GOLF IT!, the R&A’s newest facility, is set to open in the summer of 2023 in Glasgow.
The state-of-the-art complex is taking shape on the former site of Lethamhill Golf Course, and will feature indoor and outdoor features for new and experienced golfers alike.
Players will get the chance to practice in a two-tiered driving range, fit with floodlights and the latest Toptracer shot tracker technology. The facility will also be equipped with a short game practice area and a grass tee driving range, suitable for all ages and abilities that is free to use for those at the complex.
That’s not to mention a brand-new nine-hole golf course, designed by New Zealander Scott Macpherson, that is being laid out across the site of the old Lethamhill Golf Course, beside the south bank of Hogganfield Loch.
The course will feature several tee boxes, including tees that will have holes playing under 100 yards, allowing beginners to enjoy the sport in the same way as experienced players. At some points, undulation changes will give panoramic views across the city of Glasgow.
Previously, Lethamhill Golf Course had been a popular municipal layout in Glasgow, but now it is hoped this facility will bring new people into the game.
Golfers will also have the option to hire and try out clubs before they buy them. That’s along with the ‘Fit, Build, Play’ retail area provided by Scottsdale Golf, which will allow players to have custom fit, made to measure, clubs built for them, all in the time it takes to enjoy food and drink in the on-site restaurant.
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “Golf It! is an ambitious project and fantastic opportunity for residents of Glasgow and visitors to the city to be introduced to the sport in a welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable environment.
“The range of features at Golf It! makes this a destination like no other. We want this to be a place where everyone from this great city and further afield can feel at home.
“Golf It! will enable people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to be a part of a community-driven facility that levels the playing field and provides new pathways into golf. It marks a significant commitment by the R&A to re-establish the sport’s roots in the heart of Scotland and
take golf into communities that may never have seen it as a viable, family-friendly activity
before.
“In that regard, we want Golf It! to be an exemplar format for working hand in hand with the communities it serves. We are excited about getting the facility ready for its opening next summer.”
The facility will also run a programme that will see apprentice greenkeepers come through the ranks, working on the nine-hole golf course while gaining turf care qualifications.
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