Daryl Dampney of Parley Golf Centre
Work at Parley Golf Centre, which aims to turn it into the finest practice facility in the region, is well under way.
A vast new practice green is being constructed as part of the £250,000 investment that will also fund a variety of innovative features.
Grass is well established on other new greens that are part of the re-designed nine-hole course that will be re-orientated to provide a round of 18 holes with a total distance of 5,111 yards.
The existing course remains unchanged while work is going on, and when complete the centre will cover an area twice as large as before and is expected to lead to the creation of jobs.
A new short game practice area is also being created, which will have chipping areas and practice bunkers and ultimately will be floodlit.
The driving range will be upgraded and a grassed teeing area will be added.
Inside will be a private room with a driving bay and seating that will be available for hire and for business meetings.
Also being installed is a hi-tech golf simulator upon which it will be possible to play famous courses.
MJ Abbott Ltd of Salisbury, specialist contractors to the golf and amenity industry, is carrying out the work on the new 1,500 square metre (16,145 square feet) practice green.
It is being completed to full US Golf Association specification with full drainage and irrigation installed and will be opened and playable next autumn.
Daryl Dampney, manager of the centre, said: “The completion date for the outside work is largely dependent on this winter’s weather, but it’s great to see things well underway.
“We have ever-growing women and children’s sections and with the new practice and learning facilities we expect to attract even more.
“The inspiration for the development came from a visit to the US where these types of facility are more common.”
