The popular Golf Channel show, The Haney Project, takes on a new format this season as renowned instructor, Hank Haney, prepares not one, but four celebrity students for a season-ending $100,000 charity skills challenge. Haney’s four protégés include Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, former super model Angie Everhart, and acclaimed chef Mario Batali

Haney brings the New York based Batali to the Chelsea Piers for instruction, where Head Teaching Pro, Dale Gray, joins the team as an assistant instructor. It was no coincidence, as Dale worked under Haney for several years in Texas, before joining the Golf Club. Over the course of the season, the former colleagues work together to perfect Batali’s swing at Chelsea Piers. Dale lends his expertise as the chef-turned-golfer attempts to add one more title to his impressive repertoire: low handicapper.

Be sure to tune in during the season to see Dale in action!

Mondays at 9pm on the Golf Channel.

This past weekend at the Transitions Championship, Luke Donald regained his #1 world ranking with a victory. It's quite interesting to look at Donald's performance statistics for driving and putting for the past 3 years:

                                     2010                                 2011                          2012

Driving                          120th                                 57th                           62nd

Putting                          1st                                    1st                             1st

These statistics clearly show where the top player in the world excels - at his short game - particularly, putting!

"You don't have to be a good golfer to be a good putter, but you do have to be a good putter if you want to be a good golfer." -Tony Lema

Allan Renz has studied putting from the top putting instructors in the world and can help you reach the next level of your game. From putter fitting to putting mechanics to green reading, Allan can help you improve your short game - an area that accounts for 40-45% of strokes on the golf course. To schedule a lesson, call the Golf Academy at 212-336-6444 or click here.

Chelsea Piers trainers & tri experts Scott Berlinger and Andrew Kalley host the Tri Half-Day Camp this Sunday, March 18 from 12 – 4pm! Get your training on the right track, no matter your skill or level. Sessions will focus on such topics as race preparation, training & racing gear, transitions & injury prevention. For more info, please call 212.336.6000 or click here.

Test your off-season fitness at the Performance Center’s Indoor Cycling Time Trial! Compete against other riders on your own bike on the 10-mile CompuTrainer course & see how you stack up against the competition. Time trials will take place on Saturday, March 17 from 12 – 5pm. Sports Center non-members are welcome. To register, click here.

Proper physical training can take strokes off your score and help you to get the most out of your game. Due to the increased interest in golf fitness, the Golf Academy now offers TPI Fitness Screenings. These sessions give golfers the opportunity to experience the same physical assessment and fitness training as the pros, regardless of age, current fitness level or handicap.

During the 60-minute evaluation, TPI certified teaching pro, Chris Stoudt, takes golfers through a series of 27 different exercises to determine the body’s strengths and weaknesses. The series includes balancing exercises, swing isolation drills, hip rotations and more.

After completion of the screening, the TPI software provides a full analysis of the evaluation, citing exactly what was correct and what can be improved. It also identifies habits that can lead to injuries and mistakes on the golf course. The software then generates a 5-week workout plan with exercises designed to strengthen muscles necessary to improve swing, mobility and balance.

 $150 for a private 60-minute evaluation.

Click here or call 212-336-6400 to register for a TPI Fitness Screening.