They say that converts make the strongest believers, and that's certainly the case with Steven Wresh.

"I've been a HG-Certified Teacher for eight years, but when Fred Bond first came to train me, I was the most close-minded golf professional you've ever seen," says Wresh, who's been a teaching pro since 1987 and, today, operates the Stephen Wresh Golf Academy near Ocala, Fla. "I was like a lot of guys who believed the club doesn't make a difference. But after learning the system and going through training, my first two fits bought clubs.

"It's funny because I've never seen myself as someone who sells golf clubs. I'm using Henry-Griffitts golf clubs to improve my students' swings. My golfers ask to buy these golf clubs."

Wresh's success - he's been an HG Top 50 fitter four years in a row, doing only 12 lessons a week - is also attributable to his innovative teaching programs, like "40 Days to Better Golf", which he's been conducting for more than a year.

"It's pretty simple, really. First, I meet with the student one on one and we do a swing analysis and fitting. They also get one Henry-Griffitts club, one that's been fitted to them. From that day forward, they can come and use the facility here two hours a day, five days a week for 40 days - all for $199, plus the cost of range balls. It's up to them how often they come, but the longer they're here, the more time I can spend with them.

"Four days a week I work with people individually, but on Saturdays we bring everybody together and run a group specialty class on putting, sidehill lies, rules; we spend a lot of time on the short game: pitching, chipping and bunker shots, the scoring shots. The major contingent is seniors and they all want to hit the ball farther. We'll do driving clinics, but we want to make them more consistent. We show them they don't all need drivers. More than half of them find they're more effective teeing off with 3- and 5-woods. As we work with them to swing correctly, they'll hit the more lofted clubs further than the driver.

"I would say that 35-40 percent of the folks in this program end up purchasing additional clubs. I think you're gonna find with any of the top HG fitters, you can count on that sort of number."


[Here is an unsolicited letter from one of Steven Wresh's students:]

Dear Sir:
My name is Don Rapp and I just purchased seven irons and two woods from your company. I wanted to let you know what has happened to me and my golf game after using your clubs.

First a little history about me and my game. I've been playing golf for over 30 years and I have always been a left-to-right hitter; my scores have always been around 100. Over the years I have taken lessons at my country club in Ohio and, now that I'm living in Florida (at The Villages), I've taking more lessons. I've spent over $1,000 for lessons over the years. I am still hitting the ball left to right even after buying a new set of clubs.

Well, I came to The Villages to play golf and after being here for a year and not getting any better I was getting to the point giving up on the game - and looking at boating or something, because I was very unhappy about not getting any better. I had a friend tell me about how much Stephen Wresh had helped her game and that I should check with him. I stopped to meet Steve and told him my problem, but was not looking to take any more lessons unless he could help me. I told him my story and he asked me if he could look at one of my clubs, and he did.

He put a piece of tape of my club and asked me to hit a ball. I did, and when he showed me that my club was hitting the ground only on the far outside of my club, he said he could help me. I felt I should give him and myself one more chance.

Steve said he could help me a little with my swing, but to change my game I may need to get a new set of clubs. He started working with me and your clubs. To my surprise I started hitting the ball straighter and longer. After working with Steve for over an hour I knew two things: 1) I needed a set of clubs that fit me; and 2) In one hour Steve had changed my swing after all these years.

I ordered your clubs and took one more lesson with Steve and now I am scoring around 87 to 90 - and this has all happened in 3 weeks. I can not tell you how much your clubs have changed my game and me. I am so happy with them I have been telling everyone about my new clubs and Steve, and how they have changed my game. I just wanted to say THANKS to your company for making me a great set of clubs and THANKS for having a professional like Steve representing your company.