Cottrell Park Open UK's First GPS Surround Indoor Golf Simulator Academy with Stars Queuing to Test

Sept. 8, 2011 - PRLog -- Family run Cottrell Park Golf Resort, in the Vale of Glamorgan, launched their latest major investment with stars of sport and golf present to try their skills on two recently installed GPS Surround Proshot Sports Golf Simulators.

The launch invited sporting legends like rugby's Ieuan Evans, Welsh 400m hurdler and new head coach for Welsh Athletics Matt Elias and former boxer Nicky Piper to test their golfing skills against the simulators advanced technology and South Wales based professional golfers.

The simulators, installed at a cost of £120,000, where completed in June this year making them the first complete installation of these advanced training machines in the UK. The club removed 10 bays of their previous 21 bay driving range to make room for the state-of-the-art centre making it something that General Manager Derek Smith is hugely proud of. At the launch Smith said, "These simulators are much more than an all weather course. It is part of our forward thinking business model where we are always looking to offer much more than just traditional rounds of golf. The simulators are going to benefit our members and visitors to the club immensely, as the state of the art training facilities will give professional coaching lessons more information and analysis than ever before." Before showing off the technology he finished by stating that, "Cottrell Park can now truly offer 365 golfing no matter what the weather or time of year."

The simulators were installed to meet the clubs high standards and the makers, Proshot Sports stated that they this installation is "truly the best indoor golf facility in the United Kingdom" due to the high quality finishing.

The simulators offer over 100 courses from around the world, including the 2010 Ryder Cup Celtic Manor course and the clubs own two courses, the Mackintosh and Button Gwinnett have been especially GPS mapped and available on the system library.

The training facility on these machines is a powerful tool for both professional and amateur golfer. The three screens and the high speed CCTV cameras allow video imagery to be stored, reviewed and replayed of the pupil, the golf course and ball path in front of the player and technical data of the shot played on the right hand screen. Wind speeds, weather conditions can all be played out to help a player achieve their potential.

At the launch guests were invited to take part in a closest the pin competition on the simulators. Editor of Sporting Wales magazine Hamish Stuart beat other members of the media, Ieuan and Matt in the amateur both. Whilst PGA golfer Simon Cox hit a brilliant shot to be a few feet away from the pin in the Pro booth.

The indoor golf academy at Cottrell Park is available for use free of charge for club members and included in professional coaching sessions. It is also open for visitors to the club to hire and corporate events.

The launch of these simulators is one of many developments that the club is producing to open up its appeal to the local community and non members.

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Additional Information:
Pro £250 Challenge at Cottrell Park as part of the simulator launch

Professional golfers from South Wales invited to the launch day also took part in a 9hole challenge on Cottrell Park’s Mackintosh course. The Pro Challenge had representatives from clubs from Swansea to Newport. Royal Porthcawl’s James Tuck took the honours with an impressive 36 finish, receiving the £250 cash prize. All entrants also received 10 free hours in the simulators at Cottrell Park for their coaching lessons or for their own player development.

Images Attached:
Image 1: Ieuan Evans and Derek Smith (GM Cottrell Park) at the Launch of the Indoor Golf Academy at Cottrell Park

Images Available upon request (files too large to send in one email)
Image 2: Cottrell Park Indoor Golf Academy
Image 3: James Tuck receiving £250 cash prize from Derek Smith
Image 4: Matt Elias in full swing in the Simulator

EDITOR’S NOTES              Cottrell Park Golf Resort www.cottrellpark.com  01446 781187

Cottrell Park Golf Club is based in St Nicholas, near Cardiff. The club has two 18 hole courses, the Mackintosh Course and the Button Gwinnett Course - both designed to test golfers of all ages and abilities.

The installation cost £120,000 including building works

Hire of the simulator is £29.80 for an hour between 4 people (£7.45 per person, min 4 per booking)
Use of the simulator is included with as a golf lesson with a Cottrell Park professional
The simulators are available in the Golf Day Package price at £19.95 per person (summer) £15.95 (winter) Team Building and private hire for events is prices at £20 per hour

The programme offers Virtual Practise area for driving, chipping and putting. A choice of over 50 major courses from around the world, including 2010 Ryder Cup Celtic Manor course.

Professionals present at the launch – PGA Pro Simon Cox, Steve Bowen, Duncan Prior, Richard Brookman, Dai Pocock, Gareth Griffiths (Not Pro), James Honey, James Sharp, Matthew Phythian (Cottrell Staff), James Tuck.

Famous faces often seen at the club include rugby stars Ieuan Evans and Jonathan Davies, footballer Gareth Bale, West End star Peter Karrie, champion boxer Nicky Piper and comedian Owen Money.

Cottrell Park Golf Resort has one of the largest memberships in South Wales. Currently at 1,300 and has seen 194 new members join in 2011 with renewals up 5%

For more information, interviews and images contact
Vicky Semple PR Manager on vicky@spotonec.com 07921 386813
Gaynor Openshaw-Smith, Marketing Manager gaynor@golfwithus.com 01446 782004

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Cottrell Park Golf Club is based in St Nicholas, near Cardiff. The club has two 18 hole courses, the Mackintosh Course and the Button Gwinnett Course - both designed to test golfers of all ages and abilities.

Famous faces often seen at the club include rugby stars Ieuan Evans and Jonathan Davies, footballer Gareth Bale, West End star Peter Karrie, champion boxer Nicky Piper and comedian Owen Money.

The club’s new golf simulators offer a choice of over 100 courses from around the world - including the Ryder Cup 2010 course at Celtic Manor. Golfers can choose their own weather conditions and work with the club’s golf professional to improve their swing and adapt their game for different terrains and wind speeds.

Cottrell Park offer golf days, corporate bookings, membership, visitor play. The facilities cover restaurant and dining, snooker, segways, 8km nature trail.

Cottrell Park Golf Resort has one of the largest memberships in South Wales. Currently at 1,300