Power Tee, a golf technology that drives game improvement, golfer engagement and practice facility revenues, has named Hall of Fame golf instructor Rick Smith as an official brand ambassador. Nine Power Tee Stations were recently installed at Rick Smith’s Golf Performance Center at Trump National Doral Resort in Miami.
“Everyone loves Power Tee’s superior hitting surfaces, auto-teeing features, and ability to improve their swings that Power Tee provides,” Smith said. “Our instructors and I have utilized the technology with some of the best golfers in the world and it has been very well received and invaluable in teaching. I highly recommend Power Tee to any leading club or resort in the world. “It enhances the appearance of the facility, is very popular with golfers, and, most importantly, helps golfers improve consistency and repetition of the proper technique.”
At next week’s PGA Show in Orlando, Smith, along with company founder and CEO Martin Wyeth, will be showing off the new Power Tee Premier design that takes the company’s breakthrough automatic teeing practice stations – with 40 different tee-height options to ensure perfect lies and turf interaction on every shot – and adds custom decking, lighting and a proprietary design that accommodates fast and efficient installation at public and private golf courses, driving ranges and golf entertainment complexes.
“Rick Smith is a legend among golf instructors and game improvement innovators, so we are honored to have him join Jim Furyk and Thomas Bjorn as a brand ambassador,” Wyeth said. “It speaks volumes that Rick is teaching lessons to top clients on Power Tee stations. We are shattering the paradigm of what golfers think of hitting off of mats. When quality lies and reliable turf interaction matter most, one of the top teachers in history of the game is having students improve their games with Power Tee. That’s an immense endorsement.”
Smith is a renowned teacher, golf course designer, television personality and speaker. He is regarded as one of the PGA Tour’s best sounding boards for swing advice.
Smith’s notable clients have included major champions such as Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, Vijay Singh, David Duval, Paul Azinger, John Daly and Greg Norman. Additionally, Rick has assisted PGA Tour winners Rory Sabbatini, Chris DiMarco, Rocco Mediate, Jerry Kelly, Billy Mayfair, Matt Kuchar, and Billy Andrade among others. He currently operates Rick Smith’s Golf Performance Center at Trump National Doral Resort and the Rick Smith Golf Academy at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.
Already used by 80 percent of the driving ranges in the United Kingdom, Power Tee is now helping a fast-growing number of driving range and golf course owners enjoy increased revenues from Power Tee hitting bays versus traditional grass or mat bays. The reason is simple. Wyeth said users get into a groove more easily, improve faster, hit more balls per practice session and spend more time at Power Tee stations. In turn, driving range, food-and-beverage and retail sales increase at these properties.
The company, according to Wyeth, is installed at 400 ranges and clubs across 18 countries. In the past six months, alone, there have been 15 new installations of 208 total machines.
Photo: Rick Smith (Power Tee)