05 March 2007

EGU TO USE ‘POWERPLAY GOLF’ IN COACHING SCHEDULE
New way to play golf forms integral part of training regime for England Elite

The English Golf Union’s Elite squad is to visit Middlesex venue Playgolf Northwick Park in spring 2007 to use the revolutionary new PowerPlay Golf format as part of their comprehensive coaching schedule.

Launched at Playgolf Northwick Park on February 7, PowerPlay Golf has become a worldwide phenomenon, receiving press coverage around the globe including Sydney, Buenos Aires, Singapore and Qatar. In the format, each green has two flags - one white and one black. 

Play is by the stableford system but bonuses of double points are paid to successful players to the black flags, which are tucked away in more difficult positions.

Peter Mattsson, EGU Director of Coaching, decided to introduce the new way to play golf to his coaching schedule to test his players’ course management skills.

He said: “I met Peter McEvoy at Playgolf Northwick Park and we discussed PowerPlay Golf.  It was very evident from early pilots being played that one of the most pertinent factors to come out of the game is that players’ course management is tested more stringently, particularly when a black flag position is approached.

“We are keen to develop our elite players’ course management skills and PowerPlay Golf is an excellent way to help us to achieve this.”

Peter McEvoy OBE, Managing Director of PowerPlay Golf, is delighted that the Elite squad, which contains 11 of Britain’s best amateur golfers, will hone their skills at Playgolf Northwick Park, the unique golf course in Harrow, London, and official home of PowerPlay Golf in England.

Said Peter, former Walker Cup captain: “PowerPlay Golf was designed to introduce an enhanced element of risk and reward to the game - if you like, golf’s version of Twenty20 cricket.
 
“The black flag positions demand greater attention than normal and the Elite players will need to think carefully about how to attack them and, more crucially, where not to miss greens. 

“It is proving to be not only great fun, but an educational element for golfers of all abilities.”

PowerPlay Golf is played over nine holes and players must nominate three black flag ‘powerplays’ during the round. Double stableford points are scored for net birdies or better.

Playgolf Holdings plc Chief Executive, David Piggins, said: “We are delighted that PowerPlay Golf has come to Playgolf Northwick Park, they go together like bacon and eggs. The famous holes that we have honoured here have achieved their global status in part because of their challenging greens and variety of pin positions. The PowerPlay Golf format is a perfect fit for our golf course, and we are also thrilled to be hosting the EGU and the England elite team this spring.”

Many golfers are hailing it as the future of golf, with the potential to change the face of the sport, as Twenty20 did for cricket.

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Company Contacts:

Peter McEvoy, PowerPlay Golf

Tel: +44 (0) 1684 291345 / +44 (0) 7836 314911

Email: sportingconcepts@btconnect.com

David Piggins, Playgolf Holdings plc

Tel: +44 (0) 1926 422320

Email: davidpiggins@playgolfworld.com

Peter Mattsson, EGU Director of Coaching

Tel: +44 (0) 1526 354500

Email: pmattsson@englishgolfunion.org

Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing & Public Relations Manager

Tel: +44 (0) 1526 354500

Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org

Media Contact:

Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners

Tel: +44 (0) 1780 757461

Email: andy@hiseman.com

08 February 2007  

NEW POWERPLAY GOLF FORMAT HAILED A SUCCESS
Double flag format will become golf’s answer to Twenty20 cricket

PowerPlay Golf – a shorter, more exciting way to enjoy golf – has been hailed a huge success at its worldwide launch, with some key figures in the sport claiming it could revolutionise the game.

Launched at Northwick Park by Playgolf plc, PowerPlay Golf uses two flags on each green and rewards golfers who take on the more difficult pin position – in essence a bold bid to create golf’s answer to Twenty20 cricket where aggressive and exciting play reaps dividends.

Some of golf’s leading figures were among the first golfers in the world to test the nine-hole format at Northwick Park’s revolutionary golf complex, which features replicas of famous holes from around the world.

Playgolf Director Peter McEvoy, former Walker Cup Captain, said: “PowerPlay Golf is a punchier, spiced-up version that retains the values of golf but has exciting elements of risk and reward. In well under two hours you can compete in an enjoyable golf event, involving a high degree of strategy and skill, and have lots of talking points for the bar afterwards.

“I certainly don’t want to detract from the traditions of golf, but at the same time we have to find new ways to promote golf that suits modern, busy lifestyles.

“It has enormous TV potential within the professional game because tucking flags away in difficult positions is even more appropriate for the skill level of pros.

“But at the same time, it has the potential to teach amateur golfers about course management and to think like a pro.”

PowerPlay Golf is played over a maximum of nine holes, with two flags in each green – one white, one black – with the black flag representing the more difficult pin position and a ‘powerplay’ scoring opportunity.

At the start of a hole, players nominate which flag they are aiming for and double their Stableford score on ‘black flag holes’ provided they score a net birdie or better. Golfers must play three PowerPlay holes during the round, with an optional fourth ‘powerplay’ at a designated Par Three hole which offers a special ‘SuperPlay’ opportunity – a 30ft diameter circle around one black flag. A player can elect to go for the circle from the tee and if he successfully lands inside, he gains an additional 3 bonus points. But if he misses, he loses two points.

Playgolf Chief Executive, David Piggins, said: “Golf has to embrace the need to adapt to a modern lifestyle and Playgolf have always had it in mind to fulfill modern needs – hence our high-quality six hole course at Northwick Park.

“There is no reason why PowerPlay Golf cannot be embraced by any golf club to create a fast, exciting and interesting competition on their front or back nine.

“Our experience of staging the world’s first demonstration of PowerPlay Golf was hugely positive. We are determined to launch it as a professional event and we are progressing talks to that end.”  
“We feel a maximum nine holes is the right number to play. After all, PowerPlay Golf needs to be a shorter, more vibrant form of the game.”

A pilot event will be played through Middlesex golf clubs this year, culminating in a final at Playgolf Northwick Park.

Added McEvoy: “I can easily see golf clubs staging regular PowerPlay Golf events as part of their annual competitions schedule.”

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Company Contact:

Peter McEvoy, Playgolf

Tel: +44 (0) 1926 422320

Email: petermcevoy@playgolfworld.com
Media Contact:

Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners

Tel: +44 (0)1780 757461

Email: andy@hiseman.com

19 January 2007

PLAYGOLF AND KILMARTIN JOIN FORCES TO CREATE PLAYGOLF EAST KILBRIDE 

Playgolf has signed a joint venture agreement with Scottish property developer Kilmartin to develop its East Kilbride site. Kilmartin are subscribing for a 50% stake in the development and Playgolf will receive an initial £2m. The development, which follows on from the award winning Playgolf Northwick Park, promises to establish a new level for public sports facilities in the UK.

The joint venture brings together Kilmartin, which has £1.5 billion of projects in its portfolio, with Playgolf which is at the forefront of a revolution in the creation and development of public sports projects.

David Piggins, Chief Executive of Playgolf, gave his reaction, ‘ We expect East Kilbride to be the first of a number of developments which we will undertake together. Kilmartin’s expertise and land bank give us the resources that we have lacked to develop more quickly. The paucity of good quality public sports infrastructure in the UK has become a major issue and the appetite to change this, particularly within government and local authorities, has never been stronger. This partnership with one of the UK’s fastest growing property companies gives us the opportunity to ensure that we take full advantage of the position we have created in this field over the last few years.’

Iain Wotherspoon, Chairman and Chief Executive of Kilmartin, hailed the deal as ‘an exciting step for both companies. We have identified the sports/leisure market as one of the key growth areas in UK property  and Playgolf are the innovators in the field. It has been the cornerstone of our rapid growth to work in joint ventures with experts in the fields that most interest us. Having HBoS behind us has allowed us to act as a catalyst for growth for companies with potential. We intend this to be a major focus for us over the next few years.’

Work will start on the East Kilbride scheme in the Spring.

For further information please contact Tom Jenkins at Daniel Stewart on 0207 7766550

08 November 2006 

4,000 PER WEEK VISIT ‘FANTASTIC’ PLAYGOLF NORTHWICK PARK
‘Majors’ venue celebrates 1st anniversary with praise from Monty, Garcia, Harrington and Casey.

Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie have all visited Playgolf Northwick Park since August. One third of the victorious European Ryder Cup team, on a golf course one third normal size.

Colin Montgomerie said “It’s fantastic, a great idea, the quality is here”, Harrington called it “a little oasis in an urban desert”, Garcia said it was “totally unique”, and their Ryder Cup team mate Casey rated Playgolf Northwick Park’s greens as equal to those found at a Major championship.

The Middlesex golf and leisure complex – known for its six-hole ‘Majors’ course featuring tributes to famous golf holes – is celebrating its first anniversary by releasing a set of figures that will be the envy of many a golf club.

“All aspects of Playgolf Northwick Park are now thriving” says Playgolf’s Jimmy Wallace, General Manager at the facility. “As we reach our first anniversary, we have got our prices right, our greens are as good as any on Tour, a huge amount of people now visit us each week, and we are becoming a key venue in the UK promotional and corporate golf market.

“Playgolf Northwick Park has created great excitement among golfers and companies in the south of England,” says Wallace. “People can’t believe they’re playing on greens as good as those at Augusta, for just £15, within 30 minutes on the tube from central London.”

Almost 30% of visitors to Playgolf Northwick Park are under 18 years of age, and almost 60% are from the local Asian community.

The £7 million family golf and leisure complex has released performance figures that show the dramatic effect the facility has had on the surrounding area:
PLAYGOLF NORTHWICK PARK STATISTICS: NOVEMBER 2006

• an average of 3,500 to 4,000 people visit Northwick Park every week;

• approximately 200,000 golf balls hit per week at the driving range;

• over 300 golfers have joined since Memberships went on sale in August 2006;

• 15,000 rounds to date on the ‘Mini Majors’ Adventure Golf course;

• over 280 golf lesson packages sold since the start of October 2006

• 95 juniors have currently signed up for the Young Masters Golf programme;

• over 100,000 people have used its Amano café bar / restaurant

• 300,000 balls hit in 2006 to date in its baseball and softball batting cages;

• almost 500 memberships sold in its Uniq golfer’s health & fitness club;

• an official course record of 18 (-2), and two holes in one …

Further recent developments at Playgolf Northwick Park include:

• A new photo shoot showing aerial views of the golf course in stunning condition.

• The Player’s Card - a popular new membership scheme which allows golfers unlimited golf on the ‘Majors’ course, free range balls and unrestricted use of the practice area at the club’s newly-named National Short Game Centre

• The Practice Card – to cater for the growing demand from local golfers for full access to Playgolf Northwick Park’s practice facilities, rated by many as the best in the UK

• A new standard £15 green fee, which includes a free bucket of golf balls and 30 minutes on the short game area, plus a £25 ‘Whole In One’ fee giving golfers two rounds of the 6-hole course.

• The new Premium Golf Schools Academy, with a new menu of golf lessons and skills tests, and the opening of The National Short Game Centre practice area.

2006 European Order of Merit winner Padraig Harrington gave a clinic at Playgolf Northwick Park on behalf of Wilson in September. Recent HSBC World Matchplay champion Paul Casey enthusiastically praised the golf course’s immaculate greens. Sergio Garcia spent the day there with his sponsors TaylorMade-adidas, and Ryder Cup talisman Colin Montgomerie was there on 17th October with the leading juniors from the HSBC Wee Wonders programme.

Wallace comments: “Each successive month this summer we’ve broken our previous records for green fees sold and driving range usage. The photo shoot shows that our golf course has matured and is the match of anything in the UK. We are getting increasingly busy: new customers are finding us every week and are saying good things about how very different we are from the average golf club. Our new membership schemes and teaching packages are particularly popular, and we are enjoying proving that this ambitious concept can deliver a successful business.”

Middlesex County Golf Union Secretary Andy Williams is now based at Playgolf Northwick Park, and comments: “I have been impressed with how quickly the facility has built a strong and loyal clientele, and the practice facilities at The National Short Game Centre at Playgolf Northwick Park are in my opinion the best in the county. We are encouraging all Middlesex golfers, especially club teams, to sharpen up their short games here.”

Wallace adds: “We’re ecstatic that so many of Europe’s top golfers are coming here and comparing our golf course favourably with the ones they play on Tour around the world.”

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Contact:

Jimmy Wallace at Playgolf Northwick Park, +44 (0)20 8864 2020 

jimmywallace@playgolfworld.com 

Playgolf Northwick Park, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3TZ

www.northwickpark.com

Media:

Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners

+44 (0)1780 757461, andy@hiseman.com 
NOTES FOR EDITORS

Playgolf Northwick Park: www.northwickpark.com

Playgolf Northwick Park is a 6-hole, £7 million family golf & leisure complex which opened in November 2005. It is owned and operated by Playgolf (Holdings) plc.

The 6-hole ‘Majors’ course features full-size ‘tributes’ to great golf holes from the world’s great golf courses, including Augusta National, Royal Troon and The Belfry. Playgolf Northwick Park features a 56-bay floodlit and heated 2-tier Range, home to the Premium Golf Schools teaching academy, plus The National Short Game Centre golf practice area, the 9-hole ‘Mini Majors’ Adventure golf course, ‘The Dunes’ children’s golf course, the Phillips Golfworks custom-fitting and club repair centre, the Uniq gymnasium, the Amano café bar and restaurant, and the UK’s only full-size Baseball & Softball Batting Cages.

The complex is also home to Baseball Softball UK, and to the Middlesex Golf Union, and has hosted conferences and meetings for firms such as RBS, Carphone Warehouse and Barclays Bank.