certified instructor Gene Powell, manager of
operations and technology, a question.
They discuss Albright’s problem. Then
Powell demonstrates a way to keep the body
aligned properly. Albright copies him.
Albright said he takes lessons to work on his
swing plane, which is the path of the club
from backswing to follow-through. He used
electronic swing analysis equipment inside
the learning center to help learn to stop
swinging over the top.
Inside the learning center, golfers have
several electronic simulators to choose from
to improve their play.
Powell said the motion analysis technology
system by TaylorMade is used to help
custom-fit golf clubs to the individual player.
It is also used in swing analysis.
Albright was fitted with 26 round markers
that reflect light. When he took a swing,
cameras recorded the motion and the analysis
was displayed as a 3-D figure on a screen,
looking a lot like a video game.
But the animation’s movements can be
analyzed many different ways and that
helps the golfer to see what he is doing right
and wrong.
Another electronic training device projects
on a large movie-style screen where the ball
would land when hit, and draws the trajectory
down at the bottom of the screen. The
trajectories stay until cleared with a button
so they can be compared. A read-out of
speed and other significant data appears on
the upper left to help the golfer and the
instructor diagnose problems.
The electronic Dynamic Balance System
shows the golfer on a small screen where his
or her weight is during a swing. It can be set
to give feedback as the golfer is swinging. It
uses technology first developed by NASA,
adapted to physical therapy uses and is now
used by golf professionals for teaching purposes.
The learning center offers golf schools,
group lessons and individual lessons. Firsttimers
can buy a set of group lessons, and
the learning center will provide the equipment.
After that, they can borrow equipment
and then they can buy one or two clubs to
work on their swing, Powell said.
“You’re allowed to have 14 clubs, but you
can start with one or two and work up to
having a scaled-down set of irons, one wood
and a putter, and then buy more as you need
them,” he said.
After golfers buy clubs, the learning center
will custom-fit the clubs to the player even if
they were purchased elsewhere. People play
better if the clubs are customized to work
best for them, Powell said. “We see people
who come in here after they bought a full set
of clubs and they just aren’t right for them.”
Playing with equipment that isn’t right
can make the game harder and more work
than it should be, he said.
The PGA director of instruction at the
learning center is Rick Martino. He is listed
on Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Teachers” list,
Golf Digest’s “50 Greatest Teachers” list and
Golf Range Magazine’s “Top 50 Instructors
for 2005.”
When students are ready to play on a fullsize
golf course, there are several in the area.
Down the street is the PGA Village Country
Club with three public par-72 courses ranging
in length from 5,000 to 7,000 yards. St.
Lucie West features a private PGA 6,801-
yard course at Country Club Estates.
GOLF
The PGA Golf Park hums with
activity on a sunny weekend as
students and practicing golfers
work to perfect their game at the
PGA Learning Center in Port St.
Lucie, above. At left, John Albright
and instructor Gene Powell work
on body alignment.
PGA LEARNING
CENTER
What: 35-acre golf park for
lessons and practice. Offers
individual and group lessons
and golf schools,
beginner to advanced,
equipment, custom club fitting,
electronic analysis
Where: 8565 Commerce
Centre Drive, Port St. Lucie
(in PGA Village west of
Interstate 95)
Cost of school:
2.5 days: $500
3.5 days: $750
4.5 days: $995
Prices subject to change in
2007. Group and private
lessons also available.
Contact: 772.468.7686
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