| CBI Interview |
CBI: Who’s the best golfer currently on the TOUR? The best golfer of all time?
GN: There are several really good players on TOUR right now. You have Fred Couples and Tom Watson playing very well on the Champions Tour, and Rory McIllroy and Adam Scott have recently won a few tourna- ments, as well, on the PGA TOUR. It’s hard to pinpoint one player as the best on TOUR, since each week there are different variables—such as course and weather—that will affect a given player’s ability to play on that specific course. The best golfer of all time, in my
opinion, is Jack Nicklaus. I learned the fundamentals of the game by reading his books.
CBI: Recently, sport-specific training has come into vogue at some health clubs. How important do you think that sort of training is to achieving real excellence in a given activity?
GN: I think it’s very valuable. I’ve been doing “golf-specific” exercises for years. As a professional athlete, you have to identify the muscle groups that you use on a regular basis in your sport and, then, train those areas. The biomechanics of the exercises are also extremely important. If possible, in training, you want to reproduce the motions that you employ naturally in your sport.
CBI: If you were going to offer our readers your most valuable golf tips, what would they be?
GN: First, when learning to play the game, hit the ball as hard as you can. Don’t worry about where the ball goes. You can always learn mechanics once you’ve developed an ability to strike the ball with power. Second, use a soft grip. There’s no need to strangle your club, be it a putter or driver. The softer your grip, the looser and less restricted your swing will be. —|
– Jon Feld,
jfeld@inc.com www.
ihrsa.org | SEPTEMBER 2010 | Club Business Internat ional 33 THE GREG NORMAN-CYBEX CONNECTION
Last December, CYBEX International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYBI), announced that Greg Norman would endorse its CYBEX Golf Fitness platform. Since then, under the terms of the partnership, Norman has been serving as the company’s spokesperson; participating in strategic marketing initiatives; designing golf-specific exercises; spearheading the formation of the CYBEX Golf Fitness Council; and facilitating partnerships with golf and country clubs, resorts, and communities worldwide. “Actually,” says Norman, “my relationship with CYBEX began over 15 years
ago. In the early ’90s, I rededicated myself to physical fitness, and began working with trainer Pete Draovitch. I was considering a variety of fitness equipment brands for my home gym, and I remember Pete telling me to take a look at CYBEX. He was impressed by its quality and the consistency it pro- vides. So, I tried it, loved it, and have been working out with it ever since. “Now I have the fortune of working hand-in-hand with the firm on the
development of its Golf Fitness platform,” he continues. “I believe this program will revolutionize the way golf and country clubs view fitness. Fitness is no longer just an amenity: it’s an important element that drives incremental revenue, member retention, and, ultimately, a healthier lifestyle for people of all ages.” For CYBEX, the partnership is all about authenticity and credibility.
“In engaging someone as our ambassador, Greg was the perfect fit,” says Larry Gulko, the company’s chief marketing officer. “He’s someone who genuinely lives our brand and is committed to staying fit on and off the course. He has 24 pieces of our cardio and strength training equipment in his home, and also uses it in his Medalist club and at the Great White Shark Enterprises corporate headquarters. And he’s into the biomechanics, physiology, and science of fitness, as we are. It’s a great privilege to have Greg on our team— a person who embodies trust, integrity, and authenticity, and who shares our vision and business philosophy.” —|
Pumping up Norman’s swing
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