Fitness Carter: Golfing goes high-tech at Ramona Fitness Center

By Jessica King

Calling all golfers. The centuries-old game of hitting a ball around grassy knolls has gone high-tech at the Ramona Fitness Center.

Peter San Nicolas demonstrates the simulator mode of the U Turn Golf program. Sentinel photo/Jessica King

Center owner Peter San Nicolas is offering U Turn Golf, a computer-based program that fuses one-on-one fitness coaching with technology to up a player’s game.

“Number 1 for me, I love golf,” he said. “I love the game of it. I love how difficult it is but at the same time how fun it can also be. You get to do it with friends and family, and for me there’s nothing better than that.”

Though the program is run inside Ramona Fitness Center at 558 Main St., golfers do not need to be members of the center — or even golfers at all — to utilize the new offering.

“This is for any skill level,” said San Nicolas, noting the program can be adapted for avid players or a golfing novice who is just looking to shake up his or her exercise routine.

Men’s, women’s and children’s clubs are provided to those without their own.

The Ramona native and Titlest Golf Fitness Pro, who spent years on the amateur golf tour, explained the program has six components that can each be extended or lessened to make more time for any of the other components to best meet someone’s individual needs. The components are warm-up, balance, myofascial release, massage, 3D simulator and drills.

During the first four components, a coach works with the player on fitness and overall body health to ensure

Golfer Casey Martin receives feedback on his form from Peter San Nicolas and the U Turn Golf program. Sentinel photo/Jessica King

someone is physically at his or her best to play the game. For example, if someone has a chronic problem with a tight back or shoulder-area muscle, concentrated massage or myofascial release would help loosen the area and improve a player’s range of motion.

The last two components – 3D simulator and drills – involve computer sensors being strapped to a player’s body on his or her glove hand, hips and the back of the neck. Data from the sensors is fed directly into a nearby computer and projected on a large screen so the player can see immediately how they are doing with regards to their body rotations.

Within the program are the average body rotations of hundreds of professional golfers so a player can strive to match his or her averages with that of the pros. Also, the computer can project images of the most famous golf courses in the world onto the screen so a player can feel like they are playing where the greats do.

The cost of the program varies depending on length of lesson time and personalized services. Youths receive a discount.

San Nicolas said he is also open to renting the simulator part of the program to groups interested in playing together.