The perfect present for the golf lover in your life awaits. AdobeStock/thaninee
Not sure what to get the golfers in your life? Treat them to thoughtful gifts to help them lower their scores for the new year.
The best way to lower a golfer’s score is to help them make more putts, so a putting lesson with an expert makes a fabulous gift for the golfer who seriously wants to lower their handicap. PGA Professional Bill Smittle has long been recognized as the putting guru in Westchester, having studied under the best putting teachers in the world and coached some of the top players in the local game. His newest studio in Valhalla is equipped with the latest putting-specific analytic tools like the Quintic Ball Roll system that tracks the player’s club and ball with six cameras shooting at 720 frames per second. He’s also installing a platform that tilts so golfers can work on breaking putts. Private lessons in a one-on-one COVID-safe environment start at $200. He can be reached at 914.874.4061 or at smittlegolf@gmail.com.
Your gifted golf lover can’t maximize his or her scoring opportunities with the wrong clubs, so a golf club fitting from Club Champion will make a memorable present. Club Champion’s approach focuses on the golfer — not the manufacturer. A recent study found that eight out of nine Club Champion custom-fit golfers lowered their scores by as much as six strokes per round and added an average of 21 yards off the tee, making a custom fitting the gift that keeps on giving. For more info, visit the Club Champion studio in White Plains or www.clubchampiongolf.com.
And then there are full swing lessons, which are best provided by a PGA Professional who not only knows how to play, but how to teach other people to play as well. There are several hundred local PGA pros to choose from, and indoor teaching facilities can be found through Westchester. A great place to start is at www.met.pga.com, where you can find a directory of pros and the clubs — public and private — where they can be reached. Ask about a winter tune-up lesson for your favorite golfer.
Practice makes perfect — the perfect gift, that is. The GameOn Golf Center in White Plains is open every day and offers gift cards that are perfect stocking stuffers. One of the most popular features at the center is TopTracer, which allows the golfer to see their ball flight and data about it on the screen just like they see on PGA Tour telecasts. With all-weather covered hitting stalls and seasonal discounts, your golfer will keep his or her game in shape all winter. Visit https://gameongolfcenter.com for details.
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