By James Kelly, Head Golf Professional
As head golf professional at the West Bend Country Club, it’s up to me to help set the tone for the entire golfing experience at our club and support our members in enhancing their game. From members who are new to the sport to lifelong players, we have an expert team that’s ready to deliver an exceptional experience to help you improve your skills or simply have a fun time.
First things first: Practice makes perfect
I’m always looking for ways to help our members take their game to the next level, and one of the best ways to do that is by taking advantage of our practice facilities as often as you can. Our driving range lets you start the season off on the right foot and by leveraging it through the season, you can keep your swing primed and ready to go.
Here’s some tips from a pro about our range:
It’s important when you’re hitting balls on the range to wear your divot pattern in a straight line and not a scatter plot. This allows turf to heal more quickly and provides the next person with an area to hit with fresh grass.
60% of your golf shots occur inside of 100 yards, but training for the short game is usually overlooked. Our short game area is underused because of this. Rather than spending two hours on the range with your driver, you should spend 75% of that time working on your short game and putting. You will see a dramatic improvement in your overall scores if you dedicate your time into the right space. To make it easier you should practice the 20/20/20 method per hour.
- 20 minutes putting
- 20 minutes short game
- 20 minutes full swing
Need to level up your game? Get a lesson from a pro!
All three members of the professional staff, including myself, are available for lessons. I definitely recommend having a playing lesson with one of us—it’s easily one of the most informational learning experiences you can have. This lesson is an opportunity to join us on the course and play 9-holes. You’ll learn more during those 2 hours than you can in four lessons at the driving range. Plus, each teacher has a different way of teaching with our own specialities. You might want to find the right match to your particular learning style, but I guarantee that no matter who you work with you’ll have a unique experience.
Keeping etiquette top of mind
Whether you’re a new or long-time member at the club, it’s always good to go over some of the etiquette we all agree to abide by. Here’s some tips to follow:
- Replace your divots, repair your ball marks, and keep carts 40 feet from greens and tees.
- All members must seek approval in order to start on the 10th tee.
- Members are in charge of the dress code for their guests.
- Collared shirts are a must, and men are to have their shirts tucked in.
- No denim of any kind.
Need to send a gift? We got you covered.
At the pro shop, we offer the ability for you to set up corporate orders for giveaways, outings, employee uniforms, or anything else you can think of. It’s an awesome benefit that our club offers, but it’s currently underused by our members. Mill River pricing applies to corporate orders that our members place through the pro shop, and we also offer a wealth of differing items that aren’t specific to golfing—from Bluetooth speakers to clothing such as Carhartt jackets and other brands.
Show your support for the club with new merchandise
Keep your eyes open at the pro shop for the latest merchandise such as clubs and golf balls for 2025 to arrive. Apparel will be arriving soon as well!
Opening day events
Just a reminder that we have the Ladies Opening Luncheon on May 7 and Men’s Opening day on May 8, so make sure to mark your calendars.