ABOUT US

Hampshire’s premier driving range

Winchester Golf Academy is a purpose-built golf practice and teaching facility on the outskirts of Winchester. Our aim is to provide members and guests with a unique golfing experience. We pride ourselves on our high standards of service, expertise, and the quality of our facilities.

The story so far

As with many stories, knowing where to begin is rather tricky. The Browne family have farmed the land known as Down Farm for several generations. Simon took over the farm in 1980.

Farming is an unpredictable business, and being an entrepreneurial sort of chap Simon was soon looking for ways to diversify the farm’s revenue streams. One of the earliest projects was the construction of the equestrian hunter-trial course which eventually became Three Maids Chasers, and was our first foray into the leisure industry. Down Farm is also home to one of the UK’s best moto-cross tracks, Route 34 MotoPark.

Simon and his wife Katie are both keen golfers, and one idea that they looked into in the 1990s was the construction of a golf course. For a number of reasons this idea never came to fruition, but the desire to move into the golf business never went away.

Fast forward to 2010. Katie was trying to improve her game and booked herself a lesson with a golf pro named Emma McBride. The details of what exactly happened at this first meeting are hard to come by, but the two ladies obviously hit it off. Before long they were going on early-morning runs and sharing evening drinks. Simon had a lesson with Emma’s fiancé Gary Booth (now her husband)

As the friendship developed Simon and Katie learned of Gary and Emma’s ambition to open a golf academy, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Focus on family

Winchester Golf Academy is a family-run business, a collaboration between Simon and Katie Browne, who own and farm the land on which Winchester Golf Academy is situated, and PGA Professionals Gary and Emma Booth, who bring the golfing expertise. Also involved in the project are Simon and Katie’s three sons: George, Jim and Charlie, and daughter Holly.

Winchester Golf Academy was a concept designed to fill a gap in the market for a first-class golf practice and coaching facility in the Winchester area. Given the family-orientated nature of our business, one of our key philosophies is inclusivity. We firmly believe that golf can be fun for everyone, and we focus on creating a relaxed, friendly and welcoming atmosphere to every golfer who steps through our doors.

Winchester Golf Academy has family at its heart. It is vitally important to us that Winchester Golf Academy is a warm and friendly place to learn and practice, and we look forward to welcoming you and your family and friends to our outstanding facility.

Quality is key

We offer individual and group lessons with our PGA qualified golf professionals, as well as facilities for individual practice. We provide the same high standards of service to every customer, from the novice golfer to the experienced player. Our friendly welcome and the value for money we provide will keep you coming back for more.

Our facilities are of the highest quality – from the fully-flighted range balls to the mats in the bays; we invest in the best to make your experience the most enjoyable it can be. We offer a 28-bay driving range, a pitching and putting practice area, a custom-fitting bay and two coaching studios, three Toptracer bays for private hire, and the latest golf equipment in our Golf Shop. Our locally sourced, fresh seasonal food and drinks menu is prepared on site by The Kitchen and welcomes golfers and non-golfers alike.