April 1, 2009: Phoenix Arizona: Club-fitting pioneer and leader PING announced today that Miles of Golf in Ypsilanti, Michigan has been named 2008 PING National Fitter of the Year.
The national award, first given in 1997, recognizes the authorized PING Fitter who has demonstrated the highest commitment to custom fitting and the promotion of its benefits to golfers of all abilities.
“Under the guidance of Chris Mile and Casey Baker, the staff at Miles of Golf has earned a national reputation for its approach to custom fitting,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “They’ve invested in the training and technology required to bring golfers the most comprehensive fittings available. Their team embraces the value of custom fitting and its effect on lowering scores and leading to more enjoyment of the game. They are leaders in every respect as they provide the expertise and service that makes us proud to honor them as PING’s National Fitter of the Year.”
In the Miles of Golf “Cluboratory,” which is equipped with a Trackman launch monitor and an extensive selection of fitting clubs, golfers experience the highest level of fitting available. They can choose from two custom-fitting packages, including a session using PING’s nFlight™ software and its Advanced Fitting System™ (AFS™). At each level, golfers of all abilities are educated on the benefits of custom fitting while undergoing a thorough session to determine the club specifications best suited to their game.
Along with the expertise of the 10 club fitting specialists on staff, led by Director of Fitting Brent Norton, Baker credits PING’s commitment to innovation and quality for making the relationship so successful.
“PING provides us the tools to fit every club in the bag, from driver through the putter,” said Baker, the facility’s general manager. “We know every PING® club we fit is going to perform for the golfer. That helps further validate the custom-fitting process in the golfer’s mind and leads to loyal customers for our shop and PING.”
The 10,000 square foot facility, which includes two dedicated indoor/outdoor fitting bays, recently installed a high-tech putter fitting area to analyze golfers’ putting strokes with the goal of ensuring a properly fit putter.
“We want to be the best at what we do,” added Baker, who is a member of the Golf Digest “Hot List” Advisory staff. “We do that by providing the highest level of service and expertise. PING helps us facilitate that through collaboration and its own commitment to customer service. Their promise of custom-built clubs shipped within 48 hours is very compelling to us and our customers.
Nearly 2,000 authorized PING Club Fitters were eligible for the award. Among the criteria considered by the selection committee are length of time in the program, commitment to on-going training, sustained sales growth and support of the entire PING product line.
Nominating Miles of Golf for the honor was Ken Moore, PING Field Representative for Michigan.
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Miles of Golf Named PING
National Fitter of the Year
April 1, 2009
Page 2
2008 PING Regional Fitters of the Year
PING Regional Fitter of the Year
Name
City
State
WEST REGION
Friendly Hills Country Club
Jay Prestella
Whittier
CA
Beau Pre Golf Course
Rex Dunham
McKinleyville
CA
Butte Creek Country Club
The Staff
Chico
CA
Columbia Edgewater Country Club
Bryan Tunstill
Portland
OR
Cathedral Canyon Golf Club
Steve Creps
Cathedral City
CA
Uinta Golf ROBOFIT
Sean Smith
Salt Lake City
UT
Admiral Baker Golf Course
Matthew Firme
San Diego
CA
Falcon Dunes Golf Club
Greg Busby
Waddell
AZ
Paradise Valley Country Club
Matt Dietz
Paradise Valley
AZ
Fircrest Golf Club
Greg Talley and Tom Ainslie
Fircrest
WA
Kapalua Land Company
The Staff
Lahaina
HI
Yuma Golf and Country Club
Ross Farley
Yuma
AZ
Tour Golf
Alton Woodward
Agoura Hills
CA
NORTH CENTRAL
The Golf Exchange
The Staff
Florence
KY
Island View Golf Club
Dan Callahan
Waconia
MN
Miles of Golf
Brent Norton, Casey Baker
Ypsilanti
MI
Divotz Discount Golf
Dave Parker, Brett Williams
Boise
ID
Minnewaska Golf Club
Scott Dirck
Glenwood
MN
Ringo’s Golf Center
Jim Pysh and David Perkins
Crown Point
IN
Lakeview Golf Course
Tony Adcock
Hartville
OH
Pine Valley Country Club
Gary Gant
Fort Wayne
IN
Nick’s Golf Center
Nick Marucci
Elkhart
IN
Kemper Lakes Golf Club
John Hosteland
Hawthorn Woods
IL
Granville Golfland
Jeff Jackson and Joe Giles
Granville
OH
Oakwood Park Golf Course
Kevin Kramp
Franklin
WI
Elmcrest Country Club
Larry Gladson
Cedar Rapids
IA
NORTHEAST
Country Club of Barre
Roger A. King
Barre
VT
Willow Oaks Country Club
Richard White
Richmond
VA
Indian Island Golf Course
Steve Feder
Riverhead
NY
Country Club of Scranton
Terry Hurst
Clarks Summit
PA
Penn Fair Golf
Steve Allen
Penfield
NY
Blue Hill Country Club
Lou Katsos
Canton
MA
The Golf Tour Trailer and Studios
Larry Bleisch and Jerry Donahue
Clifton
VA
Cherry Valley Country Club
Allen Bowman
Stillman
NJ
Sterling Farms Golf Club
Angela Aulenti
Stamford
CT
The Woodlands Club
Doug Van Wickler
Falmouth
ME
Brandywine Country Club
George McNamara
Wilmington
DE
Meadowlands Country Club
Paul Barnsley
Blue Bell
PA
All Golf-Pine Creek
Jim Lynch
Allison Park
PA
Miles of Golf Named PING
National Fitter of the Year
April 1, 2009
Page 3
2008 PING Regional Fitters of the Year
PING Regional Fitter of the Year
Name
City
State
SOUTH CENTRAL
Denver Country Club
Tom Connell
Denver
CO
Inverness Golf
The Staff
Birmingham
AL
Dave’s Golfmart
The Staff
Albuquerque
NM
Crab Orchard Golf Course
Steve Heckel and Sarah Haas
Carterville
IL
San Antonio Country Club
Chuck Westergard
San Antonio
TX
Baker’s Custom Golf
Brian Baker
Tulsa
OK
River Oaks Country Club
Casey Shoffit and Bruce Davidson
Houston
TX
Ridgewood Country Club
James Williams
Waco
TX
Edwin Watts Golf-Southlake
Steve Stowe
Southlake
TX
Dakota Dunes Country Club
Justin Arit
N Sioux City
SD
Pine Hills Golf Club
Dave Dubuy
Calhoun
LA
Golf 1st
Hollis Sparks
Tupelo
MS
Bert Benjamin
Bert Benjamin
Kansas City
MO
SOUTHEAST
Tee To Green Driving Range
Rob Stitzer and Rick Stitzer
Apex
NC
Fox Den Country Club
Scott Moran
Knoxville
TN
By Pass Golf
Todd Webber
Spartanburg
SC
Edwin Watts Golf Shop
Tim Mace
Aventura
FL
Golf Club of Amelia Island
Anne Cain
Fernandina Beach
FL
Edwin Watts Golf
Danny Long, John Root
and Chris Storm
Destin
FL
Sedgefield Country Club
Rocky Brooks
Greensboro
NC
Golf Etc of Lakeland
Luke Miller and JJ Miller
Lakeland
FL
Alpharetta Athletic Club
Todd Gilgrist
Alpharetta
GA
Golf USA-Ellenton
David Joyce and Brad Hawley
Ellenton
FL
Jupiter Island Club
Jim Corrigan and Paul Emmi
Hobe Sound
FL
Sunset Country Club
Jeff Ruth
Sumter
SC
Forest Heights Country Club
Walt Garvin
Statesboro
GA
For additional information, contact Pete Samuels (602) 687-5487.
PING, nFlight, Advanced Fitting System and AFS are registered trademarks of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.
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