As a PGA of America Teaching Professional at the Jupiter Hills Club, I understand the balance between custom fitting and instruction. It is our responsibility to determine the most effective means of helping our members and students improve.
Once we look at the player’s skills and evaluate their equipment, our teaching staff works with our expert club fitter, Neil Marc, to focus on the more pressing of the two issues — lessons or new clubs. We gather data to prove the equipment is suitable for the student and work on their swing from there if it is. If not, we’ll refer the golfer to the fitting side for a complete evaluation of his or her equipment and an upgrade in clubs.
I learned years ago that instructors should understand how factors such as shaft profile, weight, loft and club design affect ball flight, even if they are not expert fitters.
It’s a small team at Jupiter Hills, and we work well together, as well as with our members. My experience as a full-time club fitter at a club in Sea Island, Georgia has positioned me to know both sides of this player development equation — the importance of skill development AND the impact of properly fit equipment. I understand how the club affects ball flight and am able to utilize data collected to change those results.
However, in my current role, I am a teaching pro first and foremost — though I will still fit a member when Neil is unavailable. It’s an asset to be able to promote business on both sides. After all, attaining confirmation is vital to gaining your golfer’s trust in the process. No one wants to be transitioned from professional to professional; but if they understand that it’s in their best interest, you’ve gained that buy-in. We present the information, and it’s ultimately the golfer’s choice.
As a result of this expert collaboration among our golf professional team, entire performance center engagement is up significantly. My own lesson hours doubled in one year and went up another 30 percent the next year. This trend is still growing.
Instruction and fitting work best when integrated. Golf professionals should understand how equipment influences performance and collaborate closely with qualified fitters. After all, equipment issues can masquerade as swing issues, and proper analysis can prevent golfers from making unnecessary swing changes.
It is important to communicate to your team and your golfers that fitting is not always about selling clubs. It’s also about confirmation and education, as they are often just as valuable as recommending new equipment.
Ben Freundt is a 2025 Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Growth of the Game Teaching Professional and a PGA of America Teaching Professional at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Florida.