Six holes in 60 minutes. That’s the premise of the new yellow course at Frilford Heath, the largest golf club in Oxfordshire, England.
The new course is designed specifically to make golf more accessible. It aims to encourage young people and beginners to play the game, as well as older players who have difficulty playing 18 holes.
“It’s so important to make golf inclusive if we want it to remain as one of the UK’s leading sports,” said Eddie Pepperell, Frilford Heath member and European Tour player. “There are many people who may be put off playing a round of 18 holes because they are worried about their ability and the time it takes.”
First planned two years ago, the yellow course is also the first new golf course at the club in 23 years. It comes at a time when courses are being encouraged to embrace shorter formats.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has pushed for innovation in the golf industry to engage new audiences. The Tour also launched its first six-hole tournament, GolfSixes, in May, and has plans for it to return in 2018.
Frilford Heath offers three championship golf courses. The new short course has six holes with 12 tees and a maximum of 86 yards long.
“Introducing a new six-hole course to our selection of three 18-hole courses means we are making golf accessible,” said Alistair Booth, Frilford Heath executive chairman.
The course is made of Huxley Golf all-weather synthetic tees and greens. All nature that was removed for the new course, including scots pines and fir trees, was replanted in other areas of the club.
The addition of the yellow course is just part of a new era of innovation at the club. It also recently opened a new state-of-the-art performance center and golf shop.
The center will offer visitors the opportunity to practice and play on some of the world’s leading courses with the help of an innovative golf simulator.
Visitors will also have access to the latest in custom fitting technology, enabling players to have tailor-made golf equipment. Golf enthusiasts can also save their swing data to revisit and work on at a later date.