Facilities | Golf & Sports Center
Golf & Sports Center - Teaching Staff
Golf & Sports Center Sports Rentals & Private Parties
Meet the Staff
Kristy Vik, LPGA
With more than 20 years of playing and golf management experience, Kristy brings a high level of professionalism, knowledge and experiences to the facility.
As a junior golfer, Kristy participated in numerous opportunities, but her undergraduate years at Iowa State University brought her many more rewards. Kristy was recognized as the All Big 8 Player from 1976 to 1979. In 1976 and 1977 in Iowa AIAW, better known today at the NCAA, she finished second. She was also named the AIAW National Student Athlete in 1978 and 1979. And while completing her graduate studies at the University of Iowa she was the assistant women’s golf coach.
Hard work and diligence to the sport of golf allowed Kristy to be certified in the LPGA in 1982, and to become a Class A member in 1987. And in 1997, she was named the LPGA Midwest Section Professional of the Year.
Kristy served as the LPGA Area Education Representative from 1987 to 1994. Then from 1995 to 1997 she became the LPGA Member Education Advisor and Evaluator as well as the LPGA Pat Coordinator. Until 1998 she was also the LPGA Goldie Bateson Junior Committee member.
Kristy was elected to Who’s Who, Women in Business in 2003, 2004 and 2006. From 1998 to present she is a member of the Wilson Advisory Staff Member and in 2004 she was appointed to the LPGA National Education Committee.
Kristy is currently one of 3 LPGA National Education Managerial Leadership instructors and the Chairperson of the National Professional Advisory Committee.
Kristy’s true passion lies in business and facility management.
In 2006 Kristy and her staff received national recognition when The Golf and Sports Center was named the #1 Golf Dome in North America by the Golf Range Association of America.
In 2007 Golf Range Magazine recognized Kristy as one of the top 50 instructorsin the United States. Kristy was also named the LPGA Midwest Section Professional of the Year and the LPGA National Professional of The Year in 2007.
Kristy's other areas of responsibility at the Buffalo Grove Park District include the management of the Park District’s concession operations, park and field rentals and Park Services.
John Andrews, PGA
John is a PGA professional who believes strongly in the PGA theme of "making golf a better game." In 2007 he was nominated to be PGA Teacher of the Year and traveled to Ireland to play golf. John knows that playing great golf means understanding the fundamentals: set up, proper body motion for a solid swing and confidence development.
The Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Center is fortunate that John is bringing his years of experience to our facility. Besides his love of teaching the game, John has great tournament experience, which further enhances his teaching ability. Highlights of his 2007 IJGA success:
Jim Jaskoske
1st place at Maple Meadows Golf Club
3rd place at Deercreek GolfClub
Daniel Downey
1st place at Lake Bluff Golf Course
Kevin Savage
1st place at White Deer Run Golf Course
Brian Badyna
1st place at Silver Lakes
Alex Kessler
2nd places at Oak Club of Genoa, Sycamore Golf Club
and Countryside Golf Club
2007 High School team highlights:
3 Down State finalists
Jason Theobald - Bartlett High School
Alex Kessler - Stevenson High School
Daniel Downey - Vernon Hills High School - Finished 10th
in State.
Kevin Savage was 5th in Conference - Warren High School
Mike Grayson played 5th man on varsity for Highland Park High Schoo and qualified for Regionals.
John attended PGA sanctioned business schools and is a graduate of Ferris State University (Big Rapids, Michigan) where he earned a Golf Management degree.
Todd Sones, PGA
Three Elements make up Todd’s teaching philosophy. One, individual instruction should emphasize the student’s strengths. Two, it is important to address the cause of a problem as opposed to the symptoms. And three, club fitting should be an integral part of instruction.
Each of these philosophies is explained in his books and magazine articles. Todd has written “Lights Out Putting” which was released the spring of 2000, and later “Down and Dirty – The 40 Toughest Shots in Golf” was also published. He also writes for Golf Magazine, Golf Tips and Senior Golfer.
But it is his “hands-on” program that is benefiting the novice as well as the professional golfer. He was the teaching professional at the Vintage Club (Indian Wells, California) from 1990 to 1996, and head professional at Conway Farms Golf Club in Chicago. PGA tour players, including David Duval, Chip Beck and Gary Hallberg have benefited from his instruction as well as the 2000 Curtis Cup team members. Its no wonder that he was listed as one of the Top 100 Golf Instructors in America by Golf Magazine from 1995 to present. He also earned the Illinois PGA Teaching Professional of the Year award in 1994 and 1996.
This Class A PGA member since 1983 is a tremendous asset to the Golf and Sports Center teaching staff.
Hiromune Takamura
"Tak" is from Tokyo, Japan and has been coaching students professionally for 9 years. He utilizes video motion analysis for instruction. He is also a TPI certified golf fitness instructor so he can develop a plan to help your body match your golf swing more efficiently. All lessons are video taped so that each player leaves with a clear understanding of the areas of emphasis and are provided with daily drills to practice. You can take the DVD home to review.
Philosophy & approach
He always works to develop the turn. That is the #1 priority. Then the arc, and finally swing path. This will allow each student to develop a great golf swing. Then he helps you get your swing in shape.
Tak strongly emphasizes improving pre-swing fundamentals so that players can begin with a solid position while at the same time focusing on the player’s short game. In this way, each student will develop a good swing motion. The swing motion is circular in shape on the correct plane. When this motion is repeated, the club swings along the target line. The bottom of the arc is just past the ball. When the motion is done correctly the player finishes in balance.
Eric Pick, PGA
Eric is a Class A PGA Professional elected to membership in January 2006 and is a 2005 graduate of the Professional Golf Management Program at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI. While attending Ferris State, Eric had the opportunity to intern at The Golf Learning Center at Sea Island Golf Club. At Sea Island, Eric was exposed to some of the top golf instructors recognized in the industry, including Jack Lumpkin, Todd Anderson, Gale Peterson, and Mike Shannon. Eric also spent time working at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, Crystal Lake Country Club in Crystal Lake, Illinois and Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas, Texas.
Eric enjoys teaching all skill levels of golfers. He stresses the basic fundamentals of golf, including posture, grip, alignment and balance. He caters to individual needs, emphasizing each golfer’s strengths, while developing their weaknesses. He not only desires to grow his lesson base, but also has a strong interest in promoting youth development. Eric volunteers his time coaching Maine South’s Boys Varsity and Frosh/Soph Golf Teams. Originally from Park Ridge, IL, Eric is excited to be back in the Chicagoland area and is looking forward to a successful season.