New golf store in Chestnut Hill on par

Bernard Sheridan, the golf pro at Flourtown Golf Club, just opened ParBreakers at 8609 Germantown Avenue.

by PAT STOKES

Interviewing shop owners is fun, because no matter what you expect from the conversation, you’re always rewarded with one total surprise. We’ll get to that. Matter of fact, in the case of ParBreakers, the shop itself, the idea, and its presence here is already a pleasant surprise. ParBreakers opened May 1 of this year at 8609 Germantown Ave., next to the Rug Maven, and across from the newsstand. Its “grand opening” will take place on Sunday, June 5.

In golf lingo, it’s known as a pro shop, devoted totally to all things golf, including of course, golf equipment and golf know-how in general. It’s a full service shop with a personal touch. Those new to the game and those who have long loved the game can ask questions about products and other stuff without feeling intimidated.

The man behind this idea is Bernard Sheridan (Bernie), and he is the owner of ParBreakers Golf Academy, a kind of umbrella organization in the Delaware Valley which, among other things, runs 18 to 20 junior golf camps for kids 7 to 16 in 14 different locations. He operates the largest indoor golf training center in the area (North Wales) and runs adult and junior clinics in 10 different townships from West Chester to Newtown. All that in itself is enough to impress me. But wait, there’s more. Bernie is an amazing guy.

He was always a sports enthusiast, interested in golf at an early age. When he married, it seemed that his wife, Juliana, already was working at a highly prestigious job as executive assistant to several vice presidents of a large corporation. So, switching the usual roles, she continued working, and he raised the kids, yes, from babyhood, doing everything wives do every day. He had “dinner on the table” when his wife came home. After that he went off to a job of his own, doing audio engineering for a band called the Heartbeats. He came home at 3:30 or 4 a.m., then four hours of sleep, till 8 a.m., then get up, do it all over again.

His answer to “How did you ever do that (for nine years) was ‘I did it for peace of mind, knowing that my children weren’t raised by strangers.’”

When the children went off to school and Bernie at last had some free time, he joined the Flourtown Golf Club and played every day. That’s when he decided to become a pro. He began by teaching kids 7 to 16. After working one summer for Nike golf schools and junior camps, he became director of the program. Before long, the owners offered him the option of buying the program, which was actually called Foresite Sports. Sheridan bought it in 2003 and turned it into ParBreakers. Within the scope of Par Breakers Golf Academy, he is sometimes asked by tourist groups and park recreation centers to give golf clinics. He also does them at private day camps and schools such as Rosemont. Several of the investors approached him at one point with the idea of the all-weather training facility. No problem: it will open in Montgomeryville this very month. Another investor suggested he open a place where he could market his training skills and sell junior equipment as well. Hence, the present pro shop.

Along with his organizational and homemaking skills, Bernie is also an artist, as the shop attests. The attractive décor of the shop is copied from his office at home; hunter green walls with a wallpaper chair rail showing antique golf balls. Dark green “practice” carpet is shaped like a putting green, and one of them actually is used as a small practice green. The walls are a great background for well-matted and framed color photos of champion golfers and famous golf courses such as St. Andrews in Scotland.

He says, “I am thrilled to be in Chestnut Hill, where I can give customers individual service and attention in a small hometown kind of store.” He emphasizes the thing dearest to his heart, “the custom-fitted clubs” just right for each golfer’s strength and experience. Not to be missed are the men’s and women’s golf apparel and general sportswear and, of course, the tempting looking golf clubs themselves in the back room along with golf bags and junior clubs by US Kids Golf and Ben Hogan, plus memorabilia autographed by the likes of Nicklaus, Colbert and others.

Now for the super special item: Bernie’s own invention: a putting disc, at $12.99, surely the most reasonably priced putting aid on the market, invented to teach juniors how to putt. It’s mirrored. You look down at it, aligning your eyes and the club with the ball. A terrific gift for any new golfer. Bernie, wife Juliana, 12-year-old daughter Juleah and seven-year-old son Dylan live in Orland in the Springfield house Bernie grew up in. All in all, it sounds like the Good Life. Any astrology buffs out there? He’s a Leo.

Hours for ParBreakers: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11:30 – 5. Friday and Saturday, 10:30 to 7. For possible Sunday hours, stay tuned or call 215-518-0345. See you on the Avenue.