Even though it’s less than two years old, Cork Golf Centre in Ballincollig continues to develop their offering to Cork golfers, with resident PGA Professional Wayne O’Callaghan investing in a new Trackman Simulator.  November can often be the quietest month of the year for anyone involved in golf, but not so for Wayne who has remodelled his teaching bay to incorporate the state of the art technology.  The new simulator was built earlier this month and already there has been a huge amount of interest in the new service.  “The trackman 4 was purchased with the aim of bringing the experience of playing golf to the range environment” explained Wayne who has been the resident pro since the range opened in 2017.  “Having owned previous Trackman models I knew what a quality product the Trackman 4 simulator would be to the centre and my students learning experience.  There is a fantastic opportunity in the software to go practice on any hole and work on a particular shot which is great when I am teaching a student hitting shots into the range to then close the roller door and watch them hit shots to a hole on a course.”

With the advanced radar technology and software in the latest version of Trackman, the ball flight tracking has never been more accurate, giving golfers the closest possible experience of on course results.  And for anyone who doesn’t know, Trackman is the little orange box that you see behind the majority of tour professionals as they warm up and practice on the range.  In fact it’s now used by 84 of the top 100 golfers on tour.  But the Trackman Simulator in Cork Golf Centre isn’t just for pro’s or top amateurs, whether it’s a lesson or just hitting a few balls for fun, everyone can use it.  “The simulator has also proved a hit with my adult beginner groups who have never been on a golf course, so they can get a feel of what a real golf course will be like” said O’Callaghan.  “The software also has five par three courses – from fun to very challenging tests, and they can be set up to suit all skill levels by a range of different tees.  The par 3 courses and proving very popular with juniors attending the centre.”

This isn’t the first time that Wayne and Cork Golf Centre have led the way.  In January Wayne was the first Irish pro to use the Capto putting analysis system.  In the past ten months he has built up a large number of putting clients who have used the analysis system, with many returning to use the capto system to ensure they continue to optimise their putting.  The private teaching bay, which can also be used for custom fitting has been transformed in the past 18 months and now offers a unique proposition for Cork Golfers.  While Wayne’s primary focus in on teaching, he’s also quite happy to let groups and individuals rent out the simulator.  “Another plus to installing the Trackman simulator is that it can be rented out and with Irish winters being so wet, it will allow people to continue to play golf with their games measured on the Trackman.  At present there are 26 world class courses to play from Open Championship courses such as the Old Course in St Andrews, Royal Troon to PGA Tour courses that people see each week on TV.”  As well as private groups, Wayne also has an eye on the business market.  “Corporate golf days and sessions are a major reason for the investment also, as corporate groups can receive branded reports along with a games module built in with a par 3 challenge.  We can create a challenge for up to eight people with a nearest to the hole on a par 3 on any of the 26 available courses.  Trackman will also be on all 18 tee boxes at every PGA tour event next year and with that will be the release of about 8 new courses a year.

Although the range, which is located on the Inniscarra Road just outside Ballincollig, operated for many years, the change in the past 18 months has brought it on to a new level.  New mats and balls, along with a large number of targets and distances means that it’s a great location to hit a bucket of balls.  With Wayne onsite with Liam Burns and Sara Claridge, a second dedicated teach bay is being fitted out and this should be ready for lessons in the coming weeks.  And the progress isn’t stopping for Wayne, he’s off to Milan for more training next week as he aims to become Ireland’s first level two certified Capto putting coach.