SERC Business Services Get Hole in One with Connected Programme

SERC Business Services recently worked in cooperation with ROC Golf to help create a new aluminium-fabricated putting platform for the company. The partnership was made possible through the Connected programme.  

Funded by the Department for the Economy, Connected provides companies of all sizes access to the full range of services available from local universities and colleges including research, product development, knowledge exchange, innovation and training. Through the programme, businesses and organisations can access information and funding, which can bring about major business benefits.   

ROC Golf, based within CAFRE Greenmount campus in Antrim, is a business that provides high end golfing equipment, tailor made to a client's specifications via an in-house custom fitting process, with loyal clientele across Ireland, the UK and further afield in Europe. They engaged with SERC Business Services via Connected, with one of their project aims being to design a putting mat platform that could be adjusted to various uphill and downhill angles, for the purpose of gathering a broad range of data about a client's putting game during putter fits.   

Through Connected, SERC Business Services Engineering Training Consultant James Robinson helped design the putting platform to ROC Golf’s specifications. The platform was built by Graham Engineering, based in Lurgan, using grant money from Invest NI.  

Robert Cooke, Director of ROC Golf, comments, "Through participation in the Connected programme, ROC Golf has been able to avail of CAD design expertise from SERC's Business Services team, enabling the business to move forward with development of the adjustable putting platform, which will enhance our putter fitting offering to clients. This project highlights the advantages of close co-operation between the FE sector and business, and we hope to be able to work with SERC again in the future."  

The platform has been delivered to ROC Golf’s facilities in CAFRE Greenmount campus, where it is now fully operational.