Turn Club a winter haven for golfers
CRANBERRY TWP — Sean Swidzinski has been around golf for a long time.
He is the PGA Professional at Olde Stonewall in Ellwood City. He won the Butler Eagle Amateur Open in 1999. He’s developed numerous contacts in the industry.
His next step? Take the game indoors.
Swidzinski is one of the owners of The Turn Club in Cranberry Township, an indoor golf-restaurant facility that had its official ribbon-cutting Aug. 29.
“The golf industry has undergone a major change in the last four or five years,” Swidzinski said. “Technology, analyzing the swing, angles of shots, that’s where it’s going. We have the most modern of technology in that regard right here.”
The Turn Club houses six Trackman simulators in which golfers can practice and receive shot analysis and shoot at a target practice range, play the world’s best known courses in simulation, play skill-enhancing games and compete in tournaments. A putting green is available as well.
The simulator bays are 18 feet in length with ample space in between.
“I love coming here,” golfer Doug Stradley of Wexford said. “We come on our lunch hour at times because the food is great, too. My game has benefited, definitely. I’ve learned things about my swing, clubs, face angle, I never knew before.”
Part of that came from taking a lesson from Eric Johnson, who has been Director of Instruction at the Yellowstone Club out west and at Nemacolin Woodlands. He is listed as a top-100 golf instructor by Golf Magazine, the only instructor in the Tri-State PGA with that distinction.
The 1980 U.S. Junior Amateur champion and a two-time winner on the professional Nationwide Tour, Johnson also spent a year on the PGA Tour. He is now a golf instructor at the Turn Club.
“I’ve known Eric for a long time,” Swidzinski said. “When I reached out to him about possibly joining us, he was all for it. He’s in the Fox Chapel area working on his Eric Johnson Golf Academy now and he’s excited about coming on board.
“He is as good a golf instructor as anyone’s going to find.”
Johnson worked at Oakmont Country Club for 17 years. He’s done a lot of work at private clubs.
“Sean gave me this opportunity and I love it,” Johnson said. “It’s an open environment and the facility and technology are top-notch. They are trying to grow the game here and I’m totally on board with that.
“I can help a lot more golfers here. It’s easy access and it’s a chance to help anyone from the beginning golfer to the avid golfer. Everyone can improve the swing.”
The Turn Club also offers a full custom fitting center from TaylorMade. It will host fitting days ahead of of new product lines being released. Driver and iron fittings are no charge when buying equipment there. Golf ball fittings are also done.
“We have a full line of golf equipment and we rent clubs for use here,” Swidzinski said. “There’s no part of golf we don’t have covered.”
He added that the Turn Club is as much about quality food as it is about golf.
“Our chef makes everything from scratch,” Swidzinski said. “Families come here just to eat. Some come just for golf, some come for both. There is a social side to this place. People come just to hang out.
“I believe in keeping up with the golf induistry. That’s why we’re here. Trackman is amazing. It can monitor wind conditions, elevation, whatever challenge the golfer wants to face.
“We’re planning on having winter leagues, women’s and junior events ... We’re just getting started,” he added.
Various memberships are available throughout the year.
