By Marty Henwood (November 2009)
Tucked into the rustic, picturesque panorama about a driver and 5-iron from the Milton/Burlington border is perhaps Ontario's best-kept secret in golf instruction and conditioning.
Well, it was a secret not all that long ago. These days, not so much.
It is in this tranquil area, just fifteen minutes from downtown Burlington, that Jason Faubert has established the cutting-edge Golfers Academy indoor training centre, a one-stop performance facility where you can do it all when it comes to improving your game and getting in shape. Whether you want to work on your swing, strenghthen your core or learn how to eat right - or all of the above - The Golfers Academy offers it all under one roof.
Front and centre at the facility, at least for the golfing element of its clientele, is a state-of-the-art aboutGolf 3Trak simulator that will break down a golfer’s swing and using advanced technology will dissect every aspect of the swing including horizontal club strike vector, club face angle, ball flight, and smash factor.
“Word is getting out that players are getting better,” says Faubert of the simulator. “These simulators aren’t just video games anymore.”
It seems the word is getting out on the Academy itself.
Taking cuts on an industry-leading simulator is just the beginning. Partnering with his wife, Gina, a certified fitness instructor who also runs Serenity Valley, a cozy, first-class conditioning studio located under the same roof, Faubert has turned his business to the golfer who is serious about improving his or her game.
Not only can golfers work with a CPGA professional on the simulator, but with Gina’s help, the Academy offers yoga and Pilates classes for core strengthening, massage therapy and the opportunity to consult with a nutritionist.
If a golfer is looking to get better, he or she will find the complete package in North Burlington. The Academy isn’t solely built for the golfer, but golf is Faubert’s primary focus these days.
“They come from all walks of life,” says Faubert. “People looking to get fit are coming out just for the yoga or Pilates class. Others are looking to develop a better golf swing through core strengthening. It’s not just for golf, but this is the way golf is going. It’s the whole package these days. ”
“We’re in an age where most people still haven’t figured out the fitness side of the game,” he adds. “A lot of people may feel uneasy coming in here and starting a new program, but we’re with them every step of the way. We work with our clientele one on one. It’s like anything else – you’ve got to work your way up. You don’t just become a scratch golfer when you pick up the club for the first time.”
Faubert also makes it clear that he is not a certified teaching professional, although every instructor working at the Academy has those credentials. In fact, Jason Faubert is walking proof what working with the simulator combined with the right fitness plan can do.
As the owner of a transportation company that moves concerts and live sporting events, Faubert, a former professional figure skater, took up the game in order to entertain clients. Four years ago, as an 18-handicap, Faubert invested in his first simulator and put it up in a custom-made, open-concept facility he built for himself. There’s no concrete or steel jungle; the Academy has a very homestead feel to it, which is exactly what Faubert had in mind.
Within a year, he had shaved four strokes off his handicap.
These days, he boasts a 5-handicap.
“This became a little project of mine,” says Faubert. “I started getting into golf because all of the clients I dealt with golfed and I had never picked up a club in my life. I pretty much owe all my improvement to the sim. With this simulator, you’re not a visual golfer – you’re a feel golfer in here.”
A member at RattleSnake Point since 2003, Faubert’s friends began asking him how he was improving so rapidly. So Faubert sponsored a men’s night at RattleSnake, bringing the simulator to the first tee where members had a long drive contest on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach before playing their men’s night round.
From that point on, Faubert knew he was on to something. He brought in a couple of CPGA professionals and teamed up with his wife to provide the conditioning.
Business hasn’t slowed down since.
“This has just gone through the roof,” says Faubert. “With the two of us joining forces with what we both know and what we’re passionate about, it’s just grown far beyond what I thought. Every year business has probably grown 110% in lessons alone. We’re going to keep pushing it.”
For now, there is talk of expansion and the construction of a larger facility, either on the 56 acres the couple owns or right in the heart of downtown Burlington. Faubert is also contemplating a travelling simulator golf show and is talking to St. George’s about the possibility of supplying simulators for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open.
For now, it’s all systems go for Jason and Gina Faubert. Golfers walking in the door looking for a complete analysis of their game – or, in other words, the total package – will first take a few swings on the simulator under the watchful eye of a CPGA teaching professional. After analyzing the swing, the teacher will then discuss the best conditioning program with Gina, who will oversee a program best-suited to strengthen the core and improve flexibility and mobility.
Jason Faubert stresses it is a total team effort, and the results are showing.
“Our customers keep coming back. Every person that has walked through that door in the past year and a half has either dropped their strokes or become a lot more fit, depending on what their individual goals were.”
It's no small wonder why the secret is now out.
For more information, please visit www. thegolfersacademy.com or call (905)335-9591.
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