KonnectGolf and David Leadbetter Academy Now Open in NYC

David Leadbetter combines the best of his legendary instructional academies with the up-and-coming world of indoor, digital golf in the all-new Konnectgolf.

First there was golf at Chelsea Pier. Then Top Golf started springing up with locations across the country. Now there’s Konnectgolf, with David Leadbetter’s first indoor instructional academy, for addicted golfers or wannabe addicted golfers in the middle of New York City. It has everything a golf course has – except outdoors and grass.

While that might sound a little crazy, it makes sense for avid, city golfers who work in crowded, concrete jungles and who are looking for a way to hone their games at lunch or before or after work. It’s also great for business networking activities. The location, 590 5th Avenue in Manhattan, near Rockefeller Center, is convenient for many New Yorkers.

Konnectgolf is the brainchild of Ralph Kartzman and Lee Hetfield, both of whom admit they have serious golf addictions.

“We wanted to bring the best elements of the private club world to Manhattan and based on the response from our launch event, we have succeeded,” Kartzman commented in a statement about the new club for ProGolfNow.

They opened their first facility at the end of January of this year. Since then, Kartzman said he has discovered that members and guests believe the facility is about more than golf.

"“I’ve quickly realized that what I saw as a lack of quality golf in the city has actually been much more than that,” Kartzman continued. “The feedback that we’re getting is that executives have been hungry for something new to do with their clients and teams, a way to spend quality time without sitting in a bar or having a formal dinner. Konnect provides an opportunity to entertain in an upscale setting where you can hit some balls, connect over a beer, and really get to know someone.”"

Unsaid in that statement is that it’s easier to get to know someone a little better in a setting that doesn’t require a 90-minute drive out of the city and a five-hour round of golf and another drive back to home or office. It’s still a golf setting, just not at a golf course.

David Leadbetter continues the Golf Academy legacy at Konnect

Adding the David Leadbetter Golf Academy aspect, which features top professional instruction, is the icing on the cake. Leadbetter, who has been a well-known guru to many professionals over the years, is perhaps best known for helping Nick Faldo rework his swing, which resulted in six major championships, and for his work with Nick Price and Ernie Els, both three-time major champs. Leadbetter also worked with Michelle Wie and Lydia Ko.

(Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) /

“Indoor golf is a perfect environment for players to improve their game. It allows players to hyper focus on the technical aspects of their game, without any outside distractions or weather impairments,” Leadbetter said in a statement for ProGolfNow. “In areas like New York City, it is very hard for golfers to find a place to practice their game, especially in the winter, that is why I decided to partner with Konnect to open an indoor facility in the heart of NYC. The location is fantastic, the equipment is state-of-the-art and the instruction is second to none.”

Leadbetter has six academies in the US, nine in Europe and 14 in Asia. He is the PGA of America’s 2017 Teacher of the Year.

The professional guidance at Konnectgolf is available from the Leadbetter staff, which starts with Steve Keogh, who is director of instruction. Keogh is from Canberra, Australia, and is an expert in 3D analysis and golf bio-dynamics. He can look at swings in person and on video and look at the Trackman readings and tell a golfer what it means. In other words, having the numbers is one thing, but knowing what to do with them is another.

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In addition to the club atmosphere, Konnectgolf features eight state-of-the-art hitting bays that feature Trackman 4 technology, Jack Nicklaus Perfect Golf ® simulators and PXG clubs which are available for men, women and juniors.

“For the competitive or more serious golfer working on their game, having a club to do so during the winter is key. With top of the line technology, athletes are able to get immediate feedback on their ball striking,” Kartzman added.

Four Manhattan high schools have signed up to use the facility for work on their games before their spring seasons.

Indoor golf is not new, but it is not pervasive in the U.S. In Korea, however, indoor golf has been all the rage for several years. According to the New York Times, even 10 years ago, an estimated 200,000 people a day played simulated golf in that country. On a smaller scale, Dickenson, N.D., caught the simulator bug, and they have indoor leagues from January to March.

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In the U.S., indoor simulators are not as prevalent, although there are facilities in Boston, Chicago and NYC. Pairing the combination of simulators with high-level instruction like that available from the Leadbetter Academy is on the leading edge. In a world where people are watching the Olympics with simulated devices that put them in the games, indoor, simulated golf almost makes sense.

Konnectgolf sells memberships in two price ranges, $500/ year for those over 32 years of age and a discounted membership for those under 32.

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