With autumn here, evening golf is no longer an option and wetter weather is more likely – so it’s time to get some work done on the driving range and in the golf studio. We have some fantastic practice facilities across the region with state-of-the-art technology – pay these a visit in the coming months…
Blackwell Grange Golf Club
The driving range at Blackwell Grange is the ideal place to sharpen your skills with Toptracer ball tracking technology in each of the 13 covered bays. Whether you’re fine-tuning your swing or looking to gain more distance, Toptracer allows you to track every shot. You can also play iconic courses like The Old Course at St Andrews.
The driving range is at the heart of the club’s extensive practice facilities, which also include a short game practice area and a Jonathan Gaunt-designed practice putting green. There’s also a six-hole academy course and a state-of-the-art swing studio with Trackman technology and the option to hit inside or out onto the range. Lessons are also available from PGA professionals Peter Raine and Aaron Cox.
High Gosforth Park Golf Club
The 28-bay floodlit driving range at High Gosforth Park is open to the public seven days a week from 9am. Ten of the range bays offer industry-leading Toptracer technology, which tracks every shot and gives golfers access to games and the chance to play some of the world’s best courses. Range bays are available to reserve online through the website, using the Elitelive app, or by calling the golf shop. Range vouchers are also available for regular visitors, while the team of PGA professionals are on-hand to help you improve your game.
Longhirst Hall Golf Course
With 14 covered, floodlit bays featuring Toptracer technology, the driving range at Longhirst Hall is a great all-round practice facility.
Open to members and the public daily 9am-9pm (from noon on Wednesdays), the driving range also features power tees and high-quality mats and balls.
The academy site is also home to a 360-degree short game practice area with space to practise your chipping, pitching and bunker play. Meanwhile, the teaching studios are home to resident PGA professionals Paul Fiddes and John Harrison.
Academy membership is available for £95 per year and includes discounts on range balls, one round of golf per month at member’s guest rate, priority booking for custom fitting events, social membership of the club, and lots more – see the website for full details.
The Newcastle Golf Studio
The only studio in the North East with ceiling-mounted Trackman iO technology – which combines radar, infrared and high-speed imaging to deliver data for practice sessions and virtual golf – The Newcastle Golf Studio is the ideal place to work on your game as the temperature drops.
The industry-leading Trackman software allows players to work on their game in a variety of ways – from gathering accurate data for every club in their bag to playing some of the world’s best courses in stunning detail. The studio is also home to custom fitting with the latest equipment from TaylorMade, and lessons are available with PGA professional Brian Rumney.
Matfen Hall
The 10-bay floodlit driving range at Matfen Hall is a great place to work on your game – and work with industry-leading technology with Toptracer ball tracking available in each bay. Toptracer allows players to track the flight and trajectory of their shots in real-time as well as play top courses around the world, track improvement with detailed data collected on every shot, and put their skills to the test in challenges and games.
As well as the driving range, the academy at Matfen is home to short game and putting practice areas, and the challenging par three course. Tuition is also available on the range, in the studios (see pages 56-57) and on the course with PGA professional Tom Robson.