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 White Plains, NY - From weekend warriors to top pros like Tiger Woods, golfers around the globe are discovering the benefits of golf-specific fitness training for optimal on-course performance. Local players can join the sport’s growing trend and give golf their best shot with personal training at Five Iron Fitness, a new golf fitness studio in downtown White Plains, opening June 25.
Owned and operated by Anthony Renna of Rye Brook, a Titleist-Certified Golf Fitness Instructor, Five Iron Fitness is located at 188 East Post Road, home of Motion Golf, a golf swing studio that provides advanced analysis and instruction through its 3-dimensional Motion Golf Imaging System (MGI). The marriage of golf fitness and instruction under one roof, open to the public, offers Westchester County a unique approach to golf improvement.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, fitness and flexibility are just as important for weekend golfers as they are for the pros. “As more golf pros get on board with fitness training, so are recreational players,” said Renna. “The majority of golfers have accepted this as a way to get better and play longer. With today’s integrated approach to golf, physical fitness is an important piece of the “hexagon” of player development,” explained Renna. “The other components are basic instruction, course management, shot making skills, the mental approach, and equipment.”
“Fitness is the new wave of golf right now,” said Kevin Sprecher, PGA Professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, who has seen a positive impact on his game after training with Renna. “Once golfers see improvement in their game, they become more motivated to work out.” Another client, Craig Thomas, PGA Professional at the Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, also feels strongly about fitness training. “When you look at the pros on tour now compared with 15 to 25 years ago, the longevity of their careers is based on fitness. If the best players in the world think fitness training is helping, then recreational players should benefit from it also.”
Five Iron Fitness focuses on five key components: mobility, stability, strength, power and energy. “Our goal is to help golfers become better athletes, which will ultimately help them play better,” said Renna. “They will also get a better sense of body awareness, which is key to understanding the technical aspects of the golf swing. This is not just stretching and resistance band work. This is an integrated total body approach using as many tools as possible.” He also finds that players who feel fitter and stronger enjoy the game more.
The studio features a variety of state-of-the art equipment, including a Keiser Functional Trainer with an air resistant cable column for smoother and safer exercise at any speed; stretch trainer; slide board; Matrix bench; and a Pilates Reformer for additional one-to-one training sessions. The Pilates emphasis on core strength and flexibility has had proven success with golfers. There’s also a squat rack with free weights, along with medicine balls and resistance bands, as well as cardio equipment.
A NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) certified specialist, Renna has been around golf for over 25 years. He developed a passion for the sport growing up in Harrison and caddying as a 12-year-old at the Century Country Club in Purchase. He’s caddied for Harrison’s Willow Ridge Country Club Head Pro John Reeves in pro tournaments, including the Buick Classic, when it was held at the Westchester Country Club, and the U.S. Open in 1995 at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Long Island. A golfer himself and an avid fan, Renna is also the founder of www.GolfFitnessProducts.net, a resource for all things golf fitness, and www.BetterGolfwithFitness.com, a blog and podcast discussing the current issues in golf fitness.
Five Iron Fitness does not require membership. The personal training and Pilates sessions are arranged by appointment and can be purchased in a series or package. For those with limited schedules, Renna can also provide an online program, complete with videos, photos and calendar, through the Titleist Performance Institute, for home use. Five Iron Fitness is open from Monday through Saturday. For hours, directions and further information, call 646-623-7306 or visit www.FiveIronFitness.com.
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