If your club has made the decision to dedicate space to building a golf performance center, now is the time to determine the budget, members’ needs and what equipment and technology will fill those needs. Here are some key steps any plan should follow: 

• Begin with a budget. We all dream of what a new facility should look like. But performance center costs can vary greatly, from a few thousand dollars to a few hundred thousand. To make your performance center a reality, you need a good understanding of all of the costs involved and the amount the club can commit to spend.    

• Understand membership needs. All clubs and memberships are unique. The needs and uses of The Olympic Club are not the same as at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe; Olympic has a large footprint that is solely based on performance, with golf and fitness under one roof, while  The Bridges has a more “boutique” feel, with the social aspect of the game being the focus.

• Determine equipment and technology needs. If your club does not have a partnership with a club manufacturer, establishing one is an essential first step. The good news is that most clubs typically do have a partnership in place for custom fitting systems. And manufacturers are willing to outfit teaching centers, provided the club is the right fit for them. They need to be sure if they place their products with your club, your membership, usage, professionals, space, and visibility will work well for them, in addition to benefitting you. This critical relationship is what can make your facility feel first class, regardless of size. 

• Don’t overlook storage needs. Room for additional equipment and storage should also be considered. Storage is often overlooked, but it is typically inexpensive to build. Keep in mind that you will need ample space for club repair, which is a revenue source, as well as junior program equipment, training aids, etc.  

• Consider different service levels. Here’s a breakdown of different service levels for equipment and technology that could be considered and offered within a performance center:  

Platinum
•  Three hitting bays
•  Bay 1: Swing Catalyst Motion Plate and Four-Camera 2D capture system
•  Bay 2: Gears Motion Capture System with a Swing Catalyst pressure plate and Three-Camera 2D capture system
•  Bay 3: Full Swing golf simulator with an AMM 3D Capture System and a Swing Catalyst Three-Camera 2D capture system
•  Trackman Launch Monitor
•  A Virtual Green
•  Quintic Putting Analysis System 

Gold
•  Three Hitting Bays
•  Bay 1: Swing Catalyst Motion Plate and Four-Camera 2D capture system
•  Bay 2: Gears Motion Capture System with a Swing Catalyst pressure plate and Three-Camera 2D capture system
•  Bay 3: AMM 3D Capture System and a Swing Catalyst Three-Camera 2D capture system
•  Trackman Launch Monitor
•  Flat Putting Green with Felt Turf
•  Sam Putt Lab

Silver
•  Two Hitting Bays
•  Bay 1: Swing Catalyst Pressure plate and Three-Camera 2D capture system
•  Bay 2: Swing Catalyst Three-Camera 2D Capture System
•  Flight Scope Launch Monitor
•  K-Vest 3D Motion Capture System

Bronze
•  One Hitting Bay
•  Bay 1: Swing Catalyst Pressure Plate with Three-Camera 2D Capture System
•  Flight Scope Launch Monitor

Matt Kilgariff is a PGA professional who spent much of his career working for Butch Harmon and the Harmon Family. He is currently the Director of Player Development at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe (Calif.). Prior to joining The Bridges, Kilgariff was Director of Player Development at The Olympic Club, in San Francisco.