New academy opens at top north east venue

Northumberland venue Close House is seeking to become known as the ‘Wentworth of the North.’

And the Close House revolution has just been kickstarted by the opening of the club’s spanking new state of the art Golf Academy and Driving Range.

The new Academy marks the completion of the first major phase of a £8m investment in golf, in addition to the already very popular Filly Course at Close House Hotel and Golf. 

Phase two involves a superb new Golf Club House in build now and opening late spring 2011 prior to the ‘jewel in the crown’ –  the new Colt Championship Golf Course designed by renowned international golf architect Scott MacPherson (opening in summer 2011).
   
The Golf Academy is unique in the North of England and follows painstaking research by Close House Golf Manager, John Glendinning and his team, combining the very latest in world golf technology within a contemporary and attractive environment.  The Academy offers golfers of all abilities the opportunity to improve their playing technique with expert advice from resident golf professionals and the Driving Range then enables this to be put into practice. 
   
The Driving Range enjoys the benefit of the world’s leading automated teeing system with power tees, negating the need for golfers to bend down to put another ball on the tee – conserving both energy and concentration! 

Close House is also the first venue in the North East to offer the ‘Flightscope’ launch monitor – a system actually based on a South African missile tracking device.

Golfers can see instant analysis of their ball in flight helping in the process of fitting their own clubs with similar technology available to Tour Professionals. 

Other high tech tuition technology includes ‘Explanar’, the ‘Gasp Lab’ video system and ‘Forceplate’ (comparable to the ‘Wii Fit Board’ monitoring how you balance your body) which enables the professional to identify the often minute changes which can dramatically improve your posture and thus your game.   
The privately owned Close House is set in 400 acres with stunning views of the Tyne Valley and also includes Close House Hotel, currently with 19 luxurious bedrooms, though Phase three will see this enhanced by a further 12 bedrooms opening in the summer of 2011.