Golf Monthly News Digest

PGA OPENS THE DOORS OF FIRST ASIAN ACADEMY

Last week saw the grand opening of the PGA's first academy on Asian soil, after the British Ambassador to China, Sir William Ehrman, completed the unveiling of the new facility in the Chinese capital Beijing.

Asia's only PGA branded and managed golf academy will provide top class coaching from PGA professionals and the move into Asia marks a step up in the PGA's quest to further increase the worldwide popularity of the sport.

The academy, named Bayhood No. 9, boasts a number of state-of-the-art innovations, including four high-tech swing analysis studios, a ball radar system, a short game area, par-3 course and two putting greens.

"Bayhood No. 9 strives to provide the best golf facilities in China and we believe that the PGA Academy sets a benchmark that can support the development of golf and golf professionals in this country," said Bayhood No. 9's general manager David Kurniawan.

GB&I LADIES GO DOWN FIGHTING IN MATCH WITH LANCASHIRE MEN

The GB&I Ladies Training Squad, who are preparing for May's Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa, gained some valuable competitive practice last Saturday with a well contested match against Lancashire's best male amateurs at West Lancs.

In a hard fought match of 13 singles encounters, the men capitalised on their local knowledge by posting an 8.5-4.5 win in decidedly blustery conditions. The margin of victory disguised the fact that most of the matches were close run affairs, and the performance of the GB&I ladies will give them extra confidence in the run-up to the Commonwealth Tournament.

The ladies are certainly taking the build-up to their May assignment seriously, as highlighted by the return from America of Carly Booth and Sally Watson for the match. A further match was scheduled for Sunday March 18th, but the proposed encounter between the ladies and Cheshire men at Royal Liverpool had to be cancelled due to bad weather.

BALLYCASTLE LEAD THE WAY IN TECHNO REVOLUTION

Ballycastle Golf Club in Northern Ireland has become one of the first clubs in the UK to move into the 21st century, after announcing a link-up with communuications company friendof.co.uk.

The partnership means that members of Ballycastle will now be contacted about club competitions, functions and handicap adjustments via email and text message, perhaps spelling the beginning of the end for the age old method of communication - the club noticeboard.

A further advantage of the scheme is that societies and visitors can also be added to a seperate communication list - enabling Ballycastle to advertise repeat deals and discounts to them. If any other clubs are interested in discussing the possibilty of a link-up with friendof.co.uk please contact Mark Donald on 08458 620 987.