This year, Drive In Golf – a brand-new indoor golfing facility – opened its doors at Ivygrove Developments’ Merlin Business Park. Featuring an indoor 4K simulator and offering PGA tuition, the centre welcomes golf enthusiasts of all levels, corporate clients for team building and events, families and groups. Here, founder Nigel Bratton, an accredited PGA Professional with over 35 years golfing experience, explains why he chose to open the business in Derby.
Golf has always been my second sport, because “football is life!”. However, having played golf since I was eight, it was only a matter of time before it made more of an impact on my life than just a hobby.
Who would have thought that 31 years after taking up golf, I would finally take on a professional title and become a PGA Professional.
Now, I not only coach golfers of all ages and experiences, I work for the PGA with regards to the Business module of the joint degree course with University of Birmingham, bringing through the next generation of PGA professionals on the trainee programme
In my life I have had a career in business that takes in a substantial period working for a FTSE100 retailer in a head office role.
This period opened me up to some amazing opportunities and personal development.
It was within this time spent with some of the best in the sector that I learned “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little bit extra”, and that “proper prior planning prevents poor performance’.
These are two phrases that have stuck with me throughout.
Following on from that role, I have worked for some of the largest public transport operators and contractors with regards to performance management and strategic revenue operations.
Drive In Golf was born out of frustration!
December 2020 and it was a cold winter’s day at Derby Golf Centre in Spondon where we had just been out between taking lessons, ankle deep in mud, picking balls up in 2C temperatures, that myself and Dan Delany had a conversation that this is not fun and we should be doing lessons indoors in the warmth.
I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks and so started the search for property and trying to cost up a project like this.
At first it was cost prohibitive due to the price of the tech and also for the ancillary items needed.
I never stopped though, and for four years I was constantly monitoring the market and the technology changes – which brings us to now.
Trackman had developed a launch monitor that was optimised for indoor use only.
Not only that but it was within a price range that with the right level of funding I could get something started.
I had built up a savings in my consultancy business to invest a significant amount into it, but I still needed help.
I got a long-time friend and fellow pro golfer Lee Clarke onboard who immediately wanted to partner with me as he knew, like me, that the market was shifting towards indoor golf at a rapid pace.
We got three further minority investors and with HSBC matching our contribution, we finally had the money to get Drive In Golf lift-off.
Drive In Golf has five best in market Trackman iO powered simulator bays.
This combined with 4k laser projectors means you get fully immersive 4k golf that is like you are actually on the course.
The hitting mats are next generation turf giving a very realistic feel like a semi soft fairway.
We combine this with touchscreens on each bay and the class leading Trackman data system, and you see every single data parameter from every ball struck if you want to.
Anyone can play on the golf bays, with specifically designed kids games that are very fun to play, practice range simulations or over 460 of the best courses in the world.
Myself, Lee and Dan are all working at Drive In and doing lessons.
We are unique in the sense that a lot of indoor golf centres do not have a PGA professional attached, whereas we have three.
All coaching from complete novices up to elite amateurs and other playing professionals.
I’m absolutely delighted and proud that we have been able to bring this facility to Derby. We have been delighted with the response we have received so far.
