This is our annual winter golf guide dedicated to all the die-hard winter players and the new recruits to playing winter golf. Here you can find a place to keep your swing sharp and now is the perfect time to work on your short game at the nearest dome, driving range or virtual golf simulator. We’ve done our best to round up the latest winter info. to help you through the cold months of Chicagoland.
If you’re one of those lucky enough to find the time and money to head to warmer climates to play this winter, this list is an invaluable resource for finding places to keep your swing grooved until your trip.
There were only a few facilities where we couldn’t reach anyone to give us information despite multiple attempts. In lieu of the normal detailed listing, you’ll find their phone numbers and locations listed, so please give them a call to find out more.
Regardless what your plans are for the winter, don’t put your clubs away just yet...
NOTE: A maximum effort was made to contact every facility listed herein. The information was provided to Chicagoland Golf by the operators. We apologize for any errors and omissions, although we place a high degree of importance on providing our readers with accurate data. Please call 630-719-1000 with corrections and/or additions. Also note that the following information in its form is copyrighted and that keys have been planted to detect violators.
INDOOR GOLF
If
you’re looking strictly for indoor-virtual game simulator places to
swing a club, you can find one to match your geographic locale. Most
offer lessons from PGA and LPGA teaching pros.
The Indoor Links at Playin’ Thru is an indoor golf center located at 529 W. Lockport St. in downtown Plainfield, IL. Call (815) 436-6769 or visit www.playinthru.com.
Playin’ Thru offers golf simulators, rates are $25 for 18 holes, $15
for 9 holes. Memberships are also available for $25 annually. Member
rates: $15 for 18 holes, $10 for 9 holes. Winter Hours: Monday thru
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
For information or reservations call (815) 436-6769. In the southwest suburbs, try the Indoor Golf Links of America
located at 16356 South 104th Avenue in Orland Park. Winter hours are
Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 a.m, Sunday 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Call (708)
403-4040. Stony Creek GC
at 5860 W. 103rd St. in Oak Lawn has golf simulators and are open from
8 a.m. - 9 p.m. To reserve your time please contact (708) 857-2433. When it opens sometime in mid-December, Golf Nation
at 399 N. Quentin Rd. in Palatine will have six covered outdoor hitting
areas with gas heaters opening to a 60-yard deep range with net.
Indoors will be a 1,600 squarefoot practice putting green and chipping,
pitching and sand shot areas plus four fullswing golf simulators. (847)
636-6861. GOLF DOMES
Buffalo Grove Golf Center Dome
located at 801 McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove operates: Monday 9 a.m. to
3:30 p.m., Tuesday thru Thursday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6
p.m., weekends 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit their
website at www.bgparkdistrict.org or call (847) 459-2321. Ditka’s Sports Dome
on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is open to golfers from November to April on
Monday, Friday, and Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, and Sunday 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Please call (630) 739-7600. Green Garden Golf Dome
located at Manhattan-Monee Rd. and Center Rd. Hours: open Sunday thru
Thursday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and
will be giving away Chicago Bulls Tickets monthly and a grand prize of
a 50” Flat screen TV for the season. Please call (815) 469-3350 for
more information. Practice your swing and enjoy hitting unlimited balls all winter long at the indoor, heated, dual-level Links & Tees Golf Dome,
located at 880 W. Lake Street in Addison. Hours of operation; daily
through December 31st: 8 a.m. -10 p.m., January - April hours are as
follows; Sunday thru Thursday, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7
a.m. - 11 p.m. Golf dome fees; Weekdays: $10.00/ half hour. Weekends
and holidays: $12.00/ half hour.
The
world-class Links & Tees is the place for your corporate and group
outings, with group rates and special pricing available. Improve your
golf game with our cutting edge group lesson program or one-on-one
instruction with nationally recognized PGA golf professionals.
Enjoy
great weekday discounts; Seniors: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m., Ladies: 9 a.m. - 2
p.m., Juniors: 3:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m. Also enjoy our popular 2 for 1 all
day on Tuesdays all season long. Memberships are also available. New
range balls, target greens, practice putting green. Call (630) 458-2660
or visit our website at www.addisonparkdisrtict.org for more details. Midlane’s Golf Dome
is located on Route 41 north of Park Avenue (at the Highland Park Golf
Learning Center) in Highland Park. The dome is open seven days a week
Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. - 8 a.m.; weekends
from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional information can be obtained by calling
(847) 432-8201. Sport Zone Dome
is located south of Aurora near the Route 30 and Route 34 interchange.
They are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. For more
information call (630) 820-8624. The White Pines Golf Dome
at White Pines Golf Course at York Road and Jefferson Street in
Bensenville is one of the premier indoor golf facilities in the
country. It is the area’s largest dome measuring 310-feet wide by
310-feet long by 110-feet high. Among its features are 3 large target
greens, each surrounded by bunkers, six suspended hitting targets at
various heights for practicing your accuracy and 50 hitting tees with
15 located on a second level.
The virtual golf simulator uses
actual pictures instead of computer generated pictures which makes the
game appear more real and lifelike. Golf leagues are now forming on
weekday and Sunday nights.
White Pines has a full staff of PGA
and LPGA teaching professionals, and don't be surprised if one of our
area's Tour players is beating balls in the stall next to you.
The White Pines Golf Dome maintains a constant temperature between 62 and 70 degrees even on the coldest winter days and nights.
White
Pines Golf Dome is located at White Pines Golf Course in Bensenville.
The dome is open every day from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Directions: From
Interstate 290 exit north on Route 83. Turn right at the first
stoplight (Third Avenue). Proceed east two stop signs then turn right
into the golf course. From Interstate 90 (Kennedy Expressway)
head towards O’Hare Airport (towards I90) and exit south on Manneheim
Road. Turn right on Irving Park Road (Rt. 19) for 3 miles and turn left
at York Road (just past the railroad tracks). Proceed for 1 mile and
turn right (west) at Jefferson Avenue to White Pines GC. For additional
information, please call the White Pines Golf Dome at (630) 766-0304
ext. 5 or visit their website www.WhitePinesGolfDome.com.
WINTER RANGES Ballybunion Golf LLC
on Route 83 in Long Grove will be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., only if it’s 35 degrees or warmer. For more
information call (847) 634-3363. Bushwood Golf Practice Center
is located just ¼ mile east of 1st Avenue in Maywood, 30 Madison
Street. They have 38 hitting stations. Winter hours are from 8 a.m. - 8
p.m. For more information about Bushwood Golf Practice Center call
(708) 344-2700. The Cog Hill Learning Center,
located in Lemont on Archer Avenue and Parker Road has 25 heated stalls
that are open every day except for Christmas. Hours of operation are:
Monday/Thursday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and
weekends 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Range Ball prices are: $3.50 (35 balls),
$5.00 (50), $7.00 (75), $15.00 (185+). Lessons are also available
throughout the winter months from qualified teaching professionals. The
Cog Hill Learning Center is located at 12294 Archer Ave. For more
information please contact them at (630) COG-HILL, or visit their
website at www.coghillgolf.com. Crystal Lake Golf Learning Center
is located on 4418 Buhl Road in Crystal Lake, 3½ miles east of Route 31
on Route 176. Winter hours are from 8 a.m. - dusk. For further details
about this center call (815) 479-9150. Deer Run Golf Center located at 11007 Route 120 in Woodstock is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to dark. Call (815) 338-9701 for more information. Diversey Driving Range
is located downtown Chicago in the heart of Lincoln Park and is open
year ‘round if the projected forecast is at least 10 degrees. Fall
hours, Monday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesday - Sunday 8 a.m. to 10
p.m., the last bucket is sold at 9:15 p.m. Winter hours (effective
December 1), Monday - Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The last bucket is sold
at 7:15 p.m.
The range offers 20 heated and covered stalls for use in inclement weather. For more information visit www.cpdgolf.com. or call (312) 742-7929. Golf Center of Des Plaines
is located at 353 North River Road. The driving range winter hours are
in effect from November 1 through March 31. Open daily at 8 a.m. - 10
p.m. and has many features to maintain your golf swing. For more
information, call (847) 803-4653. Green Valley Golf Range
in Hanover Park is open year ‘round everyday (except Christmas) from 9
a.m. to 9 p.m., during the winter. They are located on Lake Street, six
blocks west of Gary Avenue and just east of the Elgin-O’Hare
Expressway. For more information call (630) 289-6600. The Libertyville Sports Complex Golf Center,
1850 North Hwy. 45 in Libertyville. Hours of operation are Monday -
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Hours are subject
to change, please call for updated times at (847) 367-1506. Fresh Meadow Learning Center
at Fresh Meadow Golf Club is located at 11302 Cermak Rd. in Hillside,
just off the TriState Tollway. Winter hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
- Friday, weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call today for more information at
(708) 449-6767. Peoria Park District’s Golf Learning Center and Academy
is open year ‘round with a heated outdoor driving range. The winter
hours: Weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Weekends 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Located at 7815 N. Radnor Rd. across from Kellogg GC, call (309)
690-7162. Pine Meadow GC
at One Pine Meadow Lane in Mundelein will keep their driving range
(mats only) open through the winter months, except Dec. 25. Prices for
ranges balls vary from $3.25 for a small bucket (approx. 30 balls) to
$14.00 for a jumbo bucket (approx. 180 balls). The clubhouse will also
be open during the winter from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 7 days a week, (847)
566-GOLF, www.pinemeadowgc.com. Pro Circle Golf Center
will be open all winter from 10 a.m. to dusk and are located at 1810 N.
Route 12 in Spring Grove. To contact them for more details visit
ww.procirclegolf.com or call (815) 675-2747. Skokie Sports Park
at 3459 Oakton in Skokie is open November and March: Monday thru
Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
Dec., Jan., and Feb., Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday
thru Friday closed. Call (847) 674-1500 x3100. The St. Andrews Practice Center
on Route 59 north of North Avenue in West Chicago is open every day
except Christmas. The hours of operations are (until April 1): Weekdays
9 a.m. – dark, Weekends 8 a.m. – dark. Mat prices: small (32 balls) $4;
medium (50 balls) $5.50; large (75 balls) $7.25; jumbo (180 balls)
$15.50. Golf club repair, and weather permitting clubfitting and
lessons are available during winter. For more information please call
(630) 231-3160. Sugar Creek GC
located at 500 E. Van Buren in Villa Park is open for business during
the winter dawn to dusk seven days a week. They can be reached at (630)
834-3325. White Deer Run GC
at 250 West Greggs Parkway in Vernon Hills is open Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7 a.m. and closes 30 minutes before sunset ;
Sunday, Wednesday opens at 7 a.m. until 75 minutes before sunset for
maintenance. Information can be obtained at (847) 680-6100. White Mountain Golf Park
located at 9901 W. 179th St. in Tinley Park is lighted with 20 heated
hitting stations and starting November 12 will be open Monday - Sunday
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Times are subject to change. For more information
please call (708) 478-GOLF (4653). Zigfield Troy Golf located at 1535 75th St. in Woodridge with winter hours beginning at 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visit their website at www.zigfieldtroygolf.com or phone (630) 985-GOLF for further information.
