Winter evenings are the perfect time to work on your golf swing at the driving range or in a state-of-the-art swing studio. Our region is home to some fantastic practice facilities to help keep your swing in shape, improve your game and learn from some of the best coaches. Looking to sharpen your game in the months ahead? Try these…
High Gosforth Park Golf Club
High Gosforth Park’s driving range is open to the public seven days a week from 9am. The floodlit range features 28 bays with high-quality mats, Srixon golf balls, and multiple targets to enhance your session. Range bays are available to reserve online through the club’s website or by using the Elitelive app. Range vouchers are also available for regular visitors, while the team of PGA professionals is on-hand to help you improve your game. High Gosforth Park Golf Club, High Gosforth Park, Newcastle, NE3 5HQ, tel 0191 236 3322, www.parklandsgolf.co.uk
Longhirst Hall Golf Course
Open to members and the public, the driving range and academy at Longhirst Hall is one of the finest practice facilities in Northumberland. The floodlit range has 14 bays with power tees along with a teaching studio, where you’ll find PGA professional Paul Fiddes. The academy is also home to a 360-degree short game practice area with space to practise your chipping, pitching and bunker play. Academy membership is available for £20 per year and includes discounts on purchases, a free round of golf and social membership of the club. Longhirst Hall Golf Course, Morpeth, NE61 3LL, tel 01670 791 562, www.longhirstgolf.co.uk
Blackwell Grange Golf Club
Blackwell Grange’s driving range is the ideal place to hone your swing with the 13-bay covered driving range at the centre of the club’s extensive practice facilities. Those facilities also include a short game practice area and a Jonathan Gaunt-designed practice putting green. You’ll also find a six-hole academy course and well-stocked pro shop here along with a state-of-the-art swing studio, which offers the chance to hit balls inside and out onto the range using Trackman technology with tuition available from professionals Peter Raine and Aaron Cox. Blackwell Grange Golf Club, Snipe Lane, Darlington, DL2 2SA, tel 01325 464458, www.blackwellgrangegolf.com
Sharpley Golf Course
Sharpley is home to excellent practice facilities, including a 14-bay covered driving range and four open-air bays which were added in 2022 along with an additional practice green with a greenside bunker and fairway bunker. The range features a number of targets, while power tees are also available in several of the covered bays. Open daily from 8am to 8pm, to members and the general public, you’ll also find top-quality tuition at Sharpley from PGA professionals Kevin Jackson and David Howdon, while Kevin’s successful junior academy continues to support the development of young golfers. Meanwhile, the facilities at Sharpley will be added to in November with the opening of the Virtual Golf and Development Suite, where players can work on their game with access to state-of-the-art technology and play some of the world’s best courses. Work is also underway on the creation of an extra four-bay driving range, which will be perfect for group and junior sessions. Sharpley Golf Course, Seaton, Seaham, SR7 0NP, tel 0191 513 1100 / 07789 220 505, www.sharpleygolf.co.uk
George Washington Hotel, Golf and Spa
The Golf Academy at George Washington is a real all-rounder, with space to work on all aspects of your game. The 16 heated bays in the floodlit driving range include six bays with power tees and a teaching suite with FlightScope technology. There is also a practice putting green and short game area on offer to keep all aspects of your game sharp. PGA professional tuition is also available making full use of the facilities. George Washington Hotel, Golf and Spa, Stone Cellar Road, Washington, NE37 1PH, tel 0191 402 9988, www.georgewashington.co.uk/golf
Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
Take your practice sessions to the next level at Ramside this winter with Toptracer technology available on the driving range, allowing golfers to track shots, play fun games and test their ability on some of the world’s best courses. Toptracer – which has also revolutionised TV coverage with its ball tracking system – is available in each bay at Ramside’s floodlit driving range and offers the chance to track every shot in your practice session. As well as allowing you to gather data, there are a range of modes including The Approach Challenge, which is designed to help fine tune iron play in a game of nine approach shots on a choice of three legendary courses, while Closest to Pin games take place on some of the most scenic par threes in the world. Players can also try out My Practice to work on their game or compete to hit the ball the furthest on Long Drive, while Toptracer 30 will provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of your whole game. For young golfers or those just starting out in the sport, Go Fish is a fun game using golf shots to catch each of 24 different sea creatures. All your data is stored on your account in the Toptracer app, which enhances the experience further. Ramside Hall, Carrville, Durham, DH1 1TD, tel 0191 3869 514, www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk/golf
