By Jon Show – Anyone who has attended a PGA Tour or LPGA event is familiar with the scene on the driving range: professionals are surrounded by monitors while equipment staff dart in and out of vans, tweaking clubs so players can fine-tune their swings.

Golfers in Cornelius now have access to a similar approach that is not always available to the average player.

Club Champion, a custom golf club-fitting retailer that recently opened in the Shops at the Fresh Market plaza on Torrence Chapel Road, offers a high-tech, data-driven experience for beginners seeking more consistency and seasoned players looking to sharpen distance and accuracy.

Club Champion is known nationwide for custom club fitting, earning repeated recognition on Golf Digest’s list of the 100 Best Club Fitters.

The 2,200-square-foot location, housed in the former Icy Wakes board shop, features advanced fitting bays and an extensive selection of clubheads and shafts designed to help golfers find the right combination for their game.

Unlike many fitting operations, Club Champion is brand-agnostic, offering equipment from more than 65 manufacturers. These include major brands such as TaylorMade and Callaway, as well as niche companies like PXG, Oban and KBS.

That independence allows fitters to focus strictly on performance data rather than promoting a specific brand. Every detail — from loft and lie angle to shaft and grip — is analyzed to ensure each club is precisely tuned to the player.

Fitting prices range from $50 for a single club to $400 for a full bag, though an online promotion currently offers a full bag fitting for $100. Custom clubs typically range from a couple hundred dollars for one club to a few thousand dollars for a complete set, and financing is available.

Appointments can be booked online, by phone or in person and last one to three hours, depending on the number of clubs being fitted. Before the appointment, master fitters reach out to gather background information and discuss goals.

During the fitting, golfers hit dozens of shots per club while performance data is captured using TrackMan launch monitors and SAM PuttLab systems. Various head and shaft combinations are tested to identify the best match.

That data is then analyzed using Club Champion’s proprietary software, which compares results against millions of previous fittings nationwide to determine optimal equipment combinations.

“It delivers faster, more precise results and reduces human error,” said Rob Gallagher, a Club Champion executive.

After the fitting, golfers may purchase any number of clubs, which are assembled at the company’s manufacturing facility in Illinois and typically arrive within two weeks. All clubs include a 30-day guarantee.

“We want you to get out there and get your clubs dirty,” Gallagher said. “If anything feels off, you can come back in, get back on the monitor, and we’ll make whatever adjustments are needed to dial it in.”

It’s just like having access to equipment trailers on the pro tour, with one important distinction.

“We’re your tour van in your own backyard,” Gallagher said.