Four different all-weather playing surfaces from Huxley Golf have been used in the creation of a state-of-the-art outdoor teaching academy established at the 3 Hammers Golf Complex, Coven, near Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.
Believed to be the first of its type in Britain, the new ‘Learn 2 Play’ academy has been designed to allow a full range of golf shots to be played safely and securely within a fully-enclosed area measuring 900 sq yards (750 sq m).
Dedicated to teaching beginners, ladies and juniors the fundamentals of golf, the academy was designed and commissioned by 3 Hammers’ owner, Ian Bonser, and installed by Huxley Golf’s appointed local distributor, Bob Cheetham, whose company, Intercity, is based at nearby Pattingham.
The new academy complements a host of other individual and group teaching, coaching and practice facilities at 3 Hammers which include an 18-hole short course designed by Sir Henry Cotton, a golf performance studio with 3D video motion analysis and a 390 sq ft (36 sq m) Huxley indoor putting green. There is also a fully-automated 23-bay floodlit driving range and a golf shop, bistro and bar.
Owned and operated since 1986 by Ian Bonser, the 3 Hammers Golf Complex is staffed by qualified PGA Professionals who are able to provide advice, information and assistance on all aspects of golf from equipment selection and purchase through to improving and fine-tuning one’s game.
Conveniently located between the centre’s driving range and short course, the Learn 2 Play academy measures 98ft long by 82ft wide (30m x 25m) and is enclosed on all sides by 30ft high (9m) netting walls, plus roof, all supported by purpose-built steel framework.
The four Huxley all-weather surfaces used within the academy were selected to allow an unlimited variety of shots to be played within a totally secure area, enabling safe coaching of beginners, learners and others new to the game.
The major part of the academy’s surface is covered by Huxley Premier Pathway Turf, a prestige, yet highly durable synthetic turf installed on a specially-prepared base to produce a free-draining surface able to accept golf balls just like natural turf.
A choice of playing surface has been provided at the teeing positions to suit the club being used and the type of shot being played. Four large Huxley driving range mats are alternated with five individual sections of the company’s latest Premier Tee Turf 2 (PTT2), a new generation, all-weather turf used as a low wear, low maintenance alternative to natural turf on golf course tees, practice tees and ranges.
Important features of Huxley PTT2 are its durability and high fibre density which enable wood or iron shots to be played directly off the surface or from a standard tee peg pushed into the pile just like natural turf, but without the associated high levels of wear or maintenance.
The fourth Huxley all-weather surface employed within the academy is a premier quality nylon turf, professionally installed to create a four-hole putting and chipping green at the rear of the enclosed area, close to its entrance.
As with the rest of the playing area, all of the Huxley tees and the putting green were installed by Bob Cheetham and his team on specially-prepared bases to provide stable, free-draining surfaces throughout, able to withstand high levels of use for years to come.
“I’d been wanting for some time to provide a dedicated outdoor academy for beginners, learners and ladies,” commented Mr Bonser. “We found a suitable location adjacent to the driving range and commissioned the production of a purpose-designed steel frame. Fully covered with netting, it has produced a safe, controlled environment where tuition can be provided without worrying about golf balls coming into or leaving the area.”
Choosing the best-possible all-weather playing surfaces for the new academy was a somewhat easier task, as Ian Bonser explained: “Bob Cheetham had installed for us previously a number of Huxley all-weather tees on our short course as well as a small indoor putting green within the golf shop,” he said. “I knew what we wanted to achieve within the Learn 2 Play academy and asked Bob for his advice. The end-result, supplied by Huxley Golf and installed by Bob Cheetham is now being used every day by our golf professionals and their pupils. It’s given us everything we wanted, and more.”
One of 3 Hammers’ PGA Professionals, Piers Ward, echoed Ian Bonser’s praise: “It’s a great facility, ideal for teaching newcomers and those who don’t want to be exposed to the limelight of a public driving range or an indoor academy,” he said. “The playing surfaces are as close to the real thing as you can get without any of the maintenance. When lessons are finished, all of the professionals like using the academy to practise their own shots as the all-round netting means we don’t have to walk far to retrieve the ball.”
For further information, please contact:
Paul Huxley
Huxley Golf
The Dean
New Alresford
Hampshire SO24 9BL
United Kingdom
Tel: 44 (0)1962 733222 e-mail: sales@huxleygolf.co.uk