Golf Monthly news digest

Metro Golf launched in London

A new indoor golf development has opened in London combining state-of-the-art simulators with the relaxed atmosphere of a lounge bar.

Metro Golf is situated just a few minutes walk from Paddington Station and has six simulators with the choice of many of the worlds top courses to choose from including St Andrews, Oakmont and Valderrama.

A team of fully-qualified PGA professionals will give lessons with the latest in video teaching and swing analysis.

Metro serves food and drink while you play, and there's sport on wide-screen TVs, an Xbox 360, a golf shop, and a lounge area where you can simply relax.

Indoor golf has over the last three years become one of London's most popular pastimes. For both ?time-poor? players who want a hour or two?s fun and relaxation, and for learners and improvers who want tuition and practice facilities on their doorstep.

Wyboston completes major refurbishment

Wyboston Lakes has recently completed a major refurbishment and upgrading programme of its 18 hole golf course as part of an ongoing multi-million pound investment across the whole site.

Thanks to favourable weather conditions this spring, the final stage of the refurbishment was completed ahead of schedule. This included construction of new tee boxes on the 1st and 10th holes and the creation of one of the largest bunkers in the area surrounding the 18th green.

Leisure services manager Dave Little commented, ?Much of the work we have done will ensure that both lower handicap golfers and the social players find the course more challenging and rewarding.?

The shop has the most up-to-date computerised swing scanning technology to assist the three resident golf professionals headed by Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach Paul Ashwell, in helping players improve their game. The course also offers ?Super Senior? tees allowing golfers the chance to test their skill and enjoy their golf without the concern of long distance holes.

Open medal makes £40,000

A rare gold medal, won by the great British golfer Sir Henry Cotton at the 1937 Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie sold for £39,600 last week at Bonhams in Edinburgh.

Before the sale, the medal had been expected to fetch £25,000-30,000. However, one determined collector ensured its price exceeded everyone?s expectations.

By 1934 when he won his first Open Championship, Henry Cotton was hailed as the best British professional golfer since ?The Great Triumvirate? of J H Taylor, James Braid and Harry Vardon at the turn of the 20th century. 1937 was Cotton?s second win and the medals from these two victories were made into a bracelet worn by his wife ?Toots?.

Pelz Brings scoring game school to Killeen Castle

World renowned golf instructor Dave Pelz has chosen Killeen Castle Estate, Ireland, as the first international location of a Dave Pelz Scoring Game School.

Thousands of amateur golfers attend the Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools and Clinics across the United States every year and also tune in to the "Dave Pelz Scoring Game Shows'' which have been running on The Golf Channel since 1995. In addition, he has produced countless instructional books, videos and DVDs.

Speaking during the formal announcement of Europe?s first Dave Pelz Scoring Game School at Killeen Castle, Dave Pelz said:

?We are very excited about our association with the Killeen Castle development in our first foray into the European market. We know the Irish are passionate golfers who take the game very seriously. We want to show them how to take their games to the next level with improved scoring and consistent habits from within 100 yards of the hole.?

Pelz's premier three-day schools maintain a 4-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and apply the practical, scientific approach to golf honed through decades of research and one-on-one coaching of many of the game's top professionals, by the former NASA physicist.