Tee up for a better golf experience
TEE UP FOR A BETTER GOLF EXPERIENCE
If you’re among the throngs of spectators who watched five of the world’s best golfers play at Predator Ridge during last month’s 2008 TELUS World Skins Game, you will likely wonder – how did those guys get so good?
One thing is for sure, at some point Fred Couples, Mike Weir, Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie and Camilo Villegas all received topnotch instruction and spent a lot of time on the practice tee.
In fact, it’s pretty much guaranteed that each pro still has a team of coaches and advisors to help them hone their games.
The CPGA certified professionals who operate the Predator Ridge Golf Performance Centre know that the better you play, the more enjoyment you’ll get from the game. The Golf Performance Centre team, which includes director of instruction Sean Richardson, teaching professional Len Harvey and performance fitting specialist Mike Soergel, collectively boasts over 100 years of combined teaching expertise.
Anchoring the various group and individual golf instruction programs is a stateof-the-art teaching and practice facility that contains a massive 11-acre double-sided driving range, practice bunkers, chipping and putting greens, and covered hitting areas.
Sean Richardson patterns his programs for recreational golfers based on the success he has had in coaching some of B.C.’s brightest junior stars, including Darren Wallace, the youngest Canadian Amateur champion in history.
The cornerstone of the Golf Performance Centre is a ‘results-focused’ program that ensures that each student leaves with a comprehensive understanding of their individual swing as well as the game’s unchanging fundamentals. A long-term improvement plan is initiated and mapped out for each student.
The program might include some unique and innovative elements normally associated with touring pros. “Fitness and recreation are really part of the lifestyle here, and part of the program might include workouts in the gym to improve flexibility and power,” says Richardson.
“Many middle-aged golfers are limited physically from improving, and if we can fix that, we can not only improve their scores but maybe their overall fitness as well. Living at Predator Ridge is more than just golf, it’s a lifestyle.”
Another Predator Ridge specialty is taking time to actually walk and play one of the Predator Ridge courses with the students to sharpen their mental faculties for the game.
A four-day program combines skills-building on the range and practice facility with a round of golf in the afternoon. The students are able to apply their practice skills in an actual oncourse setting, supervised by a pro. Strategic problem-solving skills are developed and applied to breaking down shotmaking options to play to the student’s individual strengths.
A final piece of the puzzle is customizing each golfer’s set of clubs to their particular physique and playing style. For 2008, Predator Ridge hired performance fitting specialist Mike Soergel, who helps clients select the right equipment among top brands including Callaway, Cobra, Nike, Ping, TaylorMade and Titleist.
Even people who may not think that they have room for improvement can benefit from the personalized programs offered by the Golf Performance Centre. Richardson points to a local Vernon golfer who came to Predator Ridge last year with a six handicap and playing at a level that most golfers would be thrilled about. “We set up a personalized coaching program last year, and this year he was custom-fitted with new clubs. His handicap dropped from 6 to a 1.”
Pretty dramatic progress, indeed. “He’s probably earned a bit of his money back by taking it off his buddies,” says Richardson.
Whether you’re visiting Predator Ridge for the first time on an Okanagan golfing safari, staying at the luxury Lodge or vacation cottages, or considering purchasing real estate at B.C.’s premier golf resort community, a session with the Predator Ridge Golf Performance Centre will be time well spent – especially once you start taking some ‘skins’ from your playing partners!
To make an appointment at the Golf Performance Centre at Predator Ridge, please call 1.888.578.6688 or 250.503.3400.
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