Yas Links opens newly-upgraded Academy, boasting incredible new world-class facilities

Yas Links Golf Course leaves nothing out with the opening of their upgraded Academy

One of the world’s most spectacular venues in golf, Yas Links, is opening their brand new Academy with state-of-the-art practice facilities, completing one of the best golfing packages in the Middle East

When you’re a host of one of the most anticipated events on the DP World Tour’s calendar, a Rolex Series event that attracts an exceptional amount of envious eyes from many in the global golf community, as well as many of the best golfers from around the world, you need to make sure that every aspect of your venue holds up to those standards. The newly-upgraded Yas Links Academy understands the standards that are set here and is looking to not only meet that quality, but raise expectations even higher.

“As a company, we’ve placed strong emphasis on the development of our academies – not just at Yas Links, but across all our facilities here in Abu Dhabi. The goal has been to enhance what we already offer and ensure we provide even greater value to our members and guests,” says Marc Arnold, Director of Instructors at Yas Links Academy.

“With the improved Academy, we now offer more advanced technology and coaching experiences that particularly benefit local residents, visiting groups, and golf tour operators. Visitors can also now take part in year-round academy clinics, which adds another layer of appeal to Yas Links.”

Having joined Viya Golf, the brand responsible for operations at three of the leading courses in Abu Dhabi, including Yas Links, back in 2022, Marc Arnold is well aware of what is required to meet and exceed the levels demanded by members and visitors to the Golf Club. Starting as a Senior PGA Professional, he now oversees all elements of instruction within the Viya umbrella, including the academies at Yas Acres and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

As part of his role, he’s played a key part in the development of the exciting new facilities here, working with the internal teams, technology partners, and designers responsible for bringing this vision to life.

The facility itself, already being enjoyed by the Yas Links Academy staff and their students, is a truly exquisite one, bringing together a full complement of professional coaches with outstanding technology that allows them to provide year-long tuition regardless of the conditions they can encounter in the Middle East.

The new cutting-edge bays are certainly not the same as your typical instructional setup. There’s a suite of seriously high-performance technology available to golfers within the Yas Links Academy location, beyond offering simply shade and a launch monitor.

To start, both swing studios come complete with some of the highest-spec simulators on the market today, as well as a climate-controlled environment that provides perfect practice for members and visitors to test themselves in any conditions they desire.

Targeting the goal of becoming the absolute peak of golf performance sites in Abu Dhabi, however, the development of the Academy hasn’t just stopped here. Leveraging a formidable new partnership with one of golf’s most innovative and exciting new companies, Platform Golf, Yas Links has firmly cemented itself as a best-in-class location.

With designers and engineers travelling regularly between the UK and Abu Dhabi to fully realise the vision, the Academy has created the first facility in the region that utilizes ground-breaking technology to emulate real-life slope, lie, and putting conditions at any golf course available on the simulators. This game-changer is already making a difference for the team at the Academy, allowing them to work without compromise, whatever the needs of the student.

In addition to the outstanding flexibility provided by Platform Golf, golfers can expect to see the use of the fully integrated Swing Catalyst pressure plates, which give real-time data on the player’s balance, weight, and transitions. This, along with the crystal clear video capture and analysis technology, the latest TrackMan launch monitors, and the state-of-the-art simulation performance, means that Yas Links Academy will provide unbeatable experiences for any user and visitor to the site.

And as well as the world-class swing facilities available in the twin studios, the Yas Links Academy will also offer a dedicated indoor putting area, featuring one of the most advanced putting systems in the world, SAM PuttLab, for full player development in any and every aspect of your game.

The facilities upgrade represents more than just a lavish spend on the practice grounds, though. Viya Golf see this as another step forward in securing their place as the only option for the dedicated golfer in both Abu Dhabi and the Middle East. It’s a constant renewal process across all areas of their operations, ensuring their members and visitors come away delighted, however they choose to visit.

“One of my main goals when I stepped into this role was to engage more deeply with our members, and the Academy is very much integrated with the rest of the club,” said Arnold.

“Our junior programmes, ladies’ groups, and private tuition are aimed at developing the next generation of golfers and enhancing the membership experience. Members benefit from lesson discounts, and we’re planning more clinics and activities tailored just for them. Our relationship with the golf club is collaborative, and I believe that mutual support is key to long-term success.”

This attitude is already paying off, with the club membership in 2024 seeing a not-insignificant 49% year-on-year increase, as well as 26% more rounds played and an incredible 101% rise in coaching lessons being delivered.

The leadership’s consideration of the concerns and desires of their players has played a big part in how they’ve achieved this leading position within the region, but it’s not over yet.

The Academy is not only working within the golf family, but the wider community of Abu Dhabi, helping to build interest throughout the region for the game and introducing more young people to the sport.

To that end, Yas Links have partnered with Aldar Education, the largest education provider in the city and beyond, to engage with Emirati students and bring the game to them. So far, this has brought participation numbers in the Academy’s Junior Development Programme to over 300 juniors as well as more than 160 students across six schools, with an aim of increasing the Schools and Junior engagement well beyond this over the years to come, as well as the involvement of new adults.

“The Academy has already made a significant impact,” Marc went on to say. “I see huge potential in expanding our junior development programme further, adding more competition and structure, and ultimately introducing more young people to the sport.

“We’re also working closely with the EGF and other partners to bring even more local players into the game. So, while the Academy is a revenue stream on its own, it’s also an engine for long-term growth throughout the entire club.”

There can be little doubt that Yas Links, its Academy, and Viya Golf as a whole have committed in a huge way to the game of golf in Abu Dhabi.

The near-unparalleled facilities are providing new tiers of accessibility to locals, whether they be already established members or brand-new participants being encouraged to take their first steps in the game, alongside visitors to the club who are keen to benefit from the highest standards of coaching staff and invested technology.

And having recently visited the world-class location myself, there are few places I’d rather play, or practice, my game at than the truly magnificent Yas Links and its exceptional Academy.