Celtic Manor Resort has installed a ZEN Golf Green Stage at its Golf Academy through the Women’s Golf Legacy Fund.

This creates what ZEN Golf believes could become a new model for using golf technology to support coaching, participation and player engagement.

The system uses ZEN’s Active Terrain Technology© to recreate changing slopes and breaking putts, providing golfers with more realistic indoor practice conditions. Players will also be able to recreate iconic moments from the sport, including Graeme McDowell’s putt during the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

The Women’s Golf Legacy Fund, backed by the Welsh Government and delivered through Sport Wales, was established to ensure the AIG Women’s Open leaves a lasting legacy by improving access to golf for women and girls through more inclusive and family-friendly facilities.

Beyond elite coaching, ZEN Golf sees the Green Stage as a platform to support wider participation, accessibility, community wellbeing and future innovation in golf.

As part of the partnership, ZEN Golf will work with Celtic Manor and Wales Golf to maximise the technology through staff training, programme development, content creation and ongoing innovation.

The installation also paves the way for interactive putting experiences through ZEN’s software platform and forthcoming ZEN Eye© putting analysis and augmented reality system, combining performance feedback, immersive visuals and famous-putt recreations to enhance coaching and player engagement.

The project supports Wales Golf’s Everyone’s Game – For Fun, For Sport, For Life strategy by creating opportunities to grow participation, strengthen player development and promote lifelong involvement in the sport.

“The installation of the ZEN Green Stage represents far more than an exciting new facility for Celtic Manor Resort; it is a significant investment in the future growth, accessibility and inclusivity of golf,” Brian Duncan, Head of Golf, Spa and Leisure at Celtic Manor Resort, said.

“We are incredibly grateful to Wales Golf and the Women’s Golf Legacy Fund, whose support was instrumental in bringing this project to life.

“Growing female participation in golf is a priority for us, and the Green Stage provides a welcoming, engaging and supportive environment where all golfers can develop their skills and confidence while practising one of the most important aspects of the game.

“A busy driving range can feel intimidating so this facility offers a more comfortable and private setting to remove barriers that may otherwise prevent people from taking up golf or progressing their skills.

“This will be particularly valuable as we prepare to launch our forthcoming New2Golf programme, introducing beginners to the game in a fun, modern and supportive environment.

“As the host venue for Wales Golf’s development and elite squads, we are also proud to provide training facilities that support the country’s most promising players and this world class technology will also help them prepare for success at national and international level.

“The Zen Green Stage demonstrates our commitment to promoting golf at all levels and this is an exciting next step for Celtic Manor and the future of the game in Wales.”

Gareth Jenkins, Pathway and High Performance Director, Wales Golf, added: “Putting is one of our key performance skills, so having access to a quality indoor putting facility and technology at Celtic Manor will help us refine our techniques across a variety of breaks.

“Expanding year-round access to facilities for our squad players is vital, particularly during periods of adverse weather. Not only will the space benefit our High Performance team, but it will also support beginner sessions.

“As part of the Women’s Golf Legacy Fund criteria, Celtic Manor committed to achieving Gold status in the Women in Golf Charter and has already done so.

“We’re delighted to further strengthen the collaboration between Wales Golf and Celtic Manor by utilising this venue to introduce more people to the game and support the development of Wales’ best players.”

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