Quiet please. Important decisions being made.
Elite Player’s Association
The Elite Player’s Association of Michigan (EPA) is an association of the state’s best golfers interested in becoming better competitors. Emphasis of the association is improved competitiveness through greater understanding of golf equipment, quality instruction, and networking with other elite players.
Qualification for membership is participation in GAM or USGA events (including qualifying events) within the past 2 years.
Please read on to learn how the Association can potentially make you a better competitor, who the sponsors are, answers to questions you may have, and what you need to do to join. If you would like to speak with someone about the Association, contact Ken Johns at 877-973-9005 or kjohns@milesofgolf.com.
Association Sponsors
Kendall Academy of Golf
The Kendall Academy is Michigan’s largest teaching academy. It is staffed with 7 PGA affiliated instructors and one LGPA instructor. They have won numerous awards for the quality of their instruction. Dave Kendall has been named the Michigan PGA Instructor of the year two times and Paul Haase was named in 2008.
Lessons at the Kendall Academy are given at the Miles of Golf practice facility. The Kendall instruction studios allow students to hit shots out onto the range from tees that are protected from the elements and are heated. Each studio is equipped with the latest video equipment and software. Every Kendall instructor utilizes video, and it is an integral part of each lesson.
To get you acquainted with the Academy, they are offering association members a 30-minute player swing evaluation and will download the video from that session to your computer. There is no cost for this evaluation but you must call to make an appointment.
EPA members receive a 20% discount on Kendall Academy lessons.
Miles of Golf
Miles has been a Golf World Business Top 100 Golf Shop since 1999 and is considered one the best club fitting shops in the country. Miles of Golf is one of only four Titleist Regional Fitting Centers in the country. In 2009, Miles of Golf was named the Ping National Club Fitter of the Year, the first time an off-course shop has won this award. The golf shop is a custom club fitting account for Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Nike, Ping, Mizuno, Cleveland, Cobra, and Adams.
Club fitting at Miles takes place in the Cluboratory, a club testing and fitting facility dedicated solely for this purpose with a club inventory of over $200,000 to test. For example, there are 27 Titleist Drivers with varying shafts and lofts to test. What is unique about working in The Cluboratory is the ability to test clubs and shafts from all the major manufacturers out of one facility. The Cluboratory allows players to hit shots onto the Miles range from tees that are protected from the elements and are heated. Club-fitters at Miles are very experienced and thoroughly trained. Fittings for the better players use TrackMan launch monitors for measuring distance, ball speed, launch angle, and spin. Club fitters who know how to interpret the data to make intelligent equipment decisions analyze these results.
To help you get acquainted with the Miles of Golf shop, they are offering members a driver analysis that will analyze your current driver. The session utilizes our TrackMan launch monitor that will measure your ball speed, launch angle, and spin and determine advantages, if any, from changing these launch conditions. This analysis will be brutally honest and is not a setup to sell you a new driver if your current driver cannot be improved upon. There is no cost for this evaluation, but you must call to make an appointment.
EPA Members receive a 20% discount on Miles of Golf fitting fees.
Titleist
Titleist became a sponsor of the EPA in 2010. The company considers its core golf club customer base, golfers in the U.S. who have handicaps from 0-7 and play competitive golf. Titleist clubs are designed for the better player. To support these golfers, Titleist has one of the best custom fitting departments in the industry, called "Titleist FittingWorks" (www.FittingWorks.com). They have also established the innovative Titleist Performance Institute, TPI which is designed to improve performance through a combination of physical training, instruction and club fitting. Visit www.mytpi.com for more information. Titleist recently created "Team Titleist" where golfers can become members and keep up with the latest information on equipment. There is a blog, forums, surveys and sweepstakes. www.titleist.com/teamtitleist/
EPA Services Available to Members
Private Lessons at the Kendall Academy.
The instructor and student determine an instruction plan tailored to the student’s game. Lessons are 50 minutes and include video with every lesson. Lesson prices vary depending upon the instructor but range from $90 - $135. As a member of the Elite Player’s Association, these prices are discounted 20% for individual lessons with no discount for lesson series packages which are already discounted.
Titleist Performance Institute Physical Assessment.
Kendall Academy instructor Jeff Goble has completed the training program at TPI and is available to conduct these assessments. Read below:
- Do you feel your body restricts you from reaching your potential as a player?
- Do you believe if you were more flexible you would be a better player?
- Have you tried to make swing changes without much success?
- If you knew how to gain 10 to 30 yards would you do it?
Now is your chance.
With a TPI session you will receive a personalized physical analysis, a golf swing analysis and your first eighteen fitness sessions exclusively formatted for you. These sessions are easily done in the comfort of your own home or with a recommended Physical Trainer.
You can go at your own pace and see results in club head speed, consistent ball striking and you will get the benefit of feeling better at the same time.
Jeff Goble is your Certified TPI Fitness Instructor and can get you started on your way to a better game. For more info email Jeff Goble at goblegolf@aol.com
Prices start at $150.00 and EPA members receive a 20% discount.
Kinetic Linkage Assessment
Academy instructor Paul Haase works with zeroLink and Chris Welsh to evaluate how efficiently your golf swing delivers energy. The process looks at timing issues involving the movement of your hips, shoulders, and arms and recommends drills to improve the linkage of these movements. For more info, go to Lessons/Kendall Academy or click on http://www.golf-zenolink.com/
Prices start at $250 and include a private video lesson w/ Paul. EPA members receive a 20% discount.
For more information on the Kendall Academy, go to: http://www.milesofgolf.com/kendall.html
Maxx ClubFitting
Our most experienced clubfitters take golfers through a very detailed clubfitting session. These fittings utilize the TrackMan™ Ball Flight Monitor extensively to determine which clubs perform best for each player. Club fitting services are discounted 20% to EPA Members.
For more info, go to the Maxx Club Fitting Page
Joining the Elite Player’s Association of Michigan
Currently, there is no cost to join the Elite Player’s Association, but you must meet the eligibility requirement; namely you must be a participant in a USGA or GAM event (including qualifiers) within the last two years. The sponsors have a list of these players from the GAM.
To join the Elite Player’s Association of Michigan, e-mail us the information below to kjohns@milesofgolf.com. After registering, you will be sent a package that includes general information on the association and a bag tag. We will get back with you to set up a date for the complimentary Kendall Academy consultation and the analysis of your driver.
Required Information
- Name
- Address
- City/State
- Telephone
- Email (this is the only way we will communicate with members)
- Home Golf Course
