Work will commence in January 2025.
Prince’s Golf Club Unveils Major Clubhouse Upgrade Plans
Prince’s Golf Club, host of the 1932 Open Championship, has unveiled plans for a number of major upgrades to its clubhouse. Work will commence in January 2025, and will include both aesthetic and functional upgrades designed to improve experiences for both members and visitors alike.
The upgrades include a full white rendering of the clubhouse exterior, along with new windows being installed - providing a fresh, modern look. In addition, the outdoor staircases will be fully refurbished, and a new pathway constructed around the clubhouse to enhance the entrance experience for both members and visitors.
Finally, the installation of a new lift means that Prince’s will be fully accessible for all guests. A dedicated trolley storage area will also be added, offering members greater convenience before and after their rounds.
“These upgrades are an important part of our long-term vision for Prince’s. The clubhouse is a key focal point for our club, and we’re committed to providing facilities that match the quality of our championship links,” Commented Rob McGuirk, General Manager of Prince’s Golf Club.
“These improvements will not only enhance the aesthetic appeal, but they will significantly improve functionality for both our members and visitors. We’re looking forward to seeing the transformation.”
• Lord Mervyn Davies joins Shot Scope board as Chairman ahead of 2025 global expansion plan
Shot Scope, industry leaders in golf technology, today announces Lord Mervyn Davies CBE as Chairman of the Board.
Lord Davies, an avid golfer and sport enthusiast, is delighted to support Shot Scope as it scales and grows the organisation. From its origins in the Home of Golf in Scotland, Shot Scope has ambitious plans to establish the company as a global golf brand, particularly in North America.
“I am excited to join Shot Scope as Chairman of the Board, our innovative products are sold in over 160 countries and stocked by leading golf and sport retailers worldwide. I look forward to working with the team and shareholders to deliver our ambitious international growth plans and establish Shot Scope as a global brand within golf.”
Mervyn Davies, Lord Davies of Abersoch, was formerly Chief Executive and Chairman of Standard Chartered and awarded a CBE in 2002 for his services to the financial sector. He is currently Chairman of the Lawn Tennis Association, LetterOne and sits on the World Rugby Executive Committee.
Commenting on the appointment, CEO David Hunter said; “We are delighted to welcome Lord Davies to the board, his wealth of experience growing global brands and passion for sport and entrepreneurship is a perfect fit.”
Global expansion is the brand’s primary goal for the upcoming 2025 season, both Shot Scope and Lord Davies are excited to embark on this challenge together.
• Sky Sports Golf’s Sarah Stirk to lead line-up for BIGGA Celebration at BTME
The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is thrilled to announce that renowned TV presenter and journalist Sarah Stirk will host the BIGGA Celebration, held on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) in January.
Best known for her work with Sky Sports, where she has been a leading voice in golf coverage since 2012, Sarah will guide the evening’s festivities. The BIGGA Celebration highlights the incredible achievements of BIGGA members over the previous year, including the unveiling of the prestigious BIGGA Awards winners.
With a career spanning roles at Sky Sports, the BBC, Setanta and Sky News, Sarah has covered DP World Tour and PGA Tour events and interviewed some of the biggest names in golf. A 7-handicap golfer herself, Sarah also champions women in leadership roles within golf, having launched the Women’s Leadership Summit supported by The R&A.
Sarah said: “I’m delighted to be presenting the BIGGA Celebration at BTME in January. It’s an honour to celebrate the incredible work of BIGGA members and I look forward to a fantastic evening in Harrogate.”
Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “Sarah’s experience and passion for the game make her the perfect host for this landmark event. We’re excited to welcome her to BTME and encourage all attendees to join us for an unforgettable evening in Harrogate’s historic Royal Hall.”
BTME is one of the golf industry’s most influential events and runs for three days at the Harrogate Convention Centre, offering unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. Both BTME and the BIGGA Celebration are free to attend, with registration available at www.btme.org.uk
For more about BIGGA, you can visit our website and follow them on Twitter.
• CoachNow announced as Coaching Software Supplier to the PGA of Australia
Golf Genius, the leading provider of cloud-hosted golf software solutions, has announced an agreement with the PGA of Australia to provide its PGA Members with exclusive access to its market-leading coaching solution, CoachNow.
As part of the agreement, CoachNow becomes a ‘Coaching Software Supplier’ to the PGA of Australia and will assist PGA Members with the running of their coaching businesses through preferential product access and pricing plans.
“CoachNow aims to change the coaching landscape for the better by providing PGA Professionals with state-of-the-art technology and features. I’d like to thank Golf Genius and CoachNow for their collaboration that will not only provide our PGA Members with enhanced value, but also assist us with the development of future coaches,” comments Geoff Stewart, General Manager – Membership and Education at the PGA of Australia.
Peter Shaw, a PGA of Australia Member and General Manager for Golf Genius – APAC, said: “Having used CoachNow during my previous role as a golf coach, it’s amazing to see the product’s evolution to where it is today—which is a complete solution for PGA Professionals to run, grow and scale their coaching businesses.”
Trusted by the world’s best coaches, academies, and national programmes in 140 countries worldwide, CoachNow is a technology platform that helps PGA Professionals build successful coaching businesses with enhanced athlete collaboration and communication tools.
Spencer Dennis, Founder of CoachNow, a division of Golf Genius, commented: “The PGA of Australia represents pure class in the world of golf. We’ve been proud to support their coaches for many years and are thrilled to now become an official supplier. Our goal has always been to work with the best coaches and Australia’s passion for sport and skill development puts them right at the top. Our entire team is looking forward to an innovative and industry-evolving partnership.”
Exclusively available to PGA of Australia Full and Associate Members, the member offer includes free trial access to CoachNow, followed by a discounted price on all plans after the free trial period has concluded.
For PGAs and PGA Professionals interested in finding out more about CoachNow, please contact international@golfgenius.com.
• EcoBunker Celebrating 10 Years in Business
As 2024 draws to a close, EcoBunker Ltd the industry leading innovator of synthetic bunker wall technology is celebrating its 10th year in business supporting the rapidly evolving golf industry.
Starting out in 2014 with an injection of funding and the creation of a reliable supply chain, founder Richard Allen was able to grow the invention he had made five years earlier into the sustainable business he knew it could be. EcoBunker has since grown into a hugely successful international business that has engaged in many hundreds of projects covering every major golfing territory.
“It’s been an incredible 10 years, and I’d like to thank all of the courses, designers and golf industry professionals without whom we wouldn’t have become the business we are,” commented EcoBunker founder, Richard Allen. “Challenging the way things have always been done is a hugely difficult task, so I will always be grateful to everyone that placed their faith in us and what we were trying to achieve.”
Key milestones in the past 10 years have included the development of EcoBunker Advanced, a cement modified backfill technology that cut the shipping weight of EcoBunker in half, enabling the growth of the international business; the design of two further technologies – EcoTec bunker liners and AquaEdge synthetic water edging; and most recently, the investment in EcoBunker’s own production facility, that gives more control over R&D and product testing, a process that has already produced the next generation of EcoBunker Advanced that should be ready for mass production before the end of the year.
“When I invented synthetic bunker edging technology, I knew that it could change the game,” concludes Richard. “We can slash maintenance costs, quadruple the lifespan of revetted bunkers and provide visually stunning additions to golf courses that keep on delivering a fantastic experience for golfers year after year. I’m incredibly proud of all we’ve achieved in the past ten years and I can’t wait to see where the next ten take us.”
With the launch of the next generation of EcoBunker Advanced technology set to reduce installation costs and increase the strength of bunker walls, the next chapter for EcoBunker is already taking shape. And with the following generation of products already well into the R&D phase, the future for EcoBunker is very bright.
For more information on EcoBunker please visit www.ecobunker.co.uk