Jim McLean takes his talents to New York

I grew up going to the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, that coral colored tower peaking into the clouds is forever seared into my brain. Whether you’re there for golf, or the pool, or the famous Sunday brunch, it offers amenities and experiences for any tourist or local. Its history is long and winding, yet for me it has always been a place of beauty, relaxation, and influence. Jim McLean has had his teaching practice there for the past 15 or so years, and he is known for feats such as playing in the Masters, being a Presidents Cup player coach, and helping develop some of the best golfers of all time from juniors to the pros; he is a bona fide legend golf legend. He has taken his popular teaching style global, imparting it in documentaries, Golf Digest columns, and golf schools that have opened from Miami Beach to Mexico to South Korea. Well, the newest addition to the Jim McLean golf enterprise has been opened, and it may have taken the top spot for the most all encompassing, performance based golf center he has ever opened. Impact-Site-Verification: 3d8540df-4960-4fd2-81d5-3e0670f02206

Located in Armonk, NY, just an hour from the city in Westchester County, is a large yet nondescript building that could house anything from your insurance company to the laboratory from Stranger Things. Walking up to the front door, I found it locked, immediately scared that my hour long journey by train, car, and foot was to the wrong destination. I went around the corner and was relieved to see a full parking lot and large banners announcing the opening inside. I walked in and was met by a group of very pleasant staff, everyone wearing a smile and some kind of polo or piece of performance gear. Before I could even grab my coffee and bagel, I was whisked over to the golf facility, the excitement palpable from the attendees and the coaches themself. It almost felt like the Harry Potter train station when I emerged from the narrowish hallway intro a ginormous turf covered room. Surrounding the space were 6 simulator bays, each one equipped with the newest Trackman tech while a singular GC Quad was available for high level players who need to know those minute details. Lessons were being held already, with head pro Chad helping a woman make sure her takeaway wasn’t going too far inside. On the other side, families played closest to the pin on the very high quality screens. As it was opening day, they didn’t have the best selection of left clubs, which was a good thing because once I saw the collection of courses you could virtually play, I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave until I got through at least five of my favorites. Jim McLean himself sat with members of the staff and of his family, talking golf, giving out tips that are worth their weight in gold, and enjoying the beautiful morning that we were all fortunate to have. He couldn’t have been nicer.

While the facility has the everything you need and more for top of the line golf instruction, it doesn’t stop there; not even close. Right across from that hallway sits the D1 athletic facility; a place for athletes to strength train, condition, and pinpoint techniques to get that physical edge in any sport or discipline. A huge room, also with a turfed floor just more in the style of a football field than a golf green, lined by squat racks, resistance bands, and pieces of equipment I don’t have the athletic prowess to even name. Talking to the staff, it was easy to see that they are not just committed to uplifting athlete performance, but enamored with it. Their love for sports and their job in helping develop young athletes shone through in every quick conversation I had. I couldn’t think of a better place to sit next to such an elite golfing school.

So we have a top of line golf instruction school and a top of the line performance center. Can’t get much better than that, right? Well, in between both of these businesses stands another; Cor physical therapy ensures that this facility goes from checking the boxes to absolutely all-encompassing. With registered PT’s to help your body recuperate, using high level amenities like an ice bath and recovery tools, the golfers and athletes alike will flock here to maximize their performance. Not only do they have the recovery center for the building, but they also are remodeling their full fledged weightlifting gym, adding in more space, new machines, and another facet of exercise to offer. It is the perfect complement to the two performance driven businesses that it stands alongside.

This entire Armonk facility is really a site to behold. I can only imagine what it must be like for the athletes in the area to come to a place that is so committed to their performance and recovery, doing so with top of the line staff and amenities. The addition of a Jim McLean Golf School, arguably the best golf school in the world, only takes this place to entirely new heights. Now, weightlifters have a real incentive to go and see what golf is all about, with the school almost begging them to go in and see if they can swing a club. And, golfers now can receive high level instruction, physical training and therapy all in the same place, helping those players who may not do traditional lifting to see ways it could actually help their game improve. Above all else, it has created a zone where athletes, no matter their distinction or sport of choice, can mingle, learn from one another, be tested by others, watch others succeed and be inspired. All this while receiving best in class golf instruction in a facility that while tailors to any skill set, is optimized to take you to the highest level. For those in the city and above it, make sure to check out the Jim McLean Golf School in Armonk for any golfing instruction or practice, especially in these cold months. And, do yourself a favor and go say hi to the wonderful people at D1 and Cor. You might walk out of this place a much better golfer than when you left, but if there is a guarantee, it’s that you’'ll walk out wanting to go back for more.