The R&A is set to base all its equipment testing operations at Kingsbarns Golf Links in Fife.
A planning application has been lodged to Fife Council for a 22,750 square foot facility, to be based north of the existing practice area.
Dr Steve Otto, director for research and testing at the R&A said: “The proposed new centre at Kingsbarn will deliver a number of benefits in terms of enhancing our research and testing capabilities. We currently deliver an extremely-high standard of service to golfers, manufacturers and our affiliated bodies, but we have to look to the future and developing a custom-built centre will give us much greater scope to carry out this work efficiently and improve the service even further.”
‘We have worked closely with Kingsbarns Golf Links on the proposed development’ As part of its role as governing body, the R&A tests thousands of golf clubs and balls to ensure they conform to the Rules of Golf.
These operations had previously been based at three different locations.
The Kingsbarns building will feature and indoor range to test balls, a biomechanics testing bay with tracking radar systems and two robots used for research and testing.