For Life.” For Fun, the platform can support gamified putting challenges, beginner engagement and family activity. For Sport, it provides more realistic practice conditions for national squads, development players, coaches and elite performers. For Life, it creates scope for activity around accessibility, wellbeing, lifelong participation and golf’s role in helping people stay active.
Gareth Jenkins, Pathway and High Performance Director, Wales Golf sidd: “Putting is one of our key performance skills, so having access to a quality indoor putting facility and technology at Celtic Manor will help us refine our techniques across a variety of breaks. Expanding year-round access to facilities for our squad players is vital, particularly during periods of adverse weather. Not only will the space benefit our High Performance team, but it will also support beginner sessions.
“As part of the Women’s Golf Legacy Fund criteria, Celtic Manor committed to achieving Gold status in the Women in Golf Charter and has already done so. We’re delighted to further strengthen the collaboration between Wales Golf and Celtic Manor by utilising this venue to introduce more people to the game and support the development of Wales’ best players.”
The health and wellbeing dimension reflects wider thinking across golf, including The R&A’s Golf and Health 2021-2025 report and work involving Golf in Society and the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA). Together, these point to golf’s potential to support physical activity, mental wellbeing, social connection, healthy ageing and more inclusive access, areas that align closely with ZEN Golf’s belief that Green Stage can help venues create more engaging first experiences with the sport.
Beyond structured coaching, the installation creates opportunities for Wales-focused putting challenges, recreations of famous tournament putts, school and community sessions, disability golf events and beginner-friendly experiences designed to make golf feel more accessible.
The installation strengthens Celtic Manor’s position as Wales’ leading golf destination while demonstrating how venue expertise, national strategy and golf technology can come together to support performance, participation and golf’s wider social purpose. See https://www.celtic-manor.com/ and https://zen.golf/ for further information.
