Edit: May 31, 2014
Check out our full fitting features from Modern Golf Vancouver here:
– Part 1 Blueprinting
– Part 2 Full Fitting
Original: February 4, 2014
Over the past weekend, we had the opportunity to check out the Open House for Modern Golf Vancouver. We’ve featured the Modern Golf Toronto location before and are SO happy that they have decided to set up shop over here on the west coast. Although it is not as big as the facility in Toronto, Modern Golf Vancouver leaves a strong impression on visitors and shows how technology and proper fitting can improve any golfer’s game. Their official opening is on February 11, 2014.
We have brand specific fitting centres in Vancouver and of course, fittings through local retailers, but nothing compared to the magnitude of Modern Golf. It is definitely one of a kind in Vancouver and a much needed service to offer golfers a complete, brand agnostic fitting experience. The shop is 95% complete – they still need to put the finishing touches on the space and get all of the latest equipment shipped over here from Toronto, but we were amazed by the wealth of knowledge and professionalism everyone at this facility showed.
Sharing the facility with Modern Golf is Canada’s 2013 National Teacher of the Year, Rob Houlding! Rob teaches out of Delta’s Kings Links but in the winter, he takes his students to the indoor learning environment, working side by side with Modern Golf! As one of the partners of Modern Golf, Ian Fraser, pointed out, the availability of Modern Golf’s expertise in custom fitting of golf clubs and Rob’s clientele is a perfect match for a successful partnership!
When we first arrived at Modern Golf Vancouver, we were greeted by Dean Walters, head club fitter and manager of Modern Golf Vancouver who showed us around the facility, starting with the Blueprint Station. This is where your current golf clubs specifications will be measured and you will be told whether you are playing what you THINK you are playing. The machines in this area will measure lie angles, lofts, shaft lengths, shaft stiffness and also grips.
On the second floor is a complete gym/weight room that allows golfers to learn and work on golf-specific exercises. You’ll be able to build and train muscle memory that is important to the golf swing and improve strength and flexibility to hopefully improve club head speed.
Coming back downstairs and entering the main space of the facility, you will be greeted with a large short game practice area as well as a smaller station for putter fittings. The larger green features various slopes and bumps to simulate real life conditions. Putting skid boards are also on hand to help determine the perfect specifications needed for your putter.
You’ll also notice the large shaft wall that will allow Modern Golf to fit every possible combination of shafts and club heads to find the perfect match for your swing. The club heads and shafts use Quick-Lock Technology, which allows interchangeability of shafts and clubheads, but essentially locks them together as one piece once a customer is ready to hit. It’s an impressive looking shaft wall – but it’s going to be coming down soon as it will be replaced with even MORE shaft options for golfers to choose from!
After getting through these areas, golfers are greeted with three full hitting LOUNGES with TrackMan to analyze their swings and specs to determine the right fit and set of golf clubs. You can see all of the available club heads in their goodie drawer here, with irons (even some Japanese market products!), drivers and fairway woods.
Aside from getting fitted for clubs that are perfect for your swing, Modern Golf also offers customization and personalization of your clubs, such as painting your driver matte black, matte white or all kinds of bright, funky colours! Check out their Instagram account for some of Modern Golf’s customization work! In a few week’s time, Eighteen Under Par will return to Modern Golf for a full fitting experience and you can be sure we’ll document the whole process!
Source: Modern Golf
Sweet facility. Great feature, guys!
Thanks for the feedback! We’re very lucky to have such a great facility in our backyard and looking forward to going back for a full fitting. We’ll definitely document our experience again!
Any facilities similar to this over in Hong Kong? We’ve only visited City Links in LKF before, but that was just more of an indoor driving range than anything!
Nothing similar in scope in HK, for sure. The private courses have pro shops that can do a bit of fitting, and the public course at Kau Sai Chau has a custom shop that does its best.
Custom fitting, and experts that really know what they’re doing and talking about, is an aspect of the game (in HK) that we’re definitely lacking.
Looking forward to your documentation of the full fitting! Love the site. Kudos, guys!
Just went for our fitting today and it was a great experience–it’s amazing how much can be left on the table in terms of performance when a player is not properly fitted for clubs.
Stay tuned, we’ll have a write up done soon 🙂