Driving range development specialist Booth Golf & Leisure is nearing completion of a new practice area, designed by Ken Moodie of Creative Golf Design, at Headingley Golf Club in Leeds, England.
The club was founded in 1892 and moved to its current location in the early 1900s. Both Harry Colt and Alister MacKenzie have completed work on the course, with the former creating new bunkers and the latter remodelling parts of the layout and renovating greens.
Despite having a well-respected golf course, the club felt its practice facilities were lacking in quality. In 2020, Headingley brought in Moodie and Booth Golf & Leisure to plan new short and long-game areas. “The club wanted to enhance its practice facilities to compete with nearby golf courses, while minimising cost,” said Rob Bristow, head of Booth Golf & Leisure.
The first phase of work was the new short-game area, with construction starting in June 2021. The area was opened by European Tour golfer Marcus Armitage in June 2023. It occupies what used to be part of the golf course that sloped down towards Adel Beck, a tributary of the River Aire. Moodie and Booth Golf & Leisure have integrated the area into the landscape, tying it in with the eighteenth fairway, helping to form a dogleg and add challenge to the hole.
“The new short-game area enables members to execute shots up to 100 yards, with golfers hitting from a purpose-built artificial tee towards a designated green positioned at the boundary,” said Bristow. “Additionally, a substantial chipping green, nearly 50 metres in size, was constructed to provide a variety of chipping opportunities from the primary tee area. Several circular tee mats, each two metres in diameter, were also installed.”
Construction of the long-game area started in early 2022. Booth Golf & Leisure is currently shaping the area before handing over to C&C Golfscapes to execute finishing work.
“The new long-game practice ground will be equipped with multiple target greens, allowing golfers to hone their shots across varying distances,” said Bristow. “Additionally, the range will include two strategically positioned tees at opposite ends, enhancing the diversity of practice options and encouraging a broader selection of shots.”
“We are super proud of how the project has developed,” said Bristow. “The finished product is truly fantastic and without a doubt will be the best practice facility in Yorkshire.”
Booth Golf & Leisure were able to fund the development of both the short- and long-game areas through the importation of inert fill from nearby construction projects.
The long-game area, following a growing in period, is expected to be in use in early 2025.