An open atmosphere of learning, sharing, and bonding.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Mitchell is golf’s industry leader in loft and lie machines. We’re presently trusted in the hands of significant Tour trucks, pros, fitters, influencers, and hobbyists across the globe. I’ve worked with Mitchell Golf Equipment my whole golf career, from retail to Top Five Fitters, to building for professionals and celebrities. No better combination than to host a golf school, right? Yet sometimes, it’s more than golf.
One thing I always make clear on the first morning of the class is that it’s not my class but ours. I prefer to treat the classroom with an open atmosphere where we all learn from each other. Yeah, you understand my methods from a fast-paced build shop, but if anyone has any experience, I’ll let them chime in. You may not pick up a technique of mine, but perhaps you pick one up from another student. Frankly, I do it all the time. For example, for the last ten years, I’ve been cutting off grips palm-down (away from the body). In the first class of the new year, I witnessed a student cutting her palm up with greater leverage and ease. He also prefers skinny spiral grip tape over the more exhaustive, single-strip. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Again, open classroom.
And it needs to be open. The first day of class can be tricky because no one knows each other. It is hosted in a small town. And you’ve got a young kid teaching when you were probably expecting an older vet. But the complimentary ideas that roam the studio open up the best part of the week: the community and comradery that builds over the next four days and change. And I feel the bonds that form give The Performance Studio its identity.
My favorite part of teaching this class is seeing students connect. A particular case comes to mind: the August 2021 Master. One New York City student just opened his own indoor space. His California classmate next to him was an up-and-coming teacher from under the wings of George Gangkas. Then, the Arkansas young gun was competing for the Amateur Long Drive Championship across the room. Logging into your social and seeing them frequently together despite the distance is pretty neat.
Building more than clubs
I met up with an October ‘20 student during my work trip to Times Square last April. This coming November, I’ll be standing at his classmate’s wedding. I met another Cleveland Browns fan during the inaugural Master Class in February 2021, to whom I complain about the defense regularly. Conversely, I have students who are rival fans trash-talk included. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Again, you show up for the golf but leave with more than just the wealth of tips and tricks to build a playable set. Yeah, we get pros and big-time fitters. We bring top five fitting companies and high-profile courses. Combine them with the ex-tradesman, ex-military, or retiree looking to keep himself busy, and you’ve got an expansive network of new friends to keep your golf business up and up. It’s been praised by several students across many classes that this part IS the Mitchell Golf experience.