Partnership With OB Sports Brings Pga Tour-Level Custom Club-Fitting To Orange County
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Hot Stix Golf, the golf industry’s leading independent custom club fitting and equipment testing lab, announced that it will open a state-of-the-art club-fitting facility at Tijeras Creek Golf Club, located in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. The Club fitting services begin on August 1, 2008. This new location provides Hot Stix Golf’s proprietary Tour-Level golf club fitting services for the first time to Orange County residents.
The new facility at Tijeras Creek Golf Club marks the second partnership between Hot Stix Golf and OB Sports Golf Management – last month Hot Stix opened a club fitting facility at another OB-managed property, Langdon Farms Golf Club located just south of Portland, Oregon. Currently Hot Stix Golf operates seven club fitting locations nationwide. As with the other locations, the new facility at Tijeras Creek Golf Club combines cutting-edge, custom-fitting technology (Vector launch monitors) with first-class facilities, making Tijeras Creek Golf Club one of the leading providers of advanced golf fitting services in Orange County. The fitting sessions will take place on Tijeras Creek’s outdoor practice tee allowing the professional club fitters to examine ball flight from launch to landing.
“This area of Southern California lies at the heart of the golf equipment manufacturing industry,” said Tom Graunke, chairman of Hot Stix Golf. “It only makes sense that Hot Stix moves into the neighborhood and into conditions for a successful launch- golf-savvy customer base; partnership with OB Sports and a credible facility at Tijeras Creek. We are excited to get started.”
Hot Stix Golf is truly unique in the golf industry in that they fit golfers to the best equipment regardless of brand i.e. if, for example, if Callaway is the best fit, that’s what they’ll recommend. This impartiality is one of the main ingredients of their success. Since opening its first club-fitting facility in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2000, Hot Stix Golf has custom fit more than 35,000 amateur players and more than 100 Tour players. Graunke credits the growth in demand to Hot Stix’ ability to provide general golf consumers with an affordable, state-of-the-art club-fitting and customization process that is identical in every way to that which the major manufacturers provide to Tour players and VIPs. However, Hot Stix Golf has two important advantages over even the manufacturers – cost and impartiality.
“We independently test the equipment, we fit the golfer to the best equipment for their unique swing, then we built the clubs to Tour-level specifications,” said Graunke. “It’s about quality and consistency. The Tour Pros were the first to demand that. All we’re doing is making it available for everyone else.”
The Hot Stix Golf Difference
“At our new Tijeras Creek facility, a Tour-Fitting costs just $125 for woods, $125 for irons and $50 for a putter fitting,” said Graunke. “Plus, we offer all of the product lines from all the major manufacturers and, if requested, we present options that suit our customer’s budget.”
During a Tour-Fitting at the Tijeras Creek facility, Hot Stix’ certified club fitters gather data using a proprietary fitting system as players hit a variety of shots. This information enables the club fitters to determine a player’s exact “Swing DNA” – the elements that make an individual’s golf swing unique.
A player’s Swing DNA is then compared against a vast database of golf club and component performance data that Hot Stix Golf has captured over time. In more than six years, Hot Stix has invested millions of dollars to independently test the products of all the major club and component manufacturers. Over 100,000 R&D testing robot swings have been completed since Hot Stix opened, along with advanced shaft, club head and ball testing. This testing has enabled Hot Stix Golf to create the most advanced repository of golf equipment data in the industry.
By comparing a player’s Swing DNA to the performance data of various golf clubs and components, Hot Stix’ club fitters are able to determine the ideal makeup of a player’s set of golf clubs — the number and type of woods, hybrids, irons and wedges for that particular player, as well as the precise loft, lie, length, shaft and grip for each club.
Currently Hot Stix Golf operates seven club fitting locations nationwide including: Indoor Location, Main Build Shop and R&D Labs in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Game Fitting Performance Center at Legend Trail Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Game Fitting Performance Center at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Denver, Colo.; Game and Tour Fitting Center at Doral Arrowwood, Westchester County, N.Y.; Game and Tour Fitting Center at Glencoe Golf Club, Chicago, Ill.; Tour Fitting Center at Langdon Farms Golf Club, Aurora, Org.; Tour Fitting Center at Tijeras Creek Golf Club, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
To make reservations or to learn more about Hot Stix Golf, please call toll free 877-513-1333, or visit www.hotstixgolf.com.
Located in Rancho Santa Margarita, just minutes from Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, The Ted Robinson-designed Tijeras Creek Golf Club is the tale of two nines. The distinctive course layout at Tijeras Creek opens with a demanding front nine that is highlighted with shimmering water features that come into play in four out of the first nine holes. The back nine holes are legendary for the breathtaking scenery, and awe-inspiring elevation changes that wind through old growth sycamores, oaks and native chaparral. In fact, hole number sixteen was voted one of Orange County’s Best 18 Holes. A popular venue for many prestigious outings and events Tijeras Creek has played host to the Women’s Pac-10 Championships, along with the Men’s and Women’s Big West Championships. In addition, Tijeras Creek Golf Club is one of only four daily fee facilities in the state to have hosted the Southern California Amateur Open.
Tijeras Creek Golf Club is professionally managed by OB Sports Golf Management, a diversified, golf-oriented company with a long history of success. OB Sports currently manages 29 premier golf courses and country clubs throughout the United States and Mexico. Known for its comprehensive and personalized services since 1972, OB Sports has become widely acclaimed as the leader in boutique-style golf course management. For more information on OB Sports, visit www.obsports.com or call (480) 948-1300.
Contact:
Jerry Rose, APR
(480) 348-7540