"I saw a few of these kids over in Korea. They had only been playing the game for a year and six months of it was all indoors hitting golf balls. All they did was put the club in the correct position and hit balls, hit balls and that's it. They come out (to the course) and have perfect golf swings. That's what's coming. It's the new generation. All the swings are going to look very similar and these kids are going to have power." —Tiger Woods
Daryl Stubbs, Dave Bolton and Chris Lowe know exactly what Tiger Woods is talking about.
The professional coaches who run the Pacific Golf Academy have taken their expertise indoors to a state-of-the-art facility that features today's most popular teaching equipment.
"We went as high tech as you possibly could go," explained Stubbs who has been a teaching professional for over 25 years. "This is the way golf is going and (the technology) has absolutely exploded in the last five years. We will still do our outdoor teaching but there are things we do here that can't be done on the range."
The training centre, which is located in a Richmond business park area near Ironwood Mall, includes two golf simulators, the ever-popular V1 HD video swing analysis, a Science in Motion (SAM) putting lab and a elaborate chipping and putting green that was designed by a Fieldturf company in Kelowna.
The academy's new home opened for business Dec. 1 and an open house is planned for Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. for anyone who wants to check it out and hit a few balls.
Stubbs and Bolton specialize in working with up-and-coming junior golfers. After coming up with the idea early last summer, they finally had enough time in their busy schedule to make an indoor practice facility a reality. They wanted to find enough space where there wouldn't be any limitations and their two-level warehouse location does just that.
"Our programs are designed more for elite juniors," said Bolton. "We take them right from the beginning and develop them into golfers. It's a complete coaching program. What we are giving these kids is the PGA Tour experience. They are getting the same technology golfers like Tiger, Rory McElroy and Ian Poulter are using."
Lowe oversees the programs for the more casual golfer who is looking to make his experience more enjoyable on the course with better shot making.
The academy's simulator allows students to play 18 holes on a variety of courses from around the world. It can also create certain shots golfers need extra work on and even the weather conditions they may encounter in an upcoming tournament. The V1 swing analysis will then break down the stroke - providing a variety of measurements to the player and instructor - ranging from launch angle to speed and distance.
"(PGA Tour players) will take this to the range then provide the numbers to (coach) Sean Foley and he will know exactly what his swing is like and where to make adjustments," said Stubbs.
"This is the way it is now for anyone who really wants to learn to play. We are totally into creating golfers with this technology. We practice here then take it to the course."
The German-made SAM putting lab also provides an extensive break down of each stroke and records the data to help the golfer develop a level of consistency on the green.
The opening of the training centre also happens to coincide with the recent cold snap in the Lower Mainland that makes it a challenge for an outdoor sport.
"The short time that we have been here, we have found our students to be much more productive because they are comfortable," added Bolton. "They can show up here wearing their regular golf attire. "You look at baseball and other (warm weather) sports and they all train indoors during the offseason. We're taking the concept and doing it with golf."
The Pacific Golf Academy is located at #1155- 12191 Hammersmith Way. For more information call 604-274-GOLF(4653). Korean and Mandarin speaking instructors are available.
