Frequently Asked Questions

The Golf Practice is a full-service golf academy with indoor training facilities in Highland Park and Lisle, Illinois. We coach golfers of every age and ability using a holistic approach built on three pillars: Swing, Mind and Body.

Our roots go back to 1989, when founder Peter Donahue created GreenToTee Golf Academy, the first standalone golf academy in Illinois. The Golf Practice is a PGA recognized academy and a proud partner of U.S. Kids Golf. Read our story.

We have two locations:

• Highland Park, IL – 1546 Old Deerfield Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035 · (847) 850-0956. A 13,000 sq. ft. facility known as “The Cube” with 7 Trackman simulators.
• Lisle, IL – 4995 Varsity Drive, Lisle, IL 60532 · (630) 703-0877. Opened in January 2025, a 15,000 sq. ft. facility with 8 Trackman simulators and a golf-specific gym.

Our Highland Park facility serves the Chicago North Shore, including Deerfield, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Buffalo Grove and Wheeling. Our Lisle facility serves DuPage County, including Naperville, Wheaton, Hinsdale, Downers Grove and Bolingbrook. See all service areas.

Yes. We work with golfers of all ages and skill levels, from kids who have never touched a club in Junior Essentials I to adults picking up the game for the first time. If you are new, start with a private lesson or our women’s group class, She Plays Golf. Helpful reading: how to prepare for your first golf lesson and why it is never too late to start.

“The Cube” is our 13,000 sq. ft. indoor training and practice center in Highland Park. It includes seven Trackman units, two K-Vest 3D movement tracking systems, a multi high-speed camera video analysis system, a laser and high-speed video putting studio, contoured greens that run 11 on the Stimpmeter, chipping and pitching areas, two bunkers with Augusta sand, a game plan meeting room and a clubhouse lounge. During the winter months, The Cube is home to all of our junior academy training programs. Learn more about 3D swing analysis with K-Vest.

Our indoor practice facilities are open in the fall, winter and spring. In summer we do not keep regular indoor practice hours, but you can call (847) 850-0956 to ask about an available time. Summer programming moves outdoors to partner courses such as The Evans at Canal Shores, Winnetka Golf Club and Sunset Valley Golf Club. See indoor practice hours and summer camps.

It depends on the activity. Private events include rental clubs, so no equipment is required. Junior Essentials Tots requires no equipment. For the adult league, bring your own clubs. For junior programs, see our recommended equipment list and why the right size clubs matter for young players.

Email [email protected], call Highland Park at (847) 850-0956 or Lisle at (630) 703-0877, or send a message through our contact form. Practice bays are booked online on our booking page.

Private lesson rates depend on the coach. For non-members, adult lessons range from $150 to $350 and junior lessons range from $100 to $200. Members receive private lessons at member rates. See every coach and rate on our Swing coaching page, compare memberships, or read how much golf lessons cost in Chicago.

Our team is led by Chris Oehlerking, PGA, Owner and Dean of Instruction. Chris was named Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year, honored by Golf Digest as one of the “Best Teachers in State,” and learned under legendary instructors Hank Haney, Stan Utley and Michael Hebron. Coaches work out of both Highland Park and Lisle. Meet the full team or read about Hank Haney-influenced instruction.

We use a student-centered approach. Instead of just handing you answers, our coaches help you discover solutions so you can self-diagnose and adjust on the course. We focus on flexible, portable skills that hold up in changing conditions, and on changing your insight into the game, not just your mechanics. Read the value of self-coaching skills.

Every lesson and practice session in our bays is measured by Trackman, the launch monitor used by PGA Tour players. It shows ball speed, launch angle, spin and carry on every shot, so your coach can see exactly what is happening and track progress over time. Learn more in What is a Trackman golf lesson?

Yes. You can schedule a group session or playing lesson for you and up to three friends. Email [email protected] to set it up. Not sure which format is right? Read group vs. private lessons.

Yes. Our Body program offers individualized golf performance training. Adults focus on mobility, flexibility and building clubhead speed; juniors focus on stability, injury prevention and speed. Highland Park has in-house equipment for swing screenings and speed training plus a partnership with Pulse Fitness, and Lisle has a dedicated golf-specific gym. Book a complimentary discovery call from the Body page, or read how conditioning increases clubhead speed.

Mental performance training builds skills like visualization, goal-setting, stress management and positive self-talk so you can recover from bad shots and stay focused under pressure. We offer group training, workshops, one-on-one sessions and post-round debriefs. See our Mind coaching page and the impact of mental coaching.

Yes. She Plays Golf is a weekly, one-hour group class for women of all skill levels, held at The Cube. You pay per class, so you are not locked into the full eight-week session. Coaches evaluate everyone at the first class and group players in threes by skill level.

Absolutely. Measured practice, a clear plan and good coaching work at any age. Many of our adult students are experienced players tuning up their game. Read how to lower your handicap and why lessons still matter for experienced players.

Children can start as young as 3. Junior Essentials Tots is for ages 3–4, meets once a week for 45 minutes, requires one adult to participate with the child, and is currently offered at our Lisle location only. Junior Essentials I starts at age 5 (students must be 5 by the start of the session). Read more: golf lessons for ages 3 to 5.

Junior Essentials is a three-level introduction to golf taught through games and colorful stations:

• Junior Essentials I (“Never Touched a Club”) – 60 minutes weekly. Graduates swing in balance, make consistent contact and wedge the ball in the air at least 50% of the time.
• Junior Essentials II (“No More Whiffs”) – 60 minutes weekly. The goal is to consistently launch the ball at a target.
• Junior Essentials III (“A Bridge to Competition”) – 90 minutes weekly, adding rules, etiquette and course preparation.

Classes run at a 4:1 student-to-coach ratio. See the youth introduction programs.

Graduates choose between our two competitive pathways: High School Prep and Mastery 360 (M360) College Prep. Each is organized by age group (11u, 14u, 17u). Read which junior golf program is right for your child.

High School Prep is for juniors who love the game and want to play on their high school team while balancing other sports and activities.

• High School Prep 11u – 3rd to 5th graders who have completed Junior Essentials III and are ready for local tournaments.
• High School Prep 14u – 6th to 8th graders; classes meet twice a week for 90 minutes.
• High School Prep 17u – 9th to 12th graders aiming for varsity; class meets once a week for 90 minutes.

Related: how to make your high school golf team.

Mastery 360 is our invitation-only, high-performance program for committed junior golfers aiming for college golf. It includes a customized private training blueprint, competitive group training, mental coaching, an 8-week speed training course (participants have seen 10–30 yards of added distance), the DECADE course management system and a tournament readiness blueprint. It runs in Highland Park and Lisle at a 4:1 ratio, with groups for 11u, 14u, 17u and Elite. Apply on the M360 page and see our golf scholarship roadmap.

High School Prep is built for players whose goal is their high school team and who need flexibility for other commitments. M360 is an invitation-only program for families pursuing college golf, with private training, physical and mental training, and a full tournament schedule. Read about our two-track system.

Yes. The first step is our Junior Golf Tour: 9-hole events at area courses in the spring, summer and fall, with coaches on-site and divisions by experience. A season-long team competition and points race prepares players for U.S. Kids, IJGA, HJGT and AJGA events. See youth competitive golf and competitive junior golf in Chicago.

Yes, at three levels: the Half Day Summer Camp for beginners, High School Prep 11u Summer Camp for experienced players who can walk 9 holes on their own, and High School Prep 14u Camp for students aiming for their high school team. Camps run at courses including The Evans at Canal Shores, Winnetka Golf Club, Sunset Valley Golf Club, Highland Park Golf Learning Center and Village Greens of Woodridge. See all summer camps.

Yes. Refer two new students to Junior Essentials and your tuition is free. Junior golfers who take part in three or more advanced programs within 12 months receive a complimentary personalized golf bag with the TGP logo and the player’s name. Details on the programs page.

Properly sized clubs make a big difference for young players. We are a proud partner of U.S. Kids Golf, and each program page includes a recommended equipment list. Read how to choose a first set of clubs for kids and when to upgrade to adult clubs.

Book online on our booking page and choose Highland Park or Lisle. You can practice on your own, add a coach, or follow a structured plan. Peak rates apply on weekday evenings (4 p.m. to close) and weekends. Current rates and hours for each location are listed on the Indoor Practice page.

Trackman measures club and ball data on every shot, lets you play more than 120 of the world’s greatest courses, join worldwide virtual tournaments, and use the Target Practice Range to rehearse any shot. Scan the QR code in the bay with the Trackman app to track progress over weeks and months. Read playing famous courses on a simulator and golf lessons vs. simulator practice.

Yes. Highland Park has contoured greens that run 11 on the Stimpmeter, chipping and pitching areas, two bunkers with Augusta sand and a custom Wellputt surface. Lisle has a 4,600 sq. ft. St. Andrews-themed short game room with 16 cups and a custom WellPutt putting surface. Read where to find indoor chipping practice near Chicago.

Memberships are available at both Highland Park and Lisle:

• Practice Membership – $249/month: unlimited practice within facility hours, guests and private lessons at member rates.
• 2+2 Membership – $299/month: two lessons and two practice sessions a month, guests at member rates, and one complimentary full-bag club fitting per year.
• Founders Membership – $6,000/year: 24/7 facility access, twice-monthly lessons with a Director of Instruction, unlimited practice and the ability to host private events. Limited to five members.

Compare plans on the memberships page or email [email protected]. See also membership benefits.

Yes. Our Adult Trackman League is competitive and social. Each league night you play 18 holes on Trackman with a partner, take an individual up-and-down challenge, and try the long-putt challenge, where the cash pot grows $5 with every miss. Bring your own clubs, your own beverages and cash for skins. Leagues run in Highland Park and Lisle.

Yes. We partner with True Spec Golf, ranked the #1 club fitter in North America by GOLF Magazine and named one of America’s Best Club Fitters by Golf Digest. Fittings use GCQuad launch monitor technology and more than 70,000 club head and shaft combinations, and every club is built in True Spec’s Scottsdale build shop. All fittings are by appointment only. See club fitting and club fitting in Highland Park.

If you play regularly, we recommend regripping once a year. Worn grips make you squeeze harder, which can slow your swing speed and make it harder to square the clubface at impact. To order, use the form on our regripping page, email [email protected] or call (847) 850-0956. Read how often golf clubs need regripping.

Yes. Our indoor golf facility works for team building, client entertainment, employee appreciation and social outings. Packages start as low as $75 per person. Bring your own food and drinks or let our catering team build a menu from local restaurants, starting at $50 per person. The clubhouse lounge holds up to 25 guests. Request event details or read about corporate events in Highland Park and Lisle.

No. Events work for complete beginners and avid golfers alike, and rental clubs are available for anyone who does not bring their own. Our staff help make it fun for everyone.

Yes. Our indoor golf facility makes a weather-proof birthday party venue for kids and adults. Contact us about your event and read why it makes a great party venue.