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A former junior champion at Stoke Poges and West Hill GC, Simon
played to a handicap of +1 in such established amateur events as
the Brabazon Trophy, English Amateur, Berkshire Trophy, Tillman
Trophy, and the Royal St George's Grand Challenge Cup.
As a professional he played on the EuroPro Tour and Challenge
Tour in 2004, while also progressing to Final Open Qualifying in
2003 and 2006.
Simon has a Distinction in Golf Management from Merrist Wood
College and gained valuable early experience organising corporate
golf days for prestigious clients, including Jaguar, Bentley and
Mercedes-Benz on behalf of a leading Event Management company.
"Bespoke club fitting is all about being sympathetic to the
player and ensuring their golf clubs complement both their swing
and their approach to the game," says
Simon. "It involves far more than just looking at clubhead
speed and handicap and prescribing a Stiff or a Regular
shaft.
"The challenge for the fitter is to assess each individual's
swing profile and shot patterns in the context of their physical
requirements and personal preferences; and, with a
detailed knowledge of club design and technology, succinctly advise
on the ideal clubs to suit both their performance potential
and aesthetics," he explains.
"From my experience of fitting clients, and also playing
with my amateur and professional contemporaries, I have developed
an appreciation of the different ways the game can be
played. It has taught me that it is inappropriate just to tell
someone what equipment to use, given how the ideal solution is
ultimately a complex equation involving careful
interpretation of objective data and highly subjective individual
preferences. [Indeed, I always stress that a truly
'fitted set of clubs requires considerable amount of
input from the golfer themselves. This, in time, helps clients
better understand their own game, allowing them
to build on their strengths and minimise their
weaknesses.]
"It is a fascinating challenge to find a truly personalised
solution for every client."
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