Golf With A Purpose At New Berlin's The Practice Station

NEW BERLIN, WI— The coronavirus pandemic has limited the options people have for summer activities but The Practice Station in New Berlin is seeing many new golfers come to practice on the green.

"They can have something to practice instead of hitting a bunch of balls and not knowing what they did wrong," Emily Ho, marketing director told Patch.

Ho described the location as a traditional driving range but with a twist. The range is located at 4285 S. Sunny Slope Road.

A traditional driving range limits golfers to specific shots and doesn’t simulate real-life situations golfers are faced with on the course. On the contrary, a golf course doesn’t give golfers enough time to practice certain situations over and over again due to pace of play.

The Practice Station combines both the course and the range for better purposeful practice.

"People use it to get their distances. Some people might not know how to get over a body of water or how far they have to carry their golf ball," Ho said.

Golfers can see their distance, carry and total which will help them on the course. It helps them to familiarize themselves with their clubs and how far they hit with their clubs. It also gives additional stats such as ball speed.

"It helps peoples' games and makes the range a little more fun than just sitting there pounding balls. They can practice and get some data," Ho said.

The driving range isn't just for one skill level but for everyone.

"Any type of player can come and use it whether just for fun, for games or get information on their swings, they can do both," Ho said.

The Practice Station offers an outdoor TrackMan driving range, two indoor golf simulators, an indoor putting green, and members-only practice stations.

The general public can access two chipping greens and two putting greens and access to the TrackMan.

For people with a membership, they have access to practice stations that cover 6 and 1/2 holes over 32 acres.

Practice, practice, practice

There are many skills needed to be a good golfer but it depends on how much a person practices.

The practicing gets a golfer's confidence level up by working on any part of the game. For example, hitting over trees or other obstacles.

Ho said there was a person who found out about their stations and signed up in 2019. The man never golfed a day in his life and all his friends golfed. Ho said he maybe shot a 60 on 9 holes at first. After practicing six times a week for a season, he is now shooting in the low 40s.

"The concept is for us to just get people better so that you can see those results," Ho said.

Franklin resident Connie Malone was busy practicing on Tuesday morning. Recently Malone retired from Froedtert Hospital and used to play golf every morning. She said she enjoys being outside and joked she has more freckles this year than she has ever had in her whole life. Golfing is also a great way to release stress and tension.

"Think about who is on your fecal roaster and picture their face on the ball and swing," Malone said.

Malone said you don't have to be an expert but maybe don't play up how much of a novice you are. She recalled when her son was young and she went golfing after being away from the sport for a while. She was paired up with two older guys and complained that she was rusty.

"My first stroke I hit a hole-in-one!"

For more information visit "The Practice Station" website.