Westwood Opens New PGA Golf Academy at Close House

Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood officially opened the new PGA Golf Academy at Close House as it continued its commitment to provide the ultimate golfing experience.

The new Academy reflects the North-East venue’s dedication to offer the very best in golf tuition, practice facilities and custom fitting. The PGA Academy includes a floodlit driving range, designated long and short game practice areas, a SAM PuttLab analysis system and a high performance custom-fitting centre with the use the Flightscope ball-tracking radar system.

In addition, it will also be a centre of excellence for blind and disability golfers, with its team of PGA Professionals having undergone dedicated training as part of a wider remit with ISPS Handa, sponsors of next month’s PGA Seniors Championship.

Robert Maxfield, joint Chief Operating Officer and Property and Commercial Director, said: “The new PGA Academy at Close House is a fantastic addition to the family of PGA branded golf academies and courses around the world, including The PGA’s headquarters at The Belfry and the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, the 2014 Ryder Cup venue.

“The Academy reinforces the relationship between The PGA and Close House, whose vision under Graham Wylie’s leadership is set to become one of the finest golf facilities in the UK.”

Close House owner Graham Wylie said: “This is an exciting new addition to the facilities here at Close House and means we are now able to offer the latest teaching technologies to those wanting to learn and improve.

“We are passionate about providing the best possible golfing experience for both our members and our visitors, and the opening of the new academy will enable our instructors to deliver tuition through the use of the very best facilities.”

The opening of the academy coincided with the fifth annual Have a Heart charity golf event, which this year raised in excess of £350,000 for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund.

A host of celebrities from the worlds of racing, golf, television and sport played a round of golf on Close House’s much acclaimed Colt Course and then enjoyed a gala dinner and auction.