Golf students get to grips with putting green at the University of the Highlands and Islands

Golf Management students at The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) recently had a unique opportunity to help install a new putting facility at North Highland College.

The installation, a 30ft by 15ft all-weather putting green from Huxley Golf, will enable students year after year to practise their short game on a consistent and true surface, even when weather conditions would have traditionally put pay to any play.

Alan Fleming, PGA Professional and Golf Management Lecturer at North Highland College, UHI, said of the new green: “This exciting new facility has many benefits for our University. It is, of course, an advantage for our academic students in terms of developing performance, but it is also hugely beneficial for the University Golf Team who will now be able to increase their competitiveness during the university golf season. Furthermore, it is important in terms of attracting new students and promoting our commitment to the game of golf. We have enviable links to some of the world’s most incredible golf clubs such as Royal Dornoch, and this new facility will enhance these relationships by providing their Pros access to a winter facility if required.”

Frosty mornings are no longer a problem for students in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, thanks to a new Huxley Golf all-weather putting green.

Established in 2001, the BA (Hons) course in Golf Management at UHI, was the first honours degree programme of its kind in the UK combining academic and practical aspects to deliver a fully-rounded approach to a career in the sport. Students are at the college from September through to May each year, arguably the worst time of the year to expect to be able to practise outside. A real grass putting green was not a practical option for the University in terms of maintenance or cost and so Huxley Golf were approached to provide a solution.

Commenting on his choice of partner for the project, Mr Fleming continued: “We chose Huxley Golf because they were the only brand I was confident of getting the quality of product from. We had a relatively tight budget but were keen not to spend less money on something that was not suitable or inferior. I knew of Huxley Golf through PGA training and contacts. Their endorsements from tour pros and the work the company has done with other academic institutions gave non-golf staff the confidence to make the investment, on which I’m confident we will see a big return.”

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