Three clubfitters from Holland travel half way around the world to Columbus Georgia for the Annual AGCP Roundtable Education Conference.
Theo Erben, web site www.fatco.nl is situated in The Netherlands. Theo serves many European tour players, with more than half of the top players relying on Theo for fitting their clubs. Theo tells us he is coming to Columbus to learn first hand from other specialists in the clubfitting business and to meet other clubmakers who are not in direct competition and to exchange information with the best clubfitters in the world.
Theo holds a degree in mechanical engineering, and was an airline pilot for KLM before opening his clubfitting/club building business, while with KLM Theo introduced the B-737, and B-747-400 for which he was involved in flight training most of his career (training manager from introduction of B747-400 until 6 years into operation).
Theo tells us the economy in Holland last year was absolute tops, but now it is 25% less than last year. It is very hard to earn a living in the clubfitting, clubmaking business in Holland. Theo and his wife are in a very comfortable position because their bread and butter does not depend on fitting/selling clubs.
Theo is now in a position with his clubfitting where he could only dream of only a few years ago because he has so many top players that allow him to use their name for marketing purposes. Some 17 years ago when he started building clubs this was not the case. In Holland’s national stroke play championship this past year no less than 22 competitors where fitted by Theo and playing Theo’s clubs during the tournament. Because of this you would assume an enormous amount of interest from the golf-press and the golfing public for Theo, but unfortunately this is not the case. In spite of the lack of recognition Theo looks at the bright side of his lack of recognition in that it gives him more time to golf.
Theo’s main interest in being here for the AGCP Roundtable Education Conference is in driver fitting with the Golf Achiever launch monitor (because he uses one) and in using the Casio F1 slow motion camera for fitting/analyzing golf swings. Jerry Hoefling and Leith Anderson will be presenting seminars using the Golf Achiever for fitting.
Marcel Bal is also from Holland and will be coming to Columbus for his second Roundtable in 2 years. Marcel’s business is a small, one person, workshop at his house. He rebuilt his garage to a workshop and does fittings on the golf course nearby where he is a member. Because it is a Navy golf course they don’t have a teaching pro or a golf shop. In Holland where he is, like in the US, it is not so easy to get a working relation with the pro’s in the area. But with diplomacy and by showing one is a good fitter contacts get better over time. Marcel lives in the most north-west part of the Netherlands, surrounded by the sea. In an area of about 40 miles around he has 15 golf courses. That is where most of his customer base is. People don’t want to drive a long way to get clubs. The Netherlands doesn’t have many professional club fitters.
Marcel’s main reason to come to the RT is learning new and better skills for his fitting and building profession. In Europe there are no professional club fitting organizations where you can attend classes. He was first a PCS member and attended the PCS meetings. After the PCS had to stop I was very glad to find the AGCP as a great replacement. Last year I attended the RT for the first time and it felt like being at home. I enjoyed every minute and learned a lot. I also come to the RT and Columbus to meet the other members that have become friends over the year, and have a good time together.
After Marcel retired as a Marine Corps officer he started looking for an interesting job/hobby to occupy his time. Marcel also have degree in physical education and he played golf for a couple of years. His first thought was to try to become a teaching pro but in Holland it is very expensive and one needs to have a handicap of 3 or lower just to start the classes. For Marcel that was not possible to do. So he started looking for something else in the golf direction. He found club making/fitting on the internet and that is how he became interested. His first course was at Golfworks, in Ohio, followed by the PCS and now the AGCP.
Marcel says “I think I am a little obsessed by this profession, it is on my mind all the time, and I want to get better and better in what I do. My ultimate goal is to become a Master Club fitter of AGCP if I live long enough”. Marcel tells us that expanding his business is difficult, it goes step by step and the money he earned so far has to be put back into the shop to serve his customers better. For him the largest step is to get a place where he can do indoor fittings, but renting a small shop or an industrial space is too expensive to cover with his earnings. Therefore he concludes he has to, at least, triple his growth and create a stable monthly income from the fittings.
Right now, having the economic crisis, I notice, like other members in the US, business is down this year. The customers I get don’t buy a complete new set but look for adjustments on the current set to play better. No new driver but only a new driver head and if possible keep the old shaft. No new set of grips but only the grips that are really worn. That are the things customers go for. Also this area is not a place with lots of rich people. Custom built clubs is not a well known product here in Holland. Therefore I
make it my goal as well to try to get the “Wishon message” across to as much golfers as I can. I am working, together with a Dutch scientist and teacher at the Dutch PGA program, on a book about club fitting to get more golfers interested here.
My goal for RT4 is to learn and get skills as much as possible so I can help my customers even better when I am back. I am convinced that there is so much more to learn for me, and always will be. In my opinion I know maybe 5 or 10% of all there is to know in this profession. But to become one of the best, the AGCP is the place to be!! Marcel was at RT-3 in Columbus last year and he can’t wait to be in Columbus again! Marcel Bal – Golf Op Maat – Malzwin 1408, 1788 XB Den Helder, Netherlands – +31223643720
Marcel De Jager tells us he started his clubmaking and clubfitting career just 6 years ago repairing shafts and changing grips. He stared clubfitting 4 years ago and in only 2.5 years he has his own shop. Marcel attended 2 classes at Mitchell Golf and passed the PCS Class A clubmaker exam. In his shop Marcel only sells fitted clubs and he sells only Tom Wishon and KZG brands along with Yes putters. As of last month he is the first clubfitting centre for Bridgestone. He also has an interesting deal with a Dutch importer so they can even supply components to other clubmakers. Aside from fitting clubs, he also does ball fittings. Marcel says he joined the AGCP because it appears to have the best clubfitters as members and feels his point is proven by the membership of his two Dutch colleagues. He will be flying over with Theo and the other Marcel and he hopes to meet a lot of members in October in Georgia. Marcel De Jager – Golfhunter – Rossinistraat 12, Drunen, N-Br 5151 KJ Netherlands
The 4th Annual AGCP Roundtable – RT-4 will be held October 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 2009 at the Columbus Iron Works and Convention Center in Columbus Georgia.
For a complete schedule: http://www.agcpgolf.com/html/roundtable_-_rt4_oct__2009.html
To register: http://agcpgolf.com/Store/html/roundtable_registration.html
www.agcpgolf.com
Contact:
