Core Golf Performance Lab Opens In Bergen County

Jim LaFratte and Fred Maltino are a pair of Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) golf instructors who staunchly believe golf fitness is the key to improving golf scores.

The pair have founded Core Golf Performance, a 4,000-square foot, cutting-edge golf facility in Oakland in Bergen County, which opened in December, 2016.

Lafratte, 49, a native of Little Falls, is a former physical therapist who is now the only TPI Level 3 certified golf fitness instructor and Level 2 golf coach in northern New Jersey.

Maltino, 30, a native of Caldwell, is also a former physical trainer who is TPI certified on his way to Level 2 certification and he studied under LaFratte.

“We fix their bodies so they can fix their games,” LaFratte said.

“We can help those from teenagers to golfers in their 70s. We assess their issues and correct them. We assess everything from the ankle to the neck. We do 16 separate assessments which can tells us where the dysfunctions are located,” Maltino said.

They say it is the most in-depth assessment undertaken by TPI professionals.

The pair met three years ago when Maltino rented space in Lafratte’s former business, Body and Soul core Fitness (2001-2014) in Cedar Grove.

“Jim saw potential in me. I shadowed him for a year until I gained the knowledge on how the functions worked. We have spent the past year and a half getting involved in country clubs and telling them about golf fitness,” Maltino said.

To date, Core Golf Performance has 75 clients, most hailing from North Jersey Country Club, Preakness Hills Country Club, Arcola Country Club and Upper Montclair Country Club. Core Golf is looking to expand and has added PGA professionals Chris Dachisen and Jim Beadle, who is TPI certified, to its staff.

“People who join country clubs are more serious about their golf,” LaFratte said. “They want to get the most out of their memberships. In general fitness, there is an 80 percent failure rate among men. With golf fitness, there is a 90 percent success rate. It’s the other side of the rainbow. The people spend the money on equipment and want to succeed.

“We have a real value to the golfer.”

Clients receive an initial assessment and then a follow up assessment four weeks later

LaFratte stated: “It’s a 12-week process from dysfunction to function, which means being golf-ready. All they have to do is dedicate about two hours per week with us and on hour at home on their own. We e-mail clients with a step-by-step program they can follow.”

The 4,000 square feet facility includes two TruGolf simulators, four hitting bays including Trakman, Flightscope, Manta high speed cameras , Swing Catalyst video analysis, Boditrak Dynamic Balance System, Focusband and K-Vest 3-D.

“We are a showroom for TruGolf. We can show 40 golf courses around the world on them. The simulators can be used for driving, iron play and putting. Our Putting Perfection Platform is one of two in the state. The other one resides at Baltusrol. We have Trakman which measures 21 different flight characteristics,” LaFratte said.

“You can have birthday parties here. There are high-definition TVs throughout. We are a performance lab. We believe we are unique in golf physical therapy, the only one in the state with instruction, fitness, massage therapy and chiropractic,” he added.

Maltino added: “Based on what we know and the program we have installed, we believe we have no room for failure. We have yet to have a dissatisfied client.”

For information, visit the website at www.coregolfperformance.com