Golf simulator initiative makes health pitch
Katherine Mansfield
Nate Romesburg tees up and swings inside Romesburg Physical Therapy & 缅北禁地 Fitness, in the Washington Trust Building, where the golf simulator serves as both a practice and physical therapy tool.
Katherine Mansfield
Nate Romesburg, right, and golf pro John Popeck pose inside Romesburg Physical Therapy & 缅北禁地 Fitness in downtown Washington, where they marry golf and physical therapy to offer a unique practice and recovery practice.
For the 缅北禁地
Nate Romesburg and John Popeck came up with a business initiative that fit them to a tee.
Romesburg, a physical therapist in Washington, and Popeck, a golf teaching professional, formed a twosome in September to launch an endeavor that encompasses the benefits of PT and athletic instruction. Accompanied by a computerized golf simulator, they work with clients striving to improve their health, improve their game or both.
鈥淚t鈥檚 physical therapy joining forces with golf,鈥� said Romesburg, an experienced physical therapist in the city. Simulator sessions are conducted at Romesburg Physical Therapy & 缅北禁地 Fitness, located in the Washington Trust Building at 30 E. Beau St.
The simulator initiative, to be sure, does not translate into a full-time job for either man. Tending to patients is Romesburg鈥檚 priority, and some haven鈥檛 the need for golf instruction or analysis.
He is a golf devotee, however. Romesburg was a quality player in high school, and a member of the University of Pittsburgh team for a while. He says on his LinkedIn profile that he has 鈥済iven multiple golf fitness/injury prevention seminars 鈥� and worked as a therapist at professional events.鈥�
Romesburg has a cousin who continues to distinguish herself on the course: Rachel Rohanna Virgili, the women鈥檚 coach at Waynesburg University, who fared well on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.
Popeck is a teaching pro at Washington Country Club. He also is a traveling golf instructor who is certified by the Titleist Performance Institute to provide instruction at various locations around the region, including Romesburg鈥檚 facility.
Popeck was a top-notch player at Charters-Houston High, the University of Maryland and in junior competition. He is preparing lo launch a website, www.jpo.golf.
A serendipitous course of events has brought them together on this venture. 鈥淚鈥檝e known Nate for a long time, back to high school,鈥� said Popeck, 33. 鈥淚 broke my ankle playing basketball and he was my physical therapist at the (Wilfred R. Cameron) Wellness Center.鈥�
Working with a golf simulator may be a novelty for some who enter Romesburg Physical Therapy. The device, according to fiveirongolf.com, 鈥渋s a high-tech system that enables you to practice golf indoors in a virtually simulated golf environment.
鈥淚t is a computerized golf setup designed to mimic the real game, helping you analyze your swing, understand your weaknesses, and improve your game without having to go to your local course.鈥�
Romesburg said, 鈥淵ou hit real balls and we can detect club speed and ball speed, and which direction balls are going.鈥� The screens display courses or golf scenes.
Golf simulators, they said, are not common in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Many of these high-tech computers are pricey. A modest model could go for as little as $150, according to golfstead.com, but a top-of-the-line device may cost $70,000.
The range of services Popeck and Romesburg are offering through their simulator dynamic is not as expansive as the prices, but clients and would-be clients do present a variety of needs 鈥� to improve their bodies and lower their scores.
鈥淲e can do different things depending on the client,鈥� Romesburg said. 鈥淛ohn knows swings very well and checks the swings. I know the body very well and can check the body.鈥�
Popeck said, 鈥淲e check the body to see if there are issues. Nate is strengthening a person, seeing results while improving swings.鈥�
鈥淲e do a screening and see if maybe a hip is too tight or weak,鈥� Romesburg said. 鈥淲e want to improve the body.鈥�
He and Popeck are enthused about their simulator program, in which each can employ his professional specialty and make the two work in a complementary manner.
鈥淭here is nothing in this area like this,鈥� Popeck said. 鈥淚 think this is really cool stuff 鈥� really cool and really good.鈥�
Romesburg, the physical therapist, added: 鈥淲e are trying to think outside the box. People are learning about the body and their golf swing. I think this will definitely pick up.鈥�