PGA of America Golf Professional Rick Stewart never imagined his California driving range job would lead him halfway around the world. Now, as owner of The Range at Clermont National in Central Florida, that journey has produced one of the region’s most innovative golf facilities.
Stewart’s unconventional path began in Northern California, but it took a dramatic turn when an opportunity arose overseas.
“My career began in Northern California, where I fell in love with the game and got my start in the business,” Stewart said. “From there, I took an opportunity to move overseas, which completely transformed my outlook — not just on teaching golf, but on the business of golf.”
Those international years in Singapore and Sydney exposed Stewart to teaching methods and technologies rarely seen in American facilities at the time.
“I spent time in Singapore and Sydney, working at some incredible facilities and working with incredibly diverse clientele,” he said. “That global exposure helped me refine a philosophy rooted in adaptability, technology and hospitality.”
Stewart approached each move strategically, building expertise that would eventually shape his Florida facility.
“Each move — from Asia to Australia to Orlando — was strategic, driven by a desire to grow both as a PGA of America Golf Professional and as an entrepreneur,” Stewart said. “Landing in Clermont was a full-circle moment. It allowed me to take everything I’d learned globally and apply it to a facility that I could build from the ground up.”
Stewart refused to build another conventional driving range. His international experience had shown him what golf practice could become.
“The vision for The Range at Clermont National was clear from the start: create a golf experience that merges top-tier instruction with fun, flexible, tech-driven engagement,” Stewart said. “I didn’t want just another driving range — I wanted something that could serve the serious player, the weekend golfer and even someone who’s never picked up a club.”
Stewart installed state-of-the-art ball-tracking technology after seeing similar technology succeed internationally. The installation presented significant challenges.
“Incorporating this technology allowed us to offer both entertainment and meaningful practice,” he said. “The biggest challenge was the initial infrastructure — installing tech that’s precise, weather-resistant and intuitive to use — but our global perspective helped. I’d seen what worked in Asia and Australia, and I pulled pieces from those markets to build a concept that could thrive in Central Florida.”
The finished facility serves golfers across skill levels through integrated technology and varied programming.
“We’ve worked hard to create a fully immersive experience,” Stewart said. “Whether someone wants to analyze their ball flight in real time, play Pebble Beach virtually with friends or get serious reps in with shot-by-shot data, we have something for them.”
The technology removes traditional barriers that intimidate new players while providing serious practice tools for experienced golfers.
“For beginners, it makes the game less intimidating and more fun. For experienced players, it’s a practice environment that gives you everything you need to improve,” he said. “That range of functionality is what truly elevates the experience — we’re not just hitting balls, we’re engaging golfers in a dynamic and measurable way.”
Stewart credits facility manager Matt Bostian as essential to translating vision into daily operations.
“One person who’s been absolutely instrumental is Matt, our facility manager,” Stewart said. “From day one, he’s treated The Range like it’s his own, and that mindset has made all the difference. He brings a hospitality background and a tech-savvy approach that complements my instructional focus.”
Their partnership demonstrates how complementary skills create operational success.
“He’s the reason our operations run smoothly — he handles everything from staff training to customer experience oversight, and he’s constantly identifying ways to improve the day-to-day,” Stewart said. “That allows me to focus on some teaching, marketing and the longer-term growth. Our skills are different but complementary, and we’ve built a strong trust that keeps the whole team aligned.”
Earlier this year, persistent tracking system malfunctions threatened customer satisfaction. Stewart and Bostian’s collaborative response turned the crisis into confirmation of their working relationship.
“A great example of our collaboration came earlier this year when we faced persistent tracking misreads on the range,” Stewart said. “It could’ve become a major issue, but Matt and I worked closely with the company’s team to get it fixed — adjusting pole heights, relocating hardware and continuously testing accuracy.”
Their different strengths proved complementary during the technical crisis.
“Matt managed the on-the-ground coordination, while I communicated the performance side from a guest perspective,” Stewart said. “That experience reinforced what collaboration means at The Range: clear communication, trust in each other’s strengths and a shared commitment to quality. That mindset trickles down to our entire staff — we’re all here to create a world-class golf experience, one guest at a time.”
The Range at Clermont National demonstrates how golf facilities can evolve without abandoning core values. Stewart’s international experience provided the vision, while his partnership with Matt enabled execution. Their success shows that combining global insights with local partnership and advanced technology with personal service creates results that exceed individual efforts.
Stewart’s journey from California to Singapore to Central Florida proves that diverse experience builds better facilities — and that the right partnerships make ambitious visions achievable.