Business Spotlight: Par 72 program keeps golfers on their game

Every year, it's the same story. The first warm day of spring hits and golfers dust off their golf clubs and charge out to the course ready to burn up the fairways.

Then, after a few practice swings on the first tee, reality sets in. The body is stiff, and the swing feels awkward. By the end of the round, the golfer is exhausted.

According to Thomas Brandt Jr., the aches and pains golfers experience at the beginning of golf season aren't unusual, but they are preventable. Brandt, who has a degree in fitness and wellness from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, has spent the past nine years working as a personal fitness trainer.

Last October he combined his love of golf with his knowledge of fitness and exercise physiology and started a business called Par 72.

Par 72 offers a specialized fitness and conditioning program designed to help golfers improve their game. Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods' golf coach, designed the fitness and conditioning program used at Par 72.

The program, which Woods himself follows, was designed to help players hit the ball farther and lower their scores, as well as prevent injuries and fatigue. These goals are achieved by increasing flexibility and strengthening the major muscle groups used when swinging a golf club.

"I believe 75 percent of all tour professionals use the services of a physical therapist or personal trainer to gain a competitive edge out on the golf course," Brandt said. "The program is designed to help golfers increase their shoulder swing, which in turn increases clubhead speed and allows you to knock the ball farther. It also helps players increase their stamina and avoid injuries to problem areas, such as the lower back and shoulders."

The program uses two patented machines, the MedX Stretch and the Rotary Torso, which can't be found in a regular gym or fitness center. The MedX Stretch helps players achieve greater flexibility in their legs, back and arms.

The Rotary Torso machine, in turn, targets muscles in the latissimus dorsi, lower back and abdomen. This machine incorporates weight training, which builds strength, as well as flexibility training, which teaches players the feeling of torque.

Torque is the coiling effect players feel during a golf swing, which is achieved when a player turns the hips 45 degrees while the shoulders turn 90 degrees. The result of this coiling effect generates tremendous power during the downswing as the club returns to its original position and impacts the ball.

Brandt and his assistant, Haley Stelling, who also has a degree in fitness and wellness and is a certified personal trainer, help players develop their strength in other problem areas, such as the ankles. Part of this work includes balance training, as well as exercises designed to teach golfers how to shift their weight.

As players do their exercises, Brandt and Stelling make sure they maintain proper form so they can get the maximum benefit from their workout. They also time and chart each golf client's strength and flexibility levels, so the client can see their progress.

Although Par 72 has attracted several well-known area golfers, such as Rick Grayson, Mark Monroe and Dan Boevers, Brandt said his client list ranges from beginners to scratch golfers to a member of a local high school golf team.

"I'm really pleased at the results I'm seeing with some of my ents," Brandt said. "One client has already been able to increase their clubhead speed by 15 mph. That's 30 yards per shot. That's going to make all the difference in the world on club selection."

Currently, Brandt is working on developing partnerships with several area golf pros so he can increase his client base. This will allow Brandt to refer clients to a teaching PGA golf pro for lessons, while the golf pros, in turn, can refer clients to Brandt for golf fitness training and conditioning.