NEWARK, OHIO —Joining the industry’s most elite golf equipment professionals, a select group of professional clubmakers successfully graduated the Maltby Design Clubmaking Academy’s Masters Program on Feb. 27. Unlike any other training program in clubmaking, the Maltby Masters Program is an advanced training regimen offered only to clubmakers with proven, superior technical skills. The Maltby Design Clubmaking Academy receives hundreds of applications for this course, however only 24 clubmakers or fewer are invited to attend each year.

Attendees of the February session received in-depth instruction on a variety of advanced clubmaking practices, including precision assembly and repair techniques, clubfitting for all player types and the Maltby Playability Factor. Each program also includes guest presentations by some of the premier authorities in the golf industry such as Guy Spears of Eaton Golf Pride, John Oldenburg of Aldila and Frank Thomas of Frankly Golf who provided additional insight on the newest technical innovations in the game. The highlight, however, was the final day during which clubmakers spent in Ralph Maltby’s Design Studio with Maltby providing a complete overview of golf equipment evaluation, development and custom fitting.

Students praised the Maltby Masters Program for elevating their knowledge and enthusiasm for clubmaking:

“The thing that got me so excited about coming here was having the opportunity to spend a full day learning from Ralph Maltby,” said Bob Rees of Crown Point, Ind. “But the entire week was incredible. Where else can you go and have practically a one-on-one session with four great experts from the golf industry?”

Jaime Molina of San Juan, P.R., said the continuing research conducted by The GolfWorks gives the Masters Program its cutting edge. “Computer companies all have their own ‘think tanks,’ but they never let anyone see them,” he said. “This school gave us the opportunity to truly get inside the ‘think tank’ of one of the leaders of the golf industry. It is the best (training program) there is — period!”

Roger Fazenbaker from Westernport, Md., also cited the expertise of the Maltby Clubmaking Academy staff in making the complicated course material more understandable. “Knowledgeable, motivated and very enthusiastic instructors,” he said. “They do a tremendous job in helping you learn some very complex principles about golf equipment.”

Added Dan Connelly of Hampton, Ontario: “This has been one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Everything is done at a very high level.”

The Masters Program is the pinnacle of five golf equipment training seminars offered by the Maltby Design Clubmaking Academy. Other sessions offered in 2004 include: Fitting, Assembly and Repair; Professional Clubfitting; Total Golf Club Repair; and the Home Study School. This is the 22nd year that the Maltby Design Clubmaking Academy has offered a complete complement of instructional schools to golf equipment professionals. The next Maltby Clubmaking Academy Masters Program will take place in October 2004.