Chicago Area Golf News

June 5, 2023
Springbrook Golf Course To Debut Renovations With Ribbon Cutting
Lisa Marie Farver, Patch

After nearly a year of renovations that totaled $3.5 million, Springbrook Golf Course is ready to reopen. The golf course will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 14 that includes refreshments, a putting contest and remarks from Naperville officials.

Springbrook has been temporarily closed since crews began renovations to the course in August 2022. The improvements included adding bridges, ponds and paths to the course, replacing tees and bunkers and updating green surrounds.

Construction wrapped in early 2023, but Springbrook stayed closed this spring to give new turf time to grow.

June 4, 2023
Canal Shores renovations break ground; Officials plan to reopen course next summer

• Learn more about Canal Shores Golf Course

Joe Coughlin, The Record North Shore

Built in 1919, Canal Shores is a 3,600-yard, par-60 course that straddles Evanston and Wilmette on 82 acres of land owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District land along the waters of the North Shore Channel.

Plans for the course center on turning Hole 1 into a youth golf training headquarters and making the course more playable while maintaining its unique qualities, officials said.

Construction has begun on the site, which officials hope will reopen in July 2024. Quitno Golf Designs and Wadsworth Construction head up the project.

June 3, 2023
Groundbreaking for Canal Shores 2nd Century

• Learn more about Canal Shores Golf Course

Greg Miles, Chicago Golf Report

After 100+ years, the turf and infrastructure of Canal Shores Golf Course, according to the USGA Green Section and irrigation engineers, is in an “end of life” state. The Canal Shores Board of Trustees, staff, and volunteers have worked hard for years to “apply another coat of paint to an old house,” but for this cherished course to survive and still be a vital part of the combined communities, massive renovation was needed.

The Canal Shores board stated “With 100% private funding, we will renovate the course beginning in June with reimagined space for beginning and seasoned golfers, a youth development training center and a Caddie Academy which will create jobs and college scholarship opportunities. Planned reopening is July 2024. We’re excited to partner with these renowned and accomplished organizations to help us build for the future: Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation, The First Tee – Greater Chicago, Quitno Golf Designs, Wadsworth Construction, and KemperSports

May 31, 2023
Chicago golfer Ahmad Raoul plays with the pros to tee up for the big stage

• Learn more about Jackson Park Golf Course

Matt Zahn, CBS Chicago

Since the first time he swung a golf club, Ahmad Raoul has been in love with the game.

Raoul, a Mt. Carmel alum and now rising sophomore at Winston-Salem State College, is a graduate of the First Tee of Greater Chicago. That program helped hook him up with a pretty amazing opportunity leading up to the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.

Raoul, and two other First Tee graduates and current HBCU students, got to play in a Pro-Am with Rory McIlroy.

May 31, 2023
Springbrook renovations finished, course reopens June 15
Michelle Mullins, Naperville Sun

Naperville Park District will hold a ribbon-cutting event at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, to celebrate the completion of $3.5 million in renovations at Springbrook Golf Course, 2220 W. 83rd St.

Work began in August and included rebuilding all the tees and bunkers, reconstructing two ponds and bridges, and making drainage improvements. Except for the driving range and practice area, the course has been closed to allow the new turf to grow.

May 30, 2023
Glenview's Ramsey wins CDGA tournament over longtime rival, partner and friend
CDGA Report, Daily Herald

Mere hours before boarding a flight together to head to Kiawah Island, South Carolina, for this year's U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, Ramsey got the best of "big brother" Slutzky, winning the championship match of the eighth CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship in 19 holes.

In the first matchup in a CDGA-administered event between the two cohorts, who deemed the experience "weird," Ramsey admittedly was nervous early on. Slutzky won the first two holes to gain an early 2-up advantage.

May 22, 2023
How Chicago-area golfers are faring in U.S. Open qualifiers
Len Ziehm, Daily Herald

The 123rd U.S. Open proper doesn't begin its 72-hole run until June 15, but that tournament annually draws a huge entry. This year's drew 9,693 players, and that has to be whittled down to 156 for the 72-hole finals at Los Angeles Country Club.

While Chicago again will be without a sectional qualifier, the Chicago District Golf Association conducted three locals, and they produced some good results for local players.

May 19, 2023
Oswego approves $112,000 economic incentive agreement with indoor golf dome developer
Eric Schelkopf, Shaw Local

Oswego Village Trustees on Tuesday, May 16, unanimously approved an $112,000 economic incentive agreement with Yorkville-based Whitetail Ridge Golf Club as part of its plans to build an indoor golf dome on the southwest corner of Lewis Street and Station Drive, just west of Orchard Road.

Because the property does not have access to a water main on site, the developer is being required to install a looped water main to the property. The estimated cost to the developer for the work is approximately $200,000-$250,000 based on recent bids received, Oswego Economic Development Director Kevin Leighty told Village Trustees.

May 16, 2023
Swinging for the Fences? Not Quite, but Golf is Coming to Wrigley Field This Summer
James Neveau, NBC Chicago

Upper Deck Golf, a company that has brought its signature golf game to stadiums across the United States, is coming to Chicago in early July, with fans getting the opportunity to take their swings inside the Friendly Confines.

According to officials, tee times will be available at Wrigley from July 6-9, and waitlists are currently open for those seeking to participate in the event.

The official website for the event says that each round of golf includes a complimentary set of golf balls, access to a clubhouse bar, golfing challenges and special stadium access. VIP packages also include mulligans, free entry into golfing challenges, a complimentary meal and two free drinks.

May 15, 2023
Play a Round of Golf Inside of Wrigley Field
Staff Report, Q98.5 Radio

If you love to play golf and are a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, then two of your loves are coming together for a unique four-day experience at the National Historic Landmark.

A once-in-a-lifetime chance to play a round of golf at some of the most iconic stadiums in America is happening this Summer.

Upper Deck Golf will be setting up courses at Target Field in Minneapolis, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Coors Field in Denver, and this July at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

May 11, 2023
6 Illinois Golf Courses Ranked Among Nation's Top 100: Golf Digest
Jeff Arnold, Patch

Six of the nation's best golf courses can be found in Illinois, according to the eminent golf publication.

Golf Digest recently published "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses."

The list looked at six pieces of criteria: shot options, challenge, layout variety, aesthetics, conditioning, and character.

May 9, 2023
Barstool Sports to stream live coverage of Korn Ferry Tour’s NV5 Invitational
Staff Report, PGA Tour

The Korn Ferry Tour and Barstool Sports today announced that the sports, lifestyle and entertainment brand will exclusively stream live coverage in the United States of the Korn Ferry Tour’s NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank on July 27-30, the first streaming production of professional golf by the digital media company.

All four rounds of the NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank will stream live only on Barstool.tv from 3:30 p.m. ET to 6:30 p.m. ET. Hosts of the No. 1 golf podcast, Barstool Sports’ Fore Play, including Riggs, Frankie, Trent and Dan Rapaport will make appearances throughout the broadcast, as well as other Barstool Sports

May 8, 2023
Lance Ten Broeck, pro golfer-turned-caddie who grew up on the South Side, dies at 67
Staff Report, Sun Times

“Last Call” Lance Ten Broeck, who famously played and caddied in the same PGA Tour event, died Sunday at St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach. He was 67.

Ten Broeck grew up on the South Side of Chicago, part of a family of golfers, and played collegiately at Texas. He qualified for the U.S. Open seven times and held the 36-hole lead in the 2012 U.S. Senior Open, but was the quintessential journeyman golfer, playing at least 14 tournaments in 12 seasons, making 355 career starts on the Tour, recording 11 top-10 finishes without ever claiming an official win.

May 6, 2023
New Summer Date For Chicago’s Korn-Ferry Tournament

• Learn more about The Glen Club

Greg Miles, Chicago Golf Report

Chicago golf fans must adjust their 2023 viewing habits as the NV5 Invitational moves its dates to July and becomes an important summer event on the Korn-Ferry Tour tournament schedule. The 2023 NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank, is now set to be played July 25-30 at The Glen Club in Glenview.

This traditionally competitive championship will see even more drama in 2023 as new summer dates place it in the middle of a critical closing stretch before the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, where an unprecedented 30 PGA TOUR cards will be awarded.

May 4, 2023
Midlothian Country Club To Host 105th Western Junior Championship
Lauren Traut, Patch

The Western Junior, the oldest national junior golf championship in the country, will return to Midlothian Country Club in Midlothian for its 105th edition on June 19-22.

The event, to be held at the course at 5000 147th St., will feature an international field of 156 top junior players all vying to have their name etched on the Milt Woodard Trophy alongside some of the game’s greatest players. Volunteers are still sought to help make the tournament a success.

May 4, 2023
PGA HOPE, KemperSports offer free golf clinics to help veterans heal
Staff Report, Daily Herald

For veterans, integrating back into society after a tour of duty -- or multiple tours -- can be a difficult and slow process.

Time is needed to heal mentally and possibly physically. Friends and family can't always understand the dark places veterans can find themselves.

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) offers veterans golf clinics that can help them heal from the inside out, giving them encouragement and confidence in a supportive environment.

May 3, 2023
The Hill Made Famous by Walter Payton Is Now a Golf Course

• Learn more about Nickol Knoll Golf Club

Matt Berklan, On Tap Sports Net

Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton left behind a lasting legacy that spans far beyond the gridiron. In addition to his sparkling character and accomplished career, one of Payton's defining traits was his work ethic. During his training regimens, Payton frequently took to "The Hill" in Arlington Heights for conditioning work. In 2000, Arlington Heights Park District named the area "Payton's Hill." It is now part of Nickol Knoll Golf Course.

May 2, 2023
Environmentally-friendly wash pads to clean Naperville golf course equipment could cost $400,000
Giles Bruce, Naperville Sun

The Naperville Park Board may spend $400,000 to install new wash pads to clean its golf course equipment in a more environmentally friendly fashion.

Staffers at Naperbrook and Springbrook golf courses currently wash equipment such as mowers at maintenance shops with the runoff going into the nearby soil and waterways, golf director Kevin Carlson told the Naperville Park Board last week.

If approved by the board next month, the park district will enter into a $44,000 professional services contract with engineering consultant the WT Group to design the wash bays for improved filtration and wastewater drainage.

April 24, 2023
Hardy's win capped off a great weekend for golf in Illinois
Len Ziehm, Daily Herald

Last weekend was like no other as far as Illinois golf is concerned, and Nick Hardy's first PGA Tour win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was just one of the extraordinary developments.

Mark Hensby, whose best golf came on Illinois courses years ago, notched his first win on the 50-and-over circuit in the Invited Celebrity Classic at Las Colinas in Texas.

April 23, 2023
Chicago area teed up to host some big pro tournaments this year
Staff Report, Daily Herald

Big tournaments are inevitably the highlight of any golf season in any location, but the PGA Tour hasn't visited the Chicago area since 2020 -- and no fans could watch that year because of pandemic concerns. Last year it was only the fledgling LIV Tour that came to the area. This year both the PGA and LIV circuits are coming.

The only drawback to this long-awaited positive news is that you'll have to wait until the very late stages of the Chicago season to see both circuits. The PGA Tour's BMW Championship is at Olympia Fields from Aug. 14-20 and the LIV Tour returns to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove from Sept. 22-24.