Other work that has been carried out includes the refurbishment of the bays and the laying of the cabling for the new ground level lighting system which will be installed next month. The centre will again be briefly closed for the staging of the Dunhill Links Championship from September 25 to October 3 when this work will be completed.
The improvements have been made in preparation for a major redevelopment programme which will see the creation of a new state of the art coaching facility next year.
The redevelopment is designed to make the practice centre one of the foremost golf academies in the UK. An additional 14 indoor bays will be created, taking the total number to 51. Four of the new bays will be equipped with cutting edge digital and video analysis equipment, including the Dartfish software package, and will be staffed by a team of professionals from PGA Management Ltd, who will be based at the centre.
Alan McGregor, general manager, at the Links Trust, said, “This redevelopment programme will create one of the best golf practice and tuition facilities in the UK. The closure of the practice centre for the Open enabled us to press on with some preparatory work for the programme, which is all part of our aim to achieve continual improvement in the quality of the facilities on offer at the Home of Golf.”
The Golf Practice Centre reopens from 7am on Monday. The Dunhill Links Championship takes place from September 29 to October 2 at the Old Course, St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.