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I have been playing golf for almost 20 years, and have had the good fortune of living in good golf places like Seattle, Palm Desert and Orange County. Each offer facilities where golfers of all income and ability levels can enjoy and improve at the game throughout the year. Being an avid golfer in the greater Los Angeles area is far from marvelous, however, and has been a totally different experience all together.

The main obstacle to Los Angeles golf is that there are only two ways to play. The first option is the best; you’re lucky enough to call Riviera, Bel Air, Los Angeles Country Club or Wilshire your golfing home. For most golfers, however, option two is the only choice: playing one of the very few (and very crowded) municipal courses in town. Much like the U.S. economy, Los Angeles golf has no middle class.

There’s no question that there’s great golf to be had in Los Angeles. Rancho Park Municipal is legendary, and designed by William Johnson and William Bell, famous for their work at Bel Air and the Stanford Golf Course. Good luck getting a tee time, though. The course is visited by more golfers every year than any other municipal track in the country. Golfers can also find gems if they’re willing to drive 30 miles or more away from the city. Rustic Canyon in Moorpark, California, for example, is one of best the hidden masterpieces in all of the U.S. The links-style Gil Hanse, Geoff Shackelford and Jim Wagner course was voted Golf Magazine’s No. 1 Best Value in the U.S. in 2010. At $43 during weekly prime hours and $66 on the weekends, it’s almost like stealing. But Rustic Canyons are few and far between in Los Angeles county.

Let me be clear: I don’t think using public or even private money to develop more courses is necessarily the answer for Los Angeles golf. The city has extremely limited space, and land is very expensive. Better utilizing the space Los Angeles DOES have is the key. That will take people who care about growing golf, and are willing to innovate the system. The good news is I found a few of them, and I think they can change Los Angeles golf for the better.

Urban Golf Performance

I’ve been a GolfWRX Member since the site was founded in 2005, so it’s no coincidence that I discovered Urban Golf Performance in my search for a new custom club fitter. UGP was recently voted the Best Place to Get Custom Fit in Los Angeles by Golf Digest, and a Top-100 fitter in the U.S. But being a GolfWRXer, I looked deep into the UGP’s Yelp page before I decided to give them a call. Most of the reviews seemed to contain the same phrases: “Everyone at UGP was either amazing, helpful, patient, knowledgeable or passionate,” and five-star ratings were plentiful. That prompted me to reach out to UGP Founder, Mackenzie “Mac” Todd, for this story.

I walked into Urban Golf Performance on a cool crisp morning. It’s in West Los Angeles, in an unassuming, cement-colored building wedged between local sandwich shops and furniture outlets. Once you walk thru the door, though, the experience is full golf bliss. To put it simply, it’s an elegant space with all things technology built into it. I was greeted by a friendly staff member, who took my clubs, parked my car and got me a beverage. Country-club treatment, but you don’t get the vibe that you’re at a country club. Case in point, Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall was blaring from the house speakers when I arrived.

UGP’s space is set up in a very specific way, complementing the approach the company takes to help golfers improve their scores. The first thing I noticed was the fitness/rehabilitation area. In some cases, the UGP team won’t put a club in a golfer’s hands until they have been throughly evaluated from a health standpoint. That’s rare in this industry, given the turn-and-burn mentality that often dominates the golf instruction. It’s risky, too. Most golfers want to be hitting shots as soon as they arrive for their lesson or fitting, and to risk disappointing a consumer by challenging their expectations takes a lot of conviction.

Past the main greeting area and fitness lab is a set of French doors, which lead golfers into UGP’s golf laboratory. It’s literally wall to wall with indoor hitting bays, each of them equipped with a Trackman and a SwingCatalyst mat. There are tables of golf clubs components that will make most GolfWRX members drool, too: PXG, Ping, Mizuno, Edel, Miura, Titleist… on and on.

After taking the tour, I sat down with UGP head swing coach Ben Smock, as well as Kris Brennan who specializes in bio-mechanics. I wasn’t conducting the interview, though; they were. Why did I love golf? How did I start? Who coached me? What sports did I play as a kid? Did I have any injuries? What was my handicap? What were my golf goals? It was like golf emotional therapy, and I could feel that the plan wasn’t to fix anything that day. They were learning who I was as a student, first and foremost, and I was, too.

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Finally, we made our way to the hitting bay, but before I touched a club Brennan put me through a full physical-capability screening. He tested my flexibility and rotary movement using specific movements as identifiers for the good, the bad and the ugly. In another assessment, Smock and Brennan pinpointed the things in my swing that I did well. They explained how my body moved from the ground up, and how my physical limitations “could” cause issues. They stayed away from discussions of swing theories or specific fixes, however.

“It’s easier to make someone worse than it is to make them better, so you have to be discerning, must have perspective, must have integrity and you need to know your stuff,” Smock said.

What I liked about Ben’s approach during the evaluation was that he wanted to build my swing around the functional, athletic movements I already had, because according to him, “You always want to hang on to the good stuff that you can’t teach.” It made sense. How could I not develop faster with a foundation that allowed me to move naturally?

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I hit balls for 45 minutes with all my different clubs to gather launch monitor data, and then was taken to the fitness area to spend some time with Director of Physical Therapy Noolee Kim, which was by far the most humbling experience. The simple exercises Dr. Kim had me doing required every fiber of my being to accomplish. I’ve had a tight right shoulder for years, but I’ve never had any of feedback from a swing coach that identified this as a key area to work on or discuss. I always heard, “the club is too far inside” or “you’re across the line … you’re stuck and you pop out of your posture.” All true, but no one ever told me why. Why does my body move that way, and what am I physically doing to compensate for it? Good info to have, I think.

It’s not that I’m expecting my coaches to be doctors, but it does say something about the amount of thought that went into UGP. If Ben Smock was my regular instructor, he would have access to someone onsite who knew my physical limitations. The best example I can think of is for someone trying to lose weight; training at UGP is like having your nutritionist, trainer, cook and physical therapist all in one place at the same time. Sounds like fantasy land, right? For a lot of golfers, the cost and availability of such experts make the experience impossible. UGP is trying to change that.

At the end of my day, I sat down for the part of the experience that led me to UGP. Master club builder Matt Mora told me his philosophy on fitting and building custom clubs, and how it has evolved during his time at UGP. It felt different than I expected, though. Equipment was starting to feel like a piece of my golfing puzzle, rather than the object of obsession I’ve tended to make it in the past. And Mora explained why all the different clubs I’ve used haven’t done much to lower my handicap.

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“I now understand why traditional instruction and fitting don’t improve handicaps by themselves,” Mora said. “In a traditional fitting session, the player is fit for clubs, swing flaws included. I’ve spoken with other fitters about improving the flaws, but majority feel it is not their place.”

There are two main obstacles Mora said he faces consistently with players; the first is preferred performance. What that means is, on average, most weekend players just want to hit a draw and will get whatever club allows that. This leads to the second dilemma Mora faces, which is re-educating players to seek what clubs they need to actually get better. It matters what clubs golfers like, but only to a certain point. This is where the focused teaching of UGP comes in, developing the whole player.

You might be surprised to hear that three notable equipment companies do not have a presence at UGP: TaylorMade, Callaway and Nike. It isn’t because they’re not up to performance standards, though. Mora called the products from all the leading equipment companies “exceptional,” but he chooses his components based not only on quality, but also release frequencies. From a builder standpoint, it’s hard to fine-tune a set for a player if their driver head changes every six months. It may work for PGA Tour players, but for the average player changing clubs can have the same damaging effect of changing swing philosophies every six months.

It’s also true that equipment sometimes has to change with the player, according to Mora. While instruction has improved with modern technology, it does not always address club specifications as the possible cause of swing flaws. Golfers can have a great practice session and feel really good about their game, but then find themselves struggling the next round. Sometimes it’s physical or mechanical, but poor-fitting clubs can also be the catalyst of reverting golfers into their bad habits. In a sense, clubs are living, breathing thing that can be adjusted, much like a golfer’s swing.

“For every development in swing dynamic, there should be a change within the club specifications to reinforce the changes,” Mora said. “My primary goal is to educate the player about how their clubs affect their swing, either positively or negatively. I then attempt to cater the club specifications to where the swing should be in order to ensure efficiency and consistency. I see the club as a template that should reflect proper swing dynamic in correlation with the player’s physical ability.”

Plans for growth

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UGP’s plans to grow the are simple; do it organically. Short, specific expansion is refining the company’s second location in Inglewood near Los Angeles International Airport, where UGP will be the Swing Catalyst Research Center for the U.S. Over the next two-to-three years, the company plans to add locations in the San Fernando Valley, Orange County and establish a few more locations in Los Angeles.

The biggest roadblock? Like all premium products in the golf industry, it’s price. An assessment at UGP costs $195, and a single coaching session costs $165. There’s a discount for 10 sessions ($1,450), and the rate improves as golfers buy 20 sessions ($2,500) or 50 sessions ($5,500). Golfers will react to those price points differently, of course, but it’s clear that golfers aren’t just paying for a better game. UGP sees a broader path for its clients than lowering their scores and hitting better shots.

Founder MacKenzie “Mac” Todd told me a story about one UGP golfer in particular. His professional career was flourishing, but like most people he struggled to seriously improve his game. And with his busy schedule, he didn’t believe UGP could help him. He was gifted UGP sessions for his birthday, and decided to give it a shot. He would spend an hour at UGP, and then go back to living his life. After working with Todd and his team, the man is passionate about golf again. More importantly, his awareness of who he is as a golfer has transcended his game. Now he’s balancing his busy schedule better, despite spending more time on his golf game. He’s enjoying golf more, he says, and enjoying life more, too.

In my experience, it’s the golfers who are most resistant to change who tend to be the most vocal about how impossible golf is, and how it isn’t any fun. A case could be made that places like UGP should have been built sooner, before the game’s much detailed decline. The technology wasn’t really there yet, however. That being said, UGP really isn’t about its machines.

UGP and its staff are challenging what many golfers and many in the golf industry want to believe. There’s no new club, exercise or swing tip that’s going to immediately change a golfer’s game. It takes commitment, and an investment of time and money. In a nutshell the conviction to know what you are doing is the right path regardless of the obstacles: financial or social.

What kind of person has the money and time to engage in something like this? Truthfully, probably the same group of Los Angeles golfer who belong to the elite country clubs most of us yearn to play. But this Los Angeles case study still could be perfect. People are always moving in and out of the city, and for that reason they’re often compelled to try new things. If UGP is right, its practices could spread across the golf world and make an important difference. If UGP is wrong, we will know quickly; LA has a big mouth. But so far the proof is in the pudding. There are a lot of 5-star Yelp reviews, membership is growing by the week and the UGP staff is having as much fun as ever watching its vision becomes a reality.

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45 Comments

45 Comments

  1. pat gau

    Nov 3, 2019 at 7:11 am

    Hi i am learning a lot whit you guys thank’s a lot

  2. Scott D

    Jun 19, 2016 at 3:53 pm

    A huge Thank You and shout out to Mackenzie for taking an hour of his time to provide information and insight into UGP. He answered all of my questions and even invited me to visit to help me gain an understanding of the level of detail and information provided to each player and how they have maximized their space within their main location. I have talked to several other owners of various facilities around the country and none have been as forthcoming and open as Mackenzie. For those of you near UGP looking to improve your game the right way, you will have access to cutting edge technology and even better people. Great stuff and thanks again, Mackenzie!

  3. Steve

    Jun 19, 2016 at 11:07 am

    Amazing looking facility that combines fitness, instruction, and fitting. Where do you plan to open in OC and where, if you don’t mind me asking.

  4. Mac Todd

    Jun 15, 2016 at 9:11 pm

    Thanks everyone for all the replies and feedback, if anyone has any questions please feel free to email me directly at [email protected] or just post directly to this message board

    Mac Todd
    Founder
    Urban Golf Performance

  5. Brett

    Jun 14, 2016 at 1:40 pm

    I’ve had the pleasure of doing business with Mac and the group at UGP since the week they opened their doors. These are real golf guys, super passionate, smart, humble, stud players, forward thinking and caring. It was just a few years ago Mac and Ben had a vision and I’m incredibly happy that they’ve been able to execute that vision with exceptional precision. There are only a couple areas of golf that are growing, indoor golf Is one of them. The industry has unfortunately suffered because golf takes too long to play and it’s intimidating to newbies. Beyond that, very few instructors are able to effectively teach with the old fashioned, outdated methodology. Top notch facilities like this, run by good people, is just what the doctor ordered. If you question whether or not the principles they (UGP) operate under can change the golf landscape, simple, pay attention…you’ll learn something. Keep up the great work, guys.

  6. Juan Carlos Zerpa

    Jun 14, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    UN comentario en español.
    Soy de Venezuela…y estuve de paseo en LA hace un mes. Aproveché la oportunidad y me acerqué a UGP. Fue mi primera experiencia haciendo un fitting. Y la verdad, la atención es el valor agregado de esta gente. CUalquier pregunta, cualquier comentario fue comentado y contestado. Y tuvieron toda la paciencia del mundo para trabajar con un cuarentón con un 20 hcp. Sólo por curiosidad fui a una sesión de fitting en una cadena…nada que ver. COmo decimos en Venezuela…aquello fue un “mateo” en comparación al nivel de atención a los detalles que obtuve en UGP.
    A la fecha, no he podido utilizar mis nuevos palos de golf. Pero tengo la certeza de que no desperdicié mi tiempo y mi dinero. Espero poder confirmarlo más adelante.

    Gracias al equipo de UGP.

    • Mac Todd

      Jun 15, 2016 at 8:50 am

      Juan Carlos-

      Muchas gracias por tu recomendacion y apoyo de UGP. Estamos a tus ordenes!

      MAC

  7. b

    Jun 14, 2016 at 2:30 am

    This place sounds like an amazing experience. I’m going to make it a priority to get an appointment when I’m home on leave in the winter! The drive up from Thousand oaks should be well worth it.

  8. TinkerR

    Jun 13, 2016 at 10:43 am

    I’ve been to UGP a 3 times. Great facility. Really nicely done. Seem like good guys. I’m someone who belongs to one of the aforementioned “elite” clubs in LA. I stopped going to UGP because i felt the prices were too steep. I know a number of guys who feel the same way. If it was a bit more reasonable I would be a regular customer.

    • Mac Todd

      Jun 13, 2016 at 1:37 pm

      Hey TinkerR!

      Thanks for commenting and taking the time to read our story, and also for the support you’ve already shown coming into UGP! We definitely would love to have you back in!

      Our sessions range anywhere from $145-$110 depending on the volume of sessions you purchase. You can use them across the fitting, fitness and coaching segments of our business. Each UGP golf bay cost us about $85,000 and training a new coach to get up to UGP standards and use the technology seamlessly costs us around $20K minimum depending on experience. We don’t see a profit on a new hire for at least 6-9 months. It’s always an investment on everyone’s part. We spend countless hours behind the scenes improving the collaboration between departments and continuing education to ensure our coaches are always fresh and on the cutting edge. We have a business infrastructure behind the scenes, along with a solid front line support system that manages appointments and serves as a “concierge” to members at no additional cost. We valet cars, and go above and beyond to ensure that our students are progressing and enjoying the experience. I promise you in spite of our awesome growth, we truly grind as hard as possible to ensure its a “valuable” experience, and that we are priced accordingly.

      The average “elite” golf instructor utilizing Trackman (we also have $10K balance plates, high speed cameras, and a plethora of other training equipment) in Los Angeles is $150. The average private fitness training session at a comparable facility like Equinox charges also around $150. The average fitting experience at a place like Cool Clubs can go well over $300, we charge $195. If you have a package you can pay as little as $110 for a premium service at your fingertips whenever you want it 6am-9pm weekdays and 6am-5pm weekends.

      We’ve put a lot of thought and consideration into our pricing model and value proposition, and trust me I’ve nearly tried every service out there nationwide that is similar to what we have built here in LA. You’ll be hard pressed to find this value and experience elsewhere.

      All I can say is that we will strive and grind as hard as we can to consistently provide value, innovate the standard practices we see in the industry today, and educate a new generation of golf instructors, trainers, and club fitters/builders that believe and share the holistic approach to golf development.

      I really do appreciate all your support and the fact that you took the time to read the story and comment! (Email me at [email protected] and I’d be happy to extend a complimentary session for your loyalty)

  9. Stan Parless

    Jun 12, 2016 at 11:51 pm

    “In a nutshell the conviction to know what you are doing is the right path regardless of the obstacles: financial or social”

    Try telling that to the missus.

    Place sounds awesome and I’m sure they mean well but “change golf culture in Los Angeles”? By what? Catering to the well off country club golfer? Calling themselves “urban” while based out of West LA? Maybe when some golfers who work in a Pico Rivera warehouse can afford it I’ll buy into that statement.

    • Mac Todd

      Jun 13, 2016 at 1:51 pm

      Hey Stan-

      Thanks for taking the time to read our story and comment.

      Check out this video we did in support of the Heroes Golf Course at the Veterans Affairs facility here in West Los Angeles (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ6zX6skYlg). We raised nearly $10K to support their initiatives, and hosted a function that brought more awareness to the conditions our veterans face right in the middle of the wealthy backyard of West LA. This is one of the over 50+ causes locally and regionally we have shifted our focus to as we continue to grow and gain support. Our intentions and purpose are pure, and I can guarantee you we will continue to expand upon this mentality as we grow.

      Appreciate you taking the time to read our story!

  10. Mac Todd

    Jun 11, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    No plans to sell, but who knows that’s the American Dream right?

    We’re really just a really good group of people that work really hard to make an impact on the game we love and our community. Purely grass roots concept from our collective experiences.

    Appreciate your comments!

  11. Bob Gotsen

    Jun 11, 2016 at 6:42 pm

    Incredible stuff. I’ve been playing golf for 32 years, and I am beyond messed up physically. I have had tons of coaches, but nobody tells me my actually problems. What UGP is doing sounds like a reboot for the healthcare system, as well as golf.

    • Mac Todd

      Jun 12, 2016 at 11:09 am

      Thanks for taking the time to read our story Bob, we’ll keep pushing the envelope!

  12. John Goldberg

    Jun 11, 2016 at 4:26 pm

    Place looks amazing. When are you guys coming to Phoenix?

  13. Albatross Hunter

    Jun 11, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Where was this place when I was growing up! It looks and sounds like these guys are sturring the pot, in a incredible way! Bring one to Wisconsin, we need you this winter.

  14. Tru

    Jun 11, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    The antithesis to “Play Golf America!” by making golf unaffordable

    • Mac Todd

      Jun 12, 2016 at 11:07 am

      That’s too bad that’s all you can comment about this article. A baseless statement about how we are the antithesis to “Play Golf America”.

      Philanthropy is a major part of our focus, and the fact that our wealthy customer base is passionate about golf, health, community, and education makes us a perfect vessel for working with non-profits in and out of the golf sector to make actual change and improvement in our community. Watch what we do, and learn how there still are good people out there with pure intentions to make this world a better place.

      Appreciate you taking the time to read our story!

      • Clu

        Jun 12, 2016 at 2:32 pm

        The fact that you have to come back on here and scramble a defense statement says it all about yuor insecurity and lack of understanding of your own customer base, a lack of disrespect for who’s paying your bills and how much you know you’re overcharging the innocent people who come into your shop seeking advice for proper equipment. You’re clueless.

        • Lol

          Jun 12, 2016 at 2:48 pm

          Clu, did you actually read the article? His comments as a whole?

          It sounds like Mac is proud of what he is doing and his comments reflect that. Not understanding your point at all. How can you fault someone for trying to make things better?

        • Mac Todd

          Jun 12, 2016 at 4:06 pm

          That’s pretty harsh Clu. The reality is that I’m only on here trying to foster more discussion about the article, answer questions, and clarify our intentions.

          I’m here to learn and grow. What are you here for?

          How does your statement do anything but promote disrespect for the innovative possibilities of small business? This story should be an inspiration for others that they are the catalyst for the change we need to see in golf and in society. There is a better way to do things, and we need to be the ones that push for answers.

          Also your statement that I have a “lack of disrespect for who’s paying your bills…”doesn’t make any sense, but I get what are you trying to say. Read our customer reviews, talk to our wide range of partners, and you’ll find out that what you’re saying couldn’t be further from the truth. We’ve changed lives, helped thousands not just improve their golf games, but their health, relationships, and much more. This is just the beginning. Our club fitting and building departments are relentless when it comes to precision and craftsmanship, something lost in all the marketing the golf industry does these days. I’ll leave you with a quote that helps me keep perspective as we manage the awesome growth we are experiencing, and the myriad of issues and opinions that arise in parallel.

          “What goes on around you…compares little with what goes on inside you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

          I do appreciate you taking the time to read our story and comment!

        • PEtiger

          Jun 13, 2016 at 11:44 am

          Clu,
          Luckily we live in a free market society. If it turns out these guys are off base and can’t get anyone to walk through the door at $195/pop then they will either be forced to lower the price or close the doors for good. Until then, I don’t think it is instructive for you to berate them just because you cannot afford what they are offering. These guys look like they have made some serious technology investments and deserve to make a return on their time and capital. I assume you expect the same out of your work. Until then, there is always the $10 bucket at the local muni that serves as a competing substitute to their product.

          • Jack

            Jul 5, 2016 at 7:03 am

            I don’t think it’s priced high at all. Look at the people they have. They are very highly qualified professionals. There is an abundance of high tech equipment that is very pricey. Lessons are not cheap. You can also mix these sessions in with other coaching sessions as well. That said, this really doesn’t solve the issue that golf in LA is a terrible predicament as the courses are too crowded and you have to drive far to get some breathing room and decent courses.

  15. Jerry Watkins

    Jun 11, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    Great stuff! Three of my buddies are regulars @ UGP…this article solidifies why they’ve all have been beating me on the course lately. UGP you’ll be seeing me soon!

  16. Lululemon

    Jun 11, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    This place looks amazing!!!

  17. Kate

    Jun 11, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    Congrats you guys. I know it’s a labor of love. Happy to see the hard work paying off.

  18. Brian Gallagher

    Jun 11, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    Awesome article! Great to see UGP getting recognition for our pursuit to help golfers of all ages and abilities improve their game!

  19. Kyle Van Haselen

    Jun 11, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    I am humbled everyday by my team and clients. We continue to grow and develop together, which is what it’s all about. If the mindset is to grow on your own terms and not be willing to learn with others you will become static and never grow. For some that’s okay to them (Ooffa) but for us we focus on growth. KEEP THE GAME GREAT!

  20. Jedi

    Jun 11, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Wow!!!! This place looks DOPE!!! Great article. Ive heard great things about UGP and now you sold me. Im makin the trek from OC!!

    • Mac Todd

      Jun 11, 2016 at 2:14 pm

      We will be opening down there later this year. Lots of good things to come! Thanks for the support!

  21. ThreeSticks

    Jun 11, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    Regardless of any negative comments, its refreshing to see someone put their money where their mouth is. Good on ya UGP. Golf needs a reboot for sure and you all are really trying.

  22. ooffa

    Jun 11, 2016 at 1:39 pm

    “Can this performance center change golf culture in Los Angeles?”
    Answer: No.
    Next article please.

    • Mac Todd

      Jun 11, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      Dude you’re on every article on golfWRX talking jive for no reason, and not even with substance. Say something productive and don’t muddle the conversation with ignorance.

      • Jamie

        Jun 11, 2016 at 4:16 pm

        Amen brother

      • Ben

        Jun 11, 2016 at 4:56 pm

        I disagree with oofa’s bluntness, but I think that the title of the article wasn’t delivered on. It’s a great review of a place that I would absolutely love to visit (seriously…I was excited reading about it). However, the opening of the article was about how you either belong to an elite CC in LA or you fight for time on a public course…”there is no middle class.” That’s what I perceive to be the golf culture referenced in the title…and really, the article does nothing to answer the question posed in the title. On top of that, the author goes on to say that UGP’s clients are likely members of elite CC’s in LA.

        So…how could UGP change golf culture in LA?

        • Mac Todd

          Jun 11, 2016 at 9:40 pm

          Ben-

          That’s a good question, and something we were concerned about as we get our name out there.

          The UGP Vision Statement is to to constantly redefine and develop the standards in which people learn and connect with the game of golf.

          We are starting with a discerning market that can help fuel our growth, but our goals are big. We’ve been in 50+ charity golf tournaments since we started UGP, supporting many causes that make big impacts on the golf world and the community as a whole. We are working with Tiger Woods Foundation in Anaheim, and the First Tee of Los Angeles to help junior golf where it needs it most.

          We give junior golfers big discounts on products and services, and under many circumstances we’ve sponsored local kids in their development even when we had mounting bills getting this bootstrapped business off the ground. Our intentions and purpose are pure.

          This is just a start, we came at this with no big investment team and a big dream. In 3 years we’ve put together 20+ employees and 3 locations. Stay tuned, we’re not stopping there.

          Appreciate the feedback and support!

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open betting preview

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As the Florida swing comes to an end, the PGA Tour makes its way to Houston to play the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.

This will be the fourth year that Memorial Park Golf Course will serve as the tournament host. The event did not take place in 2023, but the course hosted the event in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Memorial Park is a par-70 layout measuring 7,432 yards and features Bermudagrass greens. Historically, the main defense for the course has been thick rough along the fairways and tightly mown runoff areas around the greens. Memorial Park has a unique setup that features three Par 5’s and five Par 3’s.

The field will consist of 132 players, with the top 65 and ties making the cut. There are some big names making the trip to Houston, including Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala.

Past Winners at Memorial Park

  • 2022: Tony Finau (-16)
  • 2021: Jason Kokrak (-10)
  • 2020: Carlos Ortiz (-13)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

Key Stats For Memorial Park

Let’s take a look at several metrics for Memorial Park to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds:

Strokes Gained: Approach

Memorial Park is a pretty tough golf course. Golfers are penalized for missing greens and face some difficult up and downs to save par. Approach will be key.

Total Strokes Gained: Approach per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Tom Hoge (+1.30)
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+1.26)
  3. Keith Mitchell (+0.97) 
  4. Tony Finau (+0.92)
  5. Jake Knapp (+0.84)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Memorial Park is a long golf course with rough that can be penal. Therefore, a combination of distance and accuracy is the best metric.

Total Strokes Gained: Off the Tee per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+0.94)
  2. Kevin Dougherty (+0.93)
  3. Cameron Champ (+0.86)
  4. Rafael Campos (+0.84)
  5. Si Woo Kim (+0.70)

Strokes Gained Putting: Bermudagrass + Fast

The Bermudagrass greens played fairly fast the past few years in Houston. Jason Kokrak gained 8.7 strokes putting on his way to victory in 2021 and Tony Finau gained in 7.8 in 2022.

Total Strokes Gained Putting (Bermudagrass) per round past 24 rounds (min. 8 rounds):

  1. Adam Svensson (+1.27)
  2. Harry Hall (+1.01)
  3. Martin Trainer (+0.94)
  4. Taylor Montgomery (+0.88)
  5. S.H. Kim (+0.86)

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

With firm and undulating putting surfaces, holding the green on approach shots may prove to be a challenge. Memorial Park has many tightly mowed runoff areas, so golfers will have challenging up-and-down’s around the greens. Carlos Ortiz gained 5.7 strokes around the green on the way to victory in 2020.

Total Strokes Gained: Around the Green per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Mackenzie Hughes (+0.76)
  2. S.H. Kim (+0.68)
  3. Scottie Scheffler (+0.64)
  4. Jorge Campillo (+0.62)
  5. Jason Day (+0.60)

Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult

Memorial Park is a long and difficult golf course. This statistic will incorporate players who’ve had success on these types of tracks in the past. 

Total Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+2.45)
  2. Ben Griffin (+1.75)
  3. Will Zalatoris (+1.73)
  4. Ben Taylor (+1.53)
  5. Tony Finau (+1.42)

Course History

Here are the players who have performed the most consistently at Memorial Park. 

Strokes Gained Total at Memorial Park past 12 rounds:

  1. Tyson Alexander (+3.65)
  2. Ben Taylor (+3.40)
  3. Tony Finau (+2.37)
  4. Joel Dahmen (+2.25)
  5. Patton Kizzire (+2.16)

Statistical Model

Below, I’ve reported overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed.

These rankings are comprised of SG: App (24%) SG: OTT (24%); SG: Putting Bermudagrass/Fast (13%); SG: Long and Difficult (13%); SG: ARG (13%) and Course History (13%)

  1. Scottie Scheffler
  2. Wyndham Clark
  3. Tony Finau
  4. Joel Dahmen
  5. Stephan Jaeger 
  6. Aaron Rai
  7. Sahith Theegala
  8. Keith Mitchell 
  9. Jhonnatan Vegas
  10. Jason Day
  11. Kurt Kitayama
  12. Alex Noren
  13. Will Zalatoris
  14. Si Woo Kim
  15. Adam Long

2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open Picks

Will Zalatoris +2000 (Caesars)

Scottie Scheffler will undoubtedly be difficult to beat this week, so I’m starting my card with someone who I believe has the talent to beat him if he doesn’t have his best stuff.

Will Zalatoris missed the cut at the PLAYERS, but still managed to gain strokes on approach while doing so. In an unpredictable event with extreme variance, I don’t believe it would be wise to discount Zalatoris based on that performance. Prior to The PLAYERS, the 27-year-old finished T13, T2 and T4 in his previous three starts.

Zalatoris plays his best golf on long and difficult golf courses. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the category, but the eye test also tells a similar story. He’s contended at major championships and elevated events in the best of fields with tough scoring conditions.  The Texas resident should be a perfect fit at Memorial Park Golf Club.

Alex Noren +4500 (FanDuel)

Alex Noren has been quietly playing some of his best golf of the last half decade this season. The 41-year-old is coming off back-to-back top-20 finishes in Florida including a T9 at The PLAYERS in his most recent start.

In his past 24 rounds, Noren ranks 21st in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 30th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 25th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses and 21st in Strokes Gained: Putting on fast Bermudagrass greens.

In addition to his strong recent play, the Swede also has played well at Memorial Park. In 2022, Noren finished T4 at the event, gaining 2.2 strokes off the tee and 7.0 strokes on approach for the week. In his two starts at the course, he’s gained an average of .6 strokes per round on the field, indicating he is comfortable on these greens.

Noren has been due for a win for what feels like an eternity, but Memorial Park may be the course that suits him well enough for him to finally get his elusive first PGA Tour victory.

Mackenzie Hughes +8000 (FanDuel)

Mackenzie Hughes found himself deep into contention at last week’s Valspar Championship before faltering late and finishing in a tie for 3rd place. While he would have loved to win the event, it’s hard to see the performance as anything other than an overwhelming positive sign for the Canadian.

Hughes has played great golf at Memorial Park in the past. He finished T7 in 2020, T29 in 2021 and T16 in 2022. The course fit seems to be quite strong for Hughes. He’s added distance off the tee in the past year or and ranks 8th in the field for apex height, which will be a key factor when hitting into Memorial Park’s elevated greens with steep run-off areas.

In his past 24 rounds, Hughes is the best player in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Greens. The ability to scramble at this course will be extremely important. I believe Hughes can build off of his strong finish last week and contend once again to cement himself as a President’s Cup consideration.

Akshay Bhatia +8000 (FanDuel)

Akshay Bhatia played well last week at the Valspar and seemed to be in total control of his golf ball. He finished in a tie for 17th and shot an impressive -3 on a difficult Sunday. After struggling Thursday, Akshay shot 68-70-68 in his next three rounds.

Thus far, Bhatia has played better at easier courses, but his success at Copperhead may be due to his game maturing. The 22-year-old has enormous potential and the raw talent to be one of the best players in the world when he figures it all out.

Bhatia is a high upside play with superstar qualities and may just take the leap forward to the next stage of his career in the coming months.

Cameron Champ +12000 (FanDuel)

Cameron Champ is a player I often target in the outright betting market due to his “boom-or-bust” nature. It’s hard to think of a player in recent history with three PGA Tour wins who’s been as inconsistent as Champ has over the course of his career.

Despite the erratic play, Cam Champ simply knows how to win. He’s won in 2018, 2019 and 2021, so I feel he’s due for a win at some point this season. The former Texas A&M product should be comfortable in Texas and last week he showed us that his game is in a pretty decent spot.

Over his past 24 rounds, Champ ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 30th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses. Given his ability to spike at any given time, Memorial Park is a good golf course to target Champ on at triple digit odds.

Robert MacIntyre +12000 (FanDuel)

The challenge this week is finding players who can possibly beat Scottie Scheffler while also not dumping an enormous amount of money into an event that has a player at the top that looks extremely dangerous. Enter McIntyre, who’s another boom-or-bust type player who has the ceiling to compete with anyone when his game is clicking on all cylinders.

In his past 24 rounds, MacIntyre ranks 16th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 17th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 10th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses.

MacIntyre’s PGA Tour season has gotten off to a slow start, but he finished T6 in Mexico, which is a course where players will hit driver on the majority of their tee shots, which is what we will see at Memorial Park. Texas can also get quite windy, which should suit MacIntyre. Last July, the Scot went toe to toe with Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open before a narrow defeat. It would take a similar heroic effort to compete with Scheffler this year in Houston.

Ryan Moore +15000 (FanDuel)

Ryan Moore’s iron play has been absolutely unconscious over his past few starts. At The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field, he gained 6.1 strokes on approach and last week at Copperhead, he gained 9.0 strokes on approach.

It’s been a rough handful of years on Tour for the 41-year-old, but he is still a five-time winner on the PGA Tour who’s young enough for a career resurgence. Moore has chronic deterioration in a costovertebral joint that connects the rib to the spine, but has been getting more consistent of late, which is hopefully a sign that he is getting healthy.

Veterans have been contending in 2024 and I believe taking a flier on a proven Tour play who’s shown signs of life is a wise move at Memorial Park.

 

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Opinion & Analysis

Ryan: Why the race to get better at golf might be doing more harm than good

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B.F. Skinner was one of the most important psychologists of the 20th century, developing the foundation of the development of reinforcement, and in doing so, creating the concept of behaviorism. In simple terms, this means that we are conditioned by our habits. In practical terms, it explains the divide between the few and far between elite instructors and college coaches.

To understand the application, let’s quickly review one of B.F. Skinner’s most important experiments; superstitions in the formation of behavior by pigeons. In this experiment, food was dispensed to pigeons at random intervals. Soon, according to Skinner, the pigeons began to associate whatever action they were doing at the time of the food being dispensed. According to Skinner, this conditioned that response and soon, they simply haphazardly repeated the action, failing to distinguish between cause and correlation (and in the meantime, looking really funny!).

Now, this is simply the best way to describe the actions of most every women’s college golf coach and too many instructors in America. They see something work, get positive feedback and then become conditioned to give the feedback, more and more, regardless of if it works (this is also why tips from your buddies never work!).

Go to a college event, particularly a women’s one, and you will see coaches running all over the place. Like the pigeons in the experiment, they have been conditioned into a codependent relationship with their players in which they believe their words and actions, can transform a round of golf. It is simply hilarious while being equally perturbing

In junior golf, it’s everywhere. Junior golf academies make a living selling parents that a hysterical coach and over-coaching are essential ingredients in your child’s success.

Let’s be clear, no one of any intellect has any real interest in golf — because it’s not that interesting. The people left, including most coaches and instructors, carve out a small fiefdom, usually on the corner of the range, where they use the illusion of competency to pray on people. In simple terms, they baffle people with the bullshit of pseudo-science that they can make you better, after just one more lesson.

The reality is that life is an impromptu game. The world of golf, business, and school have a message that the goal is being right. This, of course, is bad advice, being right in your own mind is easy, trying to push your ideas on others is hard. As a result, it is not surprising that the divorce rate among golf professionals and their instructors is 100 percent. The transfer rate among college players continues to soar, and too many courses have a guy peddling nefarious science to good people. In fact, we do at my course!

The question is, what impact does all this have on college-age and younger kids? At this point, we honestly don’t know. However, I am going to go out on a limb and say it isn’t good.

Soren Kierkegaard once quipped “I saw it for what it is, and I laughed.” The actions of most coaches and instructors in America are laughable. The problem is that I am not laughing because they are doing damage to kids, as well as driving good people away from this game.

The fact is that golfers don’t need more tips, secrets, or lessons. They need to be presented with a better understanding of the key elements of golf. With this understanding, they can then start to frame which information makes sense and what doesn’t. This will emancipate them and allow them to take charge of their own development.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Valspar Championship betting preview: Elite ballstrikers to thrive at Copperhead

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The PGA TOUR will stay in Florida this week for the 2024 Valspar Championship.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is a par 71 measuring 7,340 yards and features Bermudagrass greens overseeded with POA. Infamous for its difficulty, the track will be a tough test for golfers as trouble lurks all over the place. Holes 16, 17 and 18 — also known as the “Snake Pit” — make up one of the toughest three-hole stretches in golf and should lead to a captivating finish on Sunday.

The field is comprised of 156 golfers teeing it up. The field this week is solid and is a major improvement over last year’s field that felt the impact of players skipping due to a handful of “signature events” in a short span of time. 

Past Winners at Valspar Championship

  • 2023: Taylor Moore (-10)
  • 2022: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2021: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2019: Paul Casey (-8)
  • 2018: Paul Casey (-10)
  • 2017: Adam Hadwin (-14)
  • 2016: Charl Schwartzel (-7)
  • 2015: Jordan Spieth (-10)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

Key Stats For Copperhead

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach grades out as the most important statistic once again this week. Copperhead really can’t be overpowered and is a second-shot golf course.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds (per round)

  1. Tony Finau (+.90)
  2. Nick Taylor (+.81)
  3. Justin Thomas (+.77)
  4. Greyson Sigg (+.69)
  5. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+.67)

2. Good Drive %

The long hitters can be a bit limited here due to the tree-lined fairways and penal rough. Playing from the fairways will be important, but laying back too far will cause some difficult approaches with firm greens that may not hold shots from long irons.

Golfers who have a good balance of distance and accuracy have the best chance this week.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+91.3%) 
  2. Zach Johnson (+91.1%)
  3. Sam Ryder (+90.5%)
  4. Ryan Moore (+90.4%)
  5. Aaron Rai (+89.7%)

3. Strokes Gained: Ball Striking

Adding ball-striking puts even more of a premium on tee-to-green prowess in the statistical model this week. Golfers who rank highly in ball-striking are in total control of the golf ball which is exceedingly important at Copperhead.

SG: Ball Striking Over Past 24 Rounds:

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1.32)
  2. Keith Mitchell (+1.29)
  3. Tony Finau (+1.24)
  4. Cameron Young (+1.17) 
  5. Doug Ghim (+.95)

4. Bogey Avoidance

With the conditions likely to be difficult, avoiding bogeys will be crucial this week. In a challenging event like the Valspar, oftentimes the golfer who is best at avoiding mistakes ends up on top.

Gritty golfers who can grind out difficult pars have a much better chance in an event like this than a low-scoring birdie-fest.

Bogey Avoidance Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+9.0)
  2. Xander Schauffele (+9.3)
  3. Austin Cook (+9.7) 
  4. Chesson Hadley (+10.0)
  5. Greyson Sigg (+10.2)

5. Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions

Conditions will be tough this week at Copperhead. I am looking for golfers who can rise to the occasion if the course plays as difficult as it has in the past.

Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1,71) 
  2. Min Woo Lee (+1.39)
  3. Cameron Young (+1.27)
  4. Jordan Spieth (+1.08)
  5. Justin Suh (+.94)

6. Course History

That statistic will tell us which players have played well at Copperhead in the past.

Course History Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Patrick Cantlay (+3.75) 
  2. Sam Burns (+2.49)
  3. Davis Riley (+2.33)
  4. Matt NeSmith (+2.22)
  5. Jordan Spieth (+2.04)

The Valspar Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), Good Drive % (15%), SG: BS (20%), Bogeys Avoided (13%), Course History (13%) Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions (12%).

  1. Xander Schauffele
  2. Doug Ghim
  3. Victor Perez
  4. Greyson Sigg
  5. Ryan Moore
  6. Tony Finau
  7. Justin Thomas
  8. Sam Ryder
  9. Sam Burns
  10. Lucas Glover

2024 Valspar Championship Picks

Justin Thomas +1400 (DraftKings)

Justin Thomas will be disappointed with his finish at last week’s PLAYERS Championship, as the past champion missed the cut despite being in some decent form heading into the event. Despite the missed cut, JT hit the ball really well. In his two rounds, the two-time major champion led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach per round.

Thomas has been up and down this season. He’s missed the cut in two “signature events” but also has finishes of T12 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T12 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, T6 at the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am and T3 at the American Express. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking in the field.

Thomas loves Copperhead. In his last three tries at the course, he’s finished T13, T3 and T10. Thomas would have loved to get a win at a big event early in the season, but avoidable mistakes and a balky putter have cost him dearly. I believe a trip to a course he loves in a field he should be able to capitalize on is the right recipe for JT to right the ship.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout +6000 (FanDuel)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is playing spectacular golf in the 2024 season. He finished 2nd at the American Express, T20 at Pebble Beach and T24 at the Genesis Invitational before finishing T13 at last week’s PLAYERS Championship.

In his past 24 rounds, the South African ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 26th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. Bezuidenhout managed to work his way around TPC Sawgrass last week with minimal damage. He only made five bogeys in the entire week, which is a great sign heading into a difficult Copperhead this week.

Bezuidenhout is winless in his PGA Tour career, but certainly has the talent to win on Tour. His recent iron play tells me that this week could be a breakthrough for the 35-year-old who has eyes on the President’s Cup.

Doug Ghim +8000 (FanDuel)

Doug Ghim has finished in the top-16 of his past five starts. Most recently, Ghim finished T16 at The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field.

In his past 24 rounds, Ghim ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 5th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. In terms of his fit for Copperhead, the 27-year-old ranks 12th in Bogey Avoidance and 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions, making him a great fit for the course.

Ghim has yet to win on Tour, but at one point he was the top ranked Amateur golfer in the world and played in the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup and 2017 Walker Cup. He then won the Ben Hogan award for the best male college golfer in 2018. He certainly has the talent, and there are signals aplenty that his talent in ready to take him to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.

Sepp Straka +8000 (BetRivers)

Sepp Straka is a player who’s shown he has the type of game that can translate to a difficult Florida golf course. The former Presidents Cup participant won the 2022 Honda Classic in tough conditions and should thrive with a similar test at Copperhead.

It’s been a slow 2024 for Straka, but his performance last week at the PLAYERS Championship surely provides some optimism. He gained 5.4 strokes on approach as well as 1.88 strokes off the tee. The tee-to-green game Straka showed on a course with plenty of danger demonstrates that he can stay in control of his golf ball this week.

It’s possible that the strong performance last week was an outlier, but I’m willing to bet on a proven winner in a weaker field at a great number.

Victor Perez +12000 (FanDuel)

Victor Perez is no stranger to success in professional golf. The Frenchman has three DP World Tour wins including a Rolex Series event. He won the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as well as the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which are some big events.

Perez earned his PGA Tour card this season and enters the week playing some fantastic golf. He finished in a tie for 16th in Florida at the Cognizant Classic and then tied for third in his most recent start at the Puerto Rico Open.

In his past 24 rounds in the field, Perez ranks 11th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 1oth in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, 6th in Good Drive % and 15th in Bogey Avoidance.

Perez comes in as a perfect fit for Copperhead and offers serious value at triple-digit odds.

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