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TRAFFORD GOLF CENTRE GROWS THE ACADEMY TO SUPPORT DEMAND

In a year which has seen many ups and downs, Trafford Golf Centre is continuing to grow as the popularity for golf increases. The UK’s busiest driving range has welcomed three new members to The Academy – now an 11-strong team of PGA registered professional golfers.

PGA qualified golf coach, Jamie Forshaw joins from Worsley Golf Club meanwhile Matt Phillips and Calum Heyes-Smith are furthering their careers in the golf industry and they become PGA registered trainees.

Having already been part of the Trafford Golf Centre team for three years, Matt and Calum are known to many of the regular customers at the driving range and will become fully qualified in 2023. Matt and Calum are excited to start offering coaching sessions in the ever popular junior and adult group sessions. This gives golfers a great value option to learn how to play.

Director of Golf at Trafford Golf Centre, Pete Styles said: “As a Senior PGA teaching professional and part of The Academy, it is fantastic to see the team growing and we’re so pleased to welcome Jamie, Matt and Calum to the team. 2020 has certainly been a year of mixed emotions, we have experienced many highs and lows as a venue, but we’re pleased to be growing and reporting positive numbers.”

The teaching facility at Trafford Golf Centre is regarded as one of the best in the UK. Having delivered 14,000 individual and group lesson in the last 12 months, covering all aspects of the game, the PGA professionals coach all levels from beginners all the way through to experienced golfers. Following temporary closure following lockdown 2.0 in the UK, Trafford Golf Centre and Dino Falls Adventure Golf will re-open on Wednesday 2nd December.

Pete concludes: “To further support the growth of the team, the teaching studios are being relocated to a quieter area of the range plus £30,000 is being invested in upgraded and new technical equipment. Recently, the analysis software has been upgraded to Gasp Lab 7 and the cameras used have also been upgraded to industry leading models. We pride ourselves on being the north’s centre of excellence for golf improvement and will continue to upgrade and improve for our customers.”

Open 7am to 10.30pm, seven days a week, The Academy at Trafford Golf Centre has an element of flexibility, working around clients to suit their schedules.

Trafford Golf Centre is continuing to defy the slide in visitor attraction numbers due to Covid-19, hitting over nine million golf balls since the re-opening in May 2020 – including 73,000 in one day, the record number of balls hit at the TraffordCity venue to date.

Now featuring TopTracer and Power Tee in all 53 bays, Trafford Golf Centre boldly names itself the best practice facility in the UK. Featuring an exact replica of the most iconic par three hole in the world, the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, Trafford Golf Centre also boasts a dedicated short game practice area, featuring the best Huxley synthetic turf.

Featuring a licensed Café & Bar proudly serving Starbucks, six target greens spread over 300 yards and the largest American Golf retail store in the north, Trafford Golf Centre is like Disney World for any golfer – as quoted by Vice Chairman of Battle Back and past Invictus Games Captain, Bernie Broad.

Trafford Golf Centre is also home to Manchester’s most popular 36-hole adventure golf course, Dino Falls Adventure Golf.

Following temporary closure due to Covid-19, the UK’s busiest driving range, Trafford Golf Centre continues to defy the slide in visitor attraction numbers, hitting over three million golf balls since the re-opening in May 2020 – including 73,000 in one day, the record number of balls hit at the TraffordCity venue to date.

Over the past few months, the team have been busy upgrading the facility. Now featuring TopTracer in all 53 bays and 39 Power Tee bays, Trafford Golf Centre boldly names itself the best practice facility in the UK.

Featuring an exact replica of the most iconic par three hole in the world, the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, Trafford Golf Centre also boasts a dedicated short game practice area, featuring the best Huxley synthetic turf.

Director of Golf at Trafford Golf Centre, Pete Styles said: “Sin

ce March, we have experienced many highs and lows as a venue, but we’re pleased to be reporting positive numbers as we emerge into the new normal as not only a driving range for golfers but as a visitor attraction welcoming families, friends, date nights and many more.”

New additional outfield targets and updates to the toilet facilities are also planned for 2020 as well as an all new website.

Pete concludes: “I want to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their continued support and co-operation in keeping to social distancing guidelines and increased measures in place to ensure we can remain operating. We value the quality of practice at Trafford Golf Centre and we always strive to offer the best service, balls, mats and targets.”

Featuring a licensed Café & Bar, six target greens spread over 300 yards and the largest American Golf retail store in the north, Trafford Golf Centre is like Disney World for any golfer – as quoted by Vice Chairman of Battle Back and past Invictus Games Captain, Bernie Broad.

Trafford Golf Centre is also home to Manchester’s most popular 36-hole adventure golf course, Dino Falls Adventure Golf.

On Friday 25^th September, Trafford Golf Centre PGA professionals plus BBC Breakfast host, Dan Walker took on eight Battle Back Golfers in a highly anticipated Ryder Cup style competition held at Worsley Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club, which had been postponed since the spring due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to lockdown and Covid-19, the Trafford Golf Centre pros were on track to take on the Battle Back golfers. Having begun tuition in November 2019, eight injured service personnel linked to Battle Back Golf, which is closely connected to past Invictus Games Captain, Bernie Broad, progressed well in their game, so well, that they were able to take the win against the pros.

Speaking at the close of the match, BBC’s Dan Walker said: “During the competition, it was incredible to hear stories from the Battle Back Golfers and to understand some more about what they’ve been through. It is fantastic to see how much they enjoy the sport, so much so, that we got well and truly whooped! A deserved victory for the guys.”

At the end of 2019, The Academy at Trafford Golf Centre partnered with Battle Back Golf, a programme which utilises golf to enhance the recovery of wounded, injured and sick service personnel, to offer life-changing coaching. Now the UK’s busiest driving range, Trafford Golf Centre provided six one-hour coaching sessions and gave £100 of ball credit to each participant to help them with their practice.

As a venue, Trafford Golf Centre prides itself on being inclusive for all and sees customers with a variety of disabilities on a regular basis. From visual impairments to injured service personnel, the Academy team enjoy taking time to introduce new people to the sport, ensuring a fairway into golf regardless of the ability.

Director of Golf at Trafford Golf Centre, Pete Styles added: “We thoroughly enjoyed the competition with the Battle Back Golfers last week and, although its tough to admit it, it was a pleasure to see them take the win. At Trafford Golf Centre, we strive to swing the balance in golf and make it more accessible to all. Initiatives such as Battle Back Golf proves the sport can assist with rehabilitation, mental health and much more.”

Bernie Broad, Vice Chairman of Battle Back said: “We really appreciate the support the Academy coaches have given to the veterans and serving personnel to date – it’s clearly worked as we managed to take the win! Anyone who is looking to get into golf, ex-services or not, Trafford Golf Centre has superb facilities, high standard of coaching and the technology to help you enjoy the sport.”

Trafford Golf Centre is the biggest golf academy in the north west and features a wealth of services and facilities including: 53 Toptracer bays, six target greens spread over 300 yards, Power Tee Automatic Ball machines on 39 bays, licensed Café and Bar serving Starbucks Coffee and a range of food both inside and outside on the range plus the largest American Golf retail store in the north.

To support Loneliness Awareness Week, a topic which in recent times has been talked about widely along with the importance of increasing mental health awareness, we wanted to explore the benefits golf can have on those feeling lonely.

At Trafford Golf Centre, we pride ourselves on being an all-inclusive golfing facility – encouraging individuals of all abilities & backgrounds to pick up a club & get involved. Our PGA professionals also enjoy getting to know their clients and often become friends through their mutual love of the sport.

We believe that getting out and about, learning new skills and socialising with people with similar interests are all contributing factors to improved mental health.

As a sport, golf increases physical and mental capacity, creativity and the ability to solve problems, all of which are undoubted positives and bound to make you feel better. The physical side of golf is also known to be effective in treating mild to moderate depression.

We all know that golf is sociable sport, you’re always meeting new people and naturally you’ll end up making connections with people whenever you play. The social elements of golf allow you to make friends easily which in turn enables you to feel included and releases positive endorphins. By joining us on our Dino Falls Adventure Golf course or playing a virtual course on one of our TopTracer bays at the range – you’ll be bound to bump into at least one friendly face.

After practicing your swing, grab a cup of Starbucks coffee or a good old brew and take some time to talk – to anyone whether that be a family member, friend or even one of our lovely members of staff. Sharing problems, talking about how you’re feeling or just simply chatting about last night’s telly can do everyone the world of good and help you to feel more connected to the world.

If you’re new to the sport, or just fancy trying something new, we offer introductory golf assessments, expertly guided by our PGA approved golf instructors to make you feel comfortable and settle any nerves. We’re proud to say all of our golf coaches take the time to build relationships with clients and often become regarded as friends, so we would encourage anyone who is struggling with loneliness or indeed mental health and to open up – we are more than happy to listen and offer a helping hand.

After 1 week of downswing practice, creating an in to out swing path, this player felt very low about his swing and thought he had majorly regressed, in fact he had made a huge improvement.

The ball told him he was hitting bad shots but his downswing told me he was ready to start hitting the ball further and with a nice high draw!!!

We made 2 slight adjustments to his posture and top of backswing position which instantly felt more comfortable and the results were superb.

Trafford Golf Centre is bucking the national trend of golf declining in the UK with a record number of golf balls hit in just one day!

Saturday 18^th October saw Peel’s Trafford Golf Centre’s customers hit 55,000 golf balls on the range in just one day! The highest number of balls hit in one day during the Centre’s 15 year history.

Peter Styles, Director of Golf at Trafford Golf Centre said, “Golf in general is in a decline with fewer people participating in the sport at a club level, however we are seeing an increase in the number of people visiting our driving range.

“We have just launched our Junior Academy which is growing ever popular with over 60 children taking lessons per week. We have also introduced an adult teaching offer with five one hour sessions for just £25 each per person. This has encouraged over 100 golfers to take up the sport with a new class beginning every week.

“We aren’t seeing a decline in golf, we’re see a change in the way people play with more people enjoying the relaxed atmosphere here and the benefit of having PGA-Qualified Professionals on-site.”

The Academy at Trafford Golf Centre is one of the most advanced golf teaching facilities in the country with superb facilities and state-of-the-art technology. Our five teaching professionals hold all of their lessons at the Centre and can create lesson programs for every ability.

Trafford Golf Centre offers top class facilities with 57 undercover driving bays over two tiers with a floodlit outfield and extensive free on-site car parking. We have five on-site PGA Qualified Teaching Professionals and four state-of-the-art teaching bays in the Trafford Golf Academy, as well as an American Golf store. It is an iconic building immediately adjacent to Junction 10 of the M60, on the doorstep of intu Trafford Centre and close to Chillfactore and AirKix.