KZG's Award Winning Clubfitter Chris Knight

By TED CLARKE
Prince George Citizen

Knight Recognized For His Club-crafting Skills

Custom golf clubfitter Chris Knight would love to have been in Orlando, Fla., to pick up his award as one of the KZG World's Top-100 ClubFitters for 2009.
He could have gone to the banquet, then hit the golf course the next day to take advantage of the warm late-January sunshine while his friends in Prince George shivered through yet another blizzard.

Instead, he was doing what a good son should -- paying a visit to his mother in Ottawa. His bubble-wrapped award arrived at his home by mail a few days later.

"I was thrilled," said Knight. "I don't know how many people actually compete for it, but there are only 17 in Canada that managed to get it, so I was pretty happy."

The award is based on such criteria as customer satisfaction, the condition of the fitter's shop and equipment, and the educational background of the fitter. Half of this year's award winners are from outside of the U.S., where KZG is based. Fitters from 22 countries made the Top-100 list.

Knight, a 52-year-old native of Campbell River, started building clubs as a hobby not long after he moved to Prince George 13 years ago. Since then, his Vista Ridge Golf business has built a client list that numbers in the 100s. Working out of his backyard shop, he's the fitter of choice for Aberdeen Glen Golf Course. Among his clients are several of the city's top golfers, including Dave Senger, Shaun Lees, and junior Jon Strasdin.

"I came here from Vancouver Island and the season was short, so I was looking for a hobby to fill in the winter months," said Knight. "I love the game and wanted to do it out of my house, and decided if I was going to do it, I'd do it right. I had a couple of rough benches on a concrete floor and some pull-chain lights in the shop and it just grew from there."
In 1996 he went to Austin, Texas, and took the basic Golf Clubmakers Association course. Within a couple of years he won a distinguished clubmaker award, and in 2007 passed the exam to become a sanctioned GCA professional clubmaker. He had to do a written test and a practical exam in which he was required to build clubs according to the company's specifications.

He took over as KZG's northern B.C. distributor in 2007, which required him to pass the company's master clubfitter course last year.

"It's been a lot of fun," said Knight. "I try to keep it a little quiet, because during the summer it can run me into the ground. It's getting busier."

Knight is a member of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club. Since he started building his own clubs, he's shaved his handicap from 16 down to six.
He said there's no substitute for knowing how to play and recommends lessons for every golfer. During the foul-weather months, until the driving ranges open, he uses a friend's indoor hitting bay and an electronic swing analyzer to help find the right fit and allow clients to try out their swings. By making adjustments for loft and lie, club length, weight and flex, and grip size, Knight tries to give his clients tools that will make them happy on the course. He offers no guarantees he can cure a slicing habit or cut down the number of putting strokes required, but chances are his clients won't be able to blame a high score on their equipment. Not that they won't try.

"One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that custom fitting is for good players only, when in fact it's the exact opposite," Knight said. "The pros can adapt and are skilled enough to play with most equipment, whereas the beginner and the high-handicapper need proper fitting to minimize swing errors and maximize swing strength."

Knight also does grip and shaft replacements and club repairs at his shop.
For more information log on to Vista Ridge Golf