Milwaukee area golf venues to visit

Type: Outdoor

Gastrau’s Golf Center features a FootGolf course and combines a practical and virtual driving range using Toptracer technology. 

Gastrau’s 18-hole FootGolf course has holes spanning 70 to 300 yards in size. FootGolf has players kick a soccer ball into a hole using the same scoring system as traditional golf.

The outdoor heated and summer driving ranges have 18 golf bays with four lounge spaces and four TVs that display sporting events.

Prices at Gastrau’s range from $7 for a small bucket of 40 golf balls, $10 for a medium bucket of 70 balls and $13 for a large bucket of 105 balls.

Toptracer golfing is optional and adds an additional charge of $1, $3 or $5 depending on the bucket size. Toptracer allows golfers to play game modes on the driving range like Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin and virtual golf.

Game stats and progression are tracked and displayed on monitors at the range, or via the free-to-download Toptracer Range app.

Gastrau’s is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. 

GolfTEC

Address: 12132 W. Capitol Drive, Wauwatosa

Phone: 414-463-4653

Website: golftec.com/golf-lessons/milwaukee/wauwatosa

Type: Indoor

GolfTEC offers golf instruction, lessons and custom club fitting at its Wauwatosa training center.

Certified club fitters use GolfTEC’s TECFIT software to measure how golfers swing using their current clubs.

Upon examining the results, fitters recommend the best custom clubs for golfers. The new clubs are delivered to the fitter, who then evaluates the golfer’s performance again, using the new clubs.

A club-fitting session is 60 to 90 minutes long and costs $120, not including new club purchases.

During a swing evaluation, golfers are paired with a coach who records and studies their swing to recommend a lesson plan. A one-hour evaluation costs $120.

Thirty-minute lesson plans can be purchased in three-, six- and 12-month-long packages with options that include swing evaluations, one-on-one coaching and video lessons.

GolfTEC is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Moorland Road Golf Center

Alexei Ward jumps over the water hazard where his ball landed while playing miniature golf at Moorland Golf Center. (Photo: File photo)

Address: 5900 S. Moorland Road, New Berlin

Phone: 262-784-7552

Type: Outdoor

Gastrau’s 18-hole FootGolf course has holes spanning 70 to 300 yards in size. FootGolf has players kick a soccer ball into a hole using the same scoring system as traditional golf.

The Moorland Road Golf Center offers indoor and outdoor practice sites, and an 18-hole mini golf course.

Indoor golfers can stay warm during cold weather when the heat is turned on, or stay cool under the shade while fans circulate fresh summer air.

Outdoor practice amenities include 75 grass stalls, 50 artificial stalls, two short game areas, putting greens, sand traps, uneven lies, fairway and rough grass.

Indoor and outdoor rates are $8, $10 and $13 for small, medium and large ball buckets, respectively. Renting an iron is free; a driver rental costs $2.

Mini golf prices are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 13 and younger. The holes, themed after a coal mine, barn, outer space and magic, are accessible to guests with disabilities or baby strollers. 

Operating hours for the spring season are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

From June to August, the Moorland Golf Center hosts a Summer Food Truck Series.

On select summer days from the afternoon until close, a food truck is scheduled to serve hungry golfers. Trucks on rotation are Cafe Corazon, Tots on the Street, Double B’s BBQ, Mr. P’s Grilled Cheese and Falafel Guys.  

Daily food offerings at the golf center include brats, breakfast burritos, cheeseburgers, pizza and more. The drink menu features local and imported beer, hard lemonade, soda, iced tea, Sprecher Root Beer and sports drinks.

On the list of desserts are single, double or triple scoops of Cedar Crest Ice Cream served in a sugar cone, cake cone or dish.

Stix

Stix Golf Entertainment in Germantown uses Full Swing golf simulators, which owner Ryan Hughes said are “the most realistic simulators on the market.” (Photo: Submitted)

Address: W164 N11271 Squire Drive, Germantown

Phone: 262-415-7513

Type: Indoor

Stix differentiates itself from other simulation golf venues with its recently added putting green, indoor beer garden, live music and games like bag toss and table tennis.

Using six simulator stations equipped with dual tracking technology, infrared light and ION 3 cameras track each golfer’s swing and provide feedback on the ball’s flight.

Ryan and Daniel Hughes, the owners of Stix Golf, added 2,000 square feet to their business in 2020. The Germantown business now has an additional 800 square feet of artificial turf, picnic tables and four stations for the customers to play bags. (Photo: Submitted)

Simulators can be booked for $39 per hour of play. It takes each golfer about one hour to complete 18 holes of golf.

Stix’s food menu features appetizers, wings and pizzas and drinks served include a variety of wine, beer and cocktails.

Storm’s Golf Range

Address: 16210 W. Wisconsin Ave., Brookfield

Phone: 262-782-4010

Type: Outdoor

Storm’s Golf Range has the largest golf practice facility in southeastern Wisconsin. Just one block north of Brookfield Square, golfers can test their skills at putting greens, chipping greens and sand traps.

Group lessons for beginners are offered from May through August and cost $50 for four one-hour sessions. Private lessons are available with PGA professionals for kids and adults.

The facility is open daily from mid-March to October. Storm’s opens at 10 a.m. and closes after sunset during the spring and fall seasons. 

In summer, Storm’s also closes after sunset and opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. on weekends.

Wisconsin Indoor Golf Center

Address: 206 Travis Lane, Suite 2, Waukesha

Phone: 262-436-0002

Website: wisconsinindoorgolfcenter.com

Type: Indoor

This simulated golfing experience uses TruGolf technology to analyze spin rates, launch angles, ball speed and more. 

The Golf Center is open only during the offseason, from November to April. Golfers can reserve simulators online for $32 per hour on weekdays and $37 on weekends.

Golfers who join the weekly league at a $25 per week rate can pay $25 per hour on weekdays though the season.

Club rentals and golf balls are available.

Guests have access to a full bar that serves bloody marys and a food menu with pizza, burgers and wings.

Golfers can read the Golf Center’s blog for tips on how to improve their swing or how to dress like a golf professional.

X Golf

X Golf Brookfield opened in September 2019. (Photo: X-Golf Brookfield)

Address: 12565 W Feerick St., Unit C, Brookfield; 11043 N. Port Washington Road, Mequon

Phone: 262-439-8927, Brookfield; 262-236-9113, Mequon

Type: Indoor

X Golf uses light, laser and optical sensors to measure club path, impact, club head and ball speed, ball direction launch angle, spin rates and smash factor.

Golfers swing clubs toward a screen at one of the seven simulator bays that depict real-world courses like Pebble Beach or Hazeltine.

The motion technology tracks the trajectory of the ball after each swing, informing golfers where their shots land on the course.

A full round of simulated golf lasts about 45 minutes per player. Up to six golfers can play at one simulator simultaneously. X Golf recommends first-time visitors plan for a 90-minute session.

It costs $35 an hour to reserve a simulator Monday through Thursday and before 4 p.m. Friday. Prices rise to $55 after 4 p.m. Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Each site offers food, a lounge bar that serves craft beer and liquor and a game room.

Guests can book events at the golf simulation venue and reserve 30- or 60-minute golf lessons with a PGA-certified coach.