Releasing June 25: The Back Nine

Can an average 42-year old golfer, husband and father of two become an elite athlete? Can he do it after beginning his own "back nine?" And once he starts the journey, what will become of his dream?

It is a journey independent filmmaker Jon Fitzgerald couldn't wait to find out and he left nothing to chance in assembling the best team he could find to stack the cards in his favor.

With celebrities such as George Lopez, Meat Loaf and Chris O'Donnell helping bring the action to life, "THE BACK NINE" documents Fitzgerald's quest to the answer of the question of how he balances a full-time job and family commitments with an enduring dream he's had as long as he can remember - to play professional golf.

Fitzgerald brought in distinguished PGA Professional instructor Tim Suzor of the Kinetic Golf Academy in Scottsdale, AZ to work on his swing, distinguished author Dr. Joe Parent (Zen Golf) to work on his mental game, and yoga guru Katherine Roberts - a Golf Channel favorite - as well as a team of physical coaches to help with fitness and nutrition.

The strategy works, as Fitzgerald sees his handicap go from 15 to 8 in the first year. Ready to test his progress, he joins Golf Channel's Amateur Tour and remarkably, manages to win his first event. Later, he receives an invitation to the National Championships in Orlando, Fla.

Fitzgerald currently plays to a 4 handicap as he works on fine-tuning not only his game and his life, but his dream through "THE BACK NINE".

The film covers this inspirational journey from many angles, beyond merely tracking his golf progress. Fitzgerald must also come to terms with who he is, balancing the experience and guidance of his two father figures - polar opposites as people and influences in his life. Now with children of his own, Fitzgerald senses an opportunity.

Recognizing where his life's mentors have fallen short, Fitzgerald sees his turn at fatherhood as a chance to "break the cycle" and establish a new approach to life, family and golf. "THE BACK NINE" presents the challenges inherent with finding the right balance between Fitzgerald's personal and professional goals.



Shot with Digital Camera's, the festival favorite that reached critical acclaim across the nation,"THE BACK NINE", takes you into one man's devotion to divergent paths in his life, will open for theatrical release June 25.

Granted, it will open up in select golf communties in 23 different states, producers plan to release "THE BACK NINE" on DVD and video-on-demand, as well as pursue other avenues of new technologies.