Club fitting pioneer and leader PING announced today that Rob McNamara, head professional at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been named 2007 PING National Fitter of the Year.

The national award, first given in 1997, recognizes the authorized PING Fitter who has demonstrated the highest commitment to custom fitting and the promotion of its benefits to golfers of all abilities. McNamara was chosen from nearly 2000 eligible PING Club Fitters throughout the United States.

“Rob’s passion for PING and his dedication to his membership have combined to make him the perfect choice for this honor,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “His commitment to finding the right fit for his members leads to life-long PING players while earning him a reputation as a leader in his profession. Beyond his own operation, Rob is a great PING ambassador throughout the Mid-Atlantic PGA Section where he reaches out to golfers and his fellow PGA professionals to help raise awareness for the importance of custom fitting.”

A two-time winner of PING Regional Fitter of the Year Award (2001 & 2005), McNamara has been a PING supporter since playing college golf at Louisiana State University where he earned All-America honors three times. He’s been part of the PING Fitting Program since 1999. His 27-hole facility services more than 1500 members from around the world.

“The combination of PING’s industry-leading fitting and superior product makes our job easier,” said McNamara, who’s been at Farmington CC since 1994. “I have complete confidence in the product I’m fitting. It basically sells itself. I play the product so I know it works. As a fitter and a teacher, the tools and process allow me to demonstrate the difference fitting can make in our member’s games.

“The business model is also ideal for my situation,” added McNamara, who in 1998 purchased the shop at Farmington. “We don’t need to carry large inventories of PING product. We basically fit someone on the range using the iron fitting cart and metal woods and place the order. PING ships it within 48 hours and everyone is happy.”

Nearly 2,000 authorized PING Club Fitters were eligible for the award. Among the criteria considered by the selection committee are length of time in the program, commitment to on-going training, sustained sales growth and support of the entire PING product line.

Nominating Rob McNamara and Farmington Country Club for the honor was Brent Kendall, PING Field Representative for Virginia.

For additional information, contact Pete Samuels (602) 687-5487.

PING is a registered trademark of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.