New golf academies make Kent a destination of golf performance excellence

Prince's Golf Club, a former Open Championship venue, is the latest Kent golf course to invest in academy facilities, significantly elevating the county's status as a region of golf performance excellence.

Prince's new Links Golf Academy, set to open in September, will be England's first specialist centre dedicated to links golf. Its d riving range   caters for all weather conditions from grass tees to indoor bays and extends to over 330 yards making it suitable for the longest of hitters.

Golfers of all levels and abilities will be able to optimise their Links game and capitalise on the professional expertise, high-tech equipment and pioneering facilities, as will visitors from abroad who will also be able to benefit from the new world-class academy.

Among other major developments being undertaken in Kent, is London Golf Club's planned European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI). When completed this state-of-the-art facility will feature an innovative 9-hole Academy Course, fully-covered driving range and inventive short-game facility. 

It will be the first of its kind in the UK and promises to raise the bar in golf coaching and sports science by utilising the very latest technology, biomechanics and tools developed by elite professionals and medical specialists on the European Tour. The ETPI will encapsulate the club's vision of becoming a world-class holistic leisure destination primed for hosting major golfing events. 

These new facilities add to the recently opened Leaderboard Golf Performance Centre (LGPC) at Chart Hills Golf Club in Biddenden, where sports psychologist Karl Steptoe and conditioning expert Rob Goldup focus on the three main aspects of a golfer's game: mind, body and skill. Having worked with several European Tour players, Karl and Rob draw on their expertise to provide a holistic approach to a golfer's game, creating a unique learning environment within Kent. 

Commenting on the significant developments at the county's golf clubs and courses, Sandra Matthews-Marsh, Chief Executive at Visit Kent, said: "Kent has invested significantly in its facilities, ensuring that all golfers can not only experience championship golf courses but also benefit from world-class coaching academies.

"With all of these developments, I am certain our goal of establishing Kent as a region of golf performance excellence is coming to fruition."