Khoury extends reach

The material might be the same, but there will be more than one student, or in this case golf professional, among the audience.

Roy Khoury, the golf fitness instructor with a Newport Beach facility I wrote about three months ago, is back in the news and this time his reach is greater. The 29-year-old Irvine resident has partnered with the Southern California PGA to instruct professionals on the importance of body movements and how they relate to the golf swing. The hope is that professionals will take what they learn and pass it on to their students.

Khoury, a Cal State Fullerton graduate who studied kinesiology, and others are still working out the details, but he envisions classes of 10 to 15 students. The students will come to the Newport Beach facility, O.C. Fitness Solutions, and learn the importance fitness plays in golf.

His foray into this new chapter will be on display Nov. 1 at Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier for the SCPGA Pro-Team Championship. Khoury said in an e-mail that classes won’t begin until 2011.

Khoury’s partnership with the SCPGA comes at an opportune time since recertification for PGA pros is in 2011. PGA instructors must be certified every three years, said Khoury, who works with Glenn Deck, director of golf at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast.

Tom Addis, the SCPGA’s executive director and chief executive, said the relationship with golf and fitness made this partnership an “ideal match.”

Addis said the partnership aligns with a PGA initiative on health and fitness.

“The objective is to educate golf professionals … and impart those programs and ideas to the customer,” Addis said. “Our golf pros become more aware of fitness.”

Addis said the pro-am was a natural choice to unveil the partnership because the message will reach both amateurs and professionals gathered at one place.

Much of Khoury’s evaluation centers on the distinction between physical barriers, such as a sore hip or elbow, from a swing issue. Until one recognizes and receives treatment for a physical ailment, the player isn’t ready to move on to the swing, Khoury said.

If needed, Khoury refers players to a physical therapist or medical professional for treatment.

Once a player recognizes his or her physical limitations and is ready to move on, that’s where someone like Deck comes in to work on the specific swing.

Khoury said he will continue to work with clients as part of his company, RFK Training, L.L.C.

The partnership means another service he will provide. Khoury has worked with Eric Lohman and Sean Lanyi, golf directors at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine and Coyote Hills Golf Club in Fullerton, respectively. He has even taught a 15-year-old from Mexico.

“Everyone’s needs are individual. There is no cookie-cutter approach,” Khoury said.

Khoury said the advantage to teaching a group is sharing his message and teaching a lot of new things. But he acknowledges there might be many questions and some could resist parts of instruction.

At least this is a step to reach a greater number of people with the goal of improving their swing and their health.