Northbrook Golfer Trains the Next Generation

A former standout golfer at Glenbrook South High School is now bringing out the best in younger athletes throughout the region.

“It goes beyond golf,” Louis Sauer, an 18-year veteran gold instructor and owner of Louis Sauer Golf in Northbrook, told DNAinfo.com Chicago’s Justin Breen. “You’re getting people to get to a level they never thought they would get to.”

Like Daniel Cole, who is coming off a stellar junior season at Glenbrook North in which he finished fifth at the regional and was named team MVP.

“He’s been teaching me for five years and has definitely taught me how to play smarter golf,” Cole said of his instructor. “I’ve learned how to shoot for the greens, and not necessarily the hole. “He is also very mechanical, and known every single piece that he is teaching you, whether it’s your swing path or how you change the ball speed.”

Sauer, a four-year golf and basketball player at GBS who later won the Tommy Armour Invitational as a collegiate golfer at Ferris State University, operates an instruction facility that features TrackMan — a swing analysis system that compares golfers’ shots side-by-side; Foresight — an on-course simulator that has courses like Cog Hill; putting analysis machines; and a FocusBand, a mind performance trainer that teaches golfers to simply calm down - according to the DNAinfo.com report.

“He has created a unique environment that creates a better learning environment for all levels of golfers,” client Michael Grant, a two-time club champion at Conway Farms in Lake Forest, said.

“His facility is fantastic,” added Cole. “In just one year under Louis, you’ll lower your game by several strokes.”

According to Cole, while golfers of all ages could learn from Sauer’s expertise, the greatest benefit comes from those who sign up with him as youngsters.

“The younger the better,” said Cole, who has been a student of his for five years. “If he can get you into those good habits early, you are going to be a much better player in the future.”

That’s evidenced in part by the early success of Evan Myers, a rising freshman golfer at GBN who qualified for the Illinois State Amateur tournament at age 14 and his younger brother Eli, an 11-year-old who won nine tournaments in a row this summer.

“Louis is a task master,” said Al Myers, Evan and Eli’s father. “He does a great job of teaching and inspiring the kids to want to be great. He takes golf seriously and has a good methodology.”

Myers was first compelled to sign his sons up with Sauer because of his connection to Jim McLean, one of the most respected golf instructors in the world.

Sauer spent more than eight years in Miami teaching and training under McLean.

Now those lessons, both individual and group, are being offered locally. On days between the lessons, Sauer will observe his students as they practice their strokes.

“Practicing at Louis’s facility is great, and I have improved a ton due to it,” said Mason Gross, another student. “The constant feedback of all of the different hitting stations gives you a clear picture of what you are doing correct and incorrect, and Louis is right there to point out how to fix the incorrect.”

To sign up:

Website: WWW.LOUISSAUERGOLF.COM

EMAIL: Louis@louissauergolf.com

Photos: (1) A young student of Sauer’s takes a practice swing. (2) Students learn through a video technique.