PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF. (April 15, 2014) – The newly renovated Poppy Hills Golf Course will launch an innovative golf instruction program in partnership with MTT (Make The Turn) Performance, set to begin in May.
Developed by award-winning golf professional Jeff Ritter, MTT Performance integrates golf skills, mindset, fitness and nutrition into programs devised to produce sustainable high-performance results.
“We have a passion for providing golfers with the tools, inspiration and support to be their best on and off the course,” said Ritter, the CEO and Founder of MTT, who will serve as Director of Performance. “From a coaching perspective, our goal is to show you just how good you can be. And we know you need to feel your best to be able to live well and perform well.”
Named one of the Best Young Teachers in America by Golf Digest, as well as ranked among the Top 25 Teachers by Golf Tips magazine, Ritter is an expert communicator whose YouTube videos have attracted more than six million views. A Class A member of the PGA of America, he also has contributed to Golf Digest and appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports and Golf Channel. (MTT and Golf Digest recently started the “Make The Turn Weekly Challenge Series” online at www.golfdigest.com.)
Starting May 7 at the Poppy Hills practice facility – completely renovated along with the golf course – MTT Performance will offer a variety of group and individual programs, including three-day golf schools and private coaching, along with online training capabilities and the specially designed Executive Athlete Retreats. These one-of-a-kind experiences are fundamental to MTT’s progressive approach to instruction that delivers lasting results.
Moving its headquarters from Phoenix to Pebble Beach, MTT is committed to providing a world-class learning environment at Poppy Hills unlike anything in the industry. The MTT team will include Ritter’s wife, Cate, a former Northern California junior golf standout who coordinates the MTT Lean 18 Nutrition component; and Aaron Olson, the MTT Director of Player Development.
Ritter is no stranger to the Pebble Beach area, either. As National Director of Instruction for the Nike Golf Schools and Junior Camps, he was site director for the junior summer programs on the Monterey Peninsula the past two years.
The MTT Performance program is another component of the renaissance of Poppy Hills, which reopened to the public on April 4. The highly acclaimed course renovation by Robert Trent Jones Jr. included revamping the practice facility, as well as remodeling its clubhouse and restaurant, now under the direction of acclaimed Carmel chef Johnny De Vivo.
Further information about MTT Performance programs at Poppy Hills Golf Course is available at www.mttperformance.com
About Poppy Hills
Poppy Hills underwent an extensive renovation in March of 2013 centered around water conservation, primarily by improving irrigation and drainage. Original architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. returned to Poppy Hills to create a firm, fast and fun course that unfolds seamlessly through the stunning Del Monte Forest in Pebble Beach.
Jones reinvented the course architecturally, restoring each hole to its natural elevation along the forest floor, softening doglegs and contours, rebuilding all 18 greens with bentgrass, eliminating rough and introducing native waste areas that reduce irrigated turf by nearly 25%.
The headquarters of the Northern California Golf Association co-hosted the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am from 1991 through 2009, as well as the Spalding Pebble Beach Invitational (1989-1991) and 1991 NCAA Men’s Championships. Poppy Hills is also the tournament home to many of the NCGA’s major amateur championships. Visit www.PoppyHillsGolf.com for updates on the renovation.
About the Northern California Golf Association
The NCGA is one of the largest regional golf associations in the country, with more than 150,000 members throughout Northern California and into Nevada. The NCGA is the only golf association in the country to own two courses – Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach and Poppy Ridge in Livermore.
Since 1901, it has been the NCGA’s mission to support and promote the game of golf in Northern California. The NCGA provides official handicap indexes, conducts more than 50 championships annually, rates courses throughout Northern California, publishes NCGA Golf magazine and operates a Foundation to support deserving youth. The NCGA Foundation’s Youth on Course program allows juniors to play more than 100 courses in Northern California for just $5. Visit www.ncga.org
About Make The Turn
Make The Turn is a high-performance coaching brand for dedicated golfers to unlock their potential, while dramatically elevating their enjoyment for the game. The attitude behind the mission is to provide the tools, inspiration and support for players to learn in an environment that embraces possibility and increases expectations, while delivering real, lasting results.
To Make The Turn is to experience a moment of greatness that ignites your passion and commitment for excellence. It’s when you give yourself permission to think big and act without hesitation. Accepting each challenge allows you to let go of what’s comfortable and puts you in a position of growth that breaks down personal barriers and expands your potential for achievement. More information can be found at www.mttperformance.com
Contact:
Karen Moraghan Ed Vyeda Scott Seward
Hunter Public Relations Hunter Public Relations Northern California Golf Association
(908) 876-5100 (831) 375-1747 (831) 625-4653
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com evyeda@hunter-pr.com sseward@ncga.org
