Golf: Home on the range

Richard Dunn

It started as a hangout for professional golfers, where they could

practice their game and analyze their swing with high-tech video

equipment, then click on Monday Night Football and enjoy a soda.

Now, local playing pro Eric Woods, a two-time Order of Merit winner on

the Canadian Tour and former Corona del Mar High quarterback, has created

a genuine swing laboratory at his company warehouse.

With two of his friends, Woods has built an ingenious indoor golf

facility called The Swing Lab at 1730 Pomona Avenue in Costa Mesa.

The Swing Lab is relatively small, but resourceful and artistic with

superb attention to detail, including the custom-made wood deck and

stairs overlooking the main floor, which is indoor golf heaven.

Woods, who already has thoughts of expansion, has operated Cactus

Packaging Inc. out of the warehouse. But his time to practice golf was

limited after inheriting his late father’s business, so instead of

fighting to squeeze in swings on the range, Woods brought the practice

center to himself.

There were also tugs on his shirt from acquaintances for golf lessons.

Woods, after all, was not only a playing pro, but a friendly guy with an

easygoing demeanor and simple approach to the golf swing.

“Everyone wanted golf lessons, and I was driving all over the place,”

said Woods, who now books appointments and provides clients, mostly from

the corporate world, with royal treatment.

“There are golf pros and professional golfers, and here we’re

professional golfers,” said Costa Mesa playing pro Pat Sharpe, who also

gives lessons at The Swing Lab, placing an emphasis on fundamentals.

he Swing Lab has specialized, since opening about nine months ago, in

corporate outings. But individuals can also indulge.

While the hitting station features three large mirrors, three video

cameras and a full practice setup, the state-of-the-art technology for

swing analysis is the primary source of Woods’ excitement.

“Video’s everything,” Woods said. “We’ve solidified the fundamentals

with the best swings in the world (there are several swing samples of pro

golfers on file in the computer library). There are so many different

swings out there, but all the best swings on tour have certain

similarities. Take Ben Hogan’s ‘Five Fundamentals of Golf,’ which was

written in the 1950s. It’s all the same (as today).”

Woods, whose ultimate goal is to improve his own game and play more

tournament golf, said as long as Swing Lab clients consistently practice

the fundamentals, “I’ll guarantee that they’ll improve.”

Woods uses a list of buddies who are also playing pros as players in

the pro-am corporate outings he designs.

“Corporate executives send their clients here for lessons and

golf-swing analysis instead of giving them a bottle of wine for

Christmas,” said Sharpe, who also uses the facility for personal practice

time when he’s not giving private instruction.

An entertainment center, small refrigerator, director chairs and green

artificial turf adds color and warmth to the facility, one which makes

Woods very proud.

“If we can help the pro, we know we can help the amateur,” said Woods,

whose other partner, Bennett Elias, operates Cactus Packaging while he

and Sharpe run the golf end of the warehouse.

Woods, once on the cusp of a promising playing career since turning

pro in 1988, made pro tour stops in South America, Asia, South Africa and

Canada. In 1993 and ‘94, he won the Order of Merit -- as the money list

is called -- on the Canadian Tour and has been a big golf name north of

the border since.

With The Swing Lab, Woods’ dreams are still alive. For amateurs, it

could open other doors. Details: (949) 548-2526.