Chicago Area Golf News

January 7, 2023
Glenview, Des Plaines Students Earn Lucrative Evans Scholaships
Todd Wessell, Journal & Topics

Recently, 70 Chicagoland high school seniors including one from Des Plaines and another from Glenview, found out they had been awarded the Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship, a full, four-year housing and tuition scholarship and the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship program. The full tuition and housing college scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years.

The four Chicago-area selection meetings were the first of more than 20 meetings the Evans Scholars Foundation will hold across the country through the spring.

January 7, 2023
Naperville Park Board waives bidding process in order to quickly restore water at Naperbrook clubhouse
Giles Bruce, Naperville Sun

Naperville Park Board commissioners voted Thursday to waive normal bidding procedures so water can be restored as quickly as possible to the Naperbrook Golf Course clubhouse.

The clubhouse, located at 22204 W. 111th St., began experiencing water problems in mid-December, requiring a contractor to remove the well, motor and piping for inspection, Park District Executive Director Brad Wilson said.

January 14, 2023
Florida’s Streamsong Resort sold to Chicago-based KemperSports subsidiary for $160 million
Jack Hirsh, Golf.com

One of the top destination golf resorts in the country is changing hands.

Mosaic, the phosphate mining company that turned one of its former mine sites into the two, and eventually three, golf courses of Streamsong Resort ten years ago, announced Friday it’s selling the resort for $160 million to Lone Windmill LLC, a subsidiary of Kemper Sports Management.

January 17, 2023
Golf dome to be built in Oswego operated by Whitetail Ridge
Linda Girardi, Beacon-News

The Oswego Village Board has approved plans for a proposed 66- to 69-foot-high air-supported golf dome on vacant land just west of Orchard Road.

Whitetail Ridge Golf Club, an 18-hole public golf course in Yorkville, recently was granted approval of a special use permit and final planned unit development to build and operate an indoor golf dome and restaurant at the southwest corner of Lewis Street and Station Drive.

January 22, 2023
70 Chicago-area high school seniors receive full-ride scholarships through golf caddying
Mary Norkol, Sun Times

22 students from the city of Chicago worked through their high school careers as golf caddies under the Evans Scholars program sponsored by the Western Golf Association, eventually earning full-ride scholarships.

The Glenview-based association hosts the BMW Championship as part of the PGA tour. Since 1930, the association has sponsored more than 11,000 students to go to college.

Each summer throughout high school, the students in the program spend several weeks living with other students, working as caddies and prepping for college entrance exams. As caddies, the students wake up at 6 a.m. each day to carry heavy bags, walk all 18 holes and assist golfers during their games.

Of the hundreds of caddies selected for the scholarship this year, 70 are from the Chicago area, according to the association.

January 23, 2023
Park board briefed on plans to move Naperbrook’s 18th hole green to create a chipping/bunker practice area
Giles Bruce, Naperville Sun

Plans for a new chipping and bunker practice complex in the spot where Naperbrook Golf Course’s 18th hole green are moving forward.

Similar to what has proven to be a popular enhancement to Naperville’s Springbrook Golf Course, the new amenity should add more space to the 22204 Hassert Blvd. facility and allow for more programming options, Naperville Park District officials said at Thursday’s park board meeting.

January 25, 2023
Hazel Crest officials to consider annexing Calumet Country Club
Mike Nolan, Daily Southtown

Hazel Crest’s Village Board will consider Feb. 14 an annexation of the Calumet Country Club as the village’s mayor denied he’s being influenced in any way by campaign contributions from a potential developer of the site.

Now in unincorporated Cook County, the 130-acre property, northwest of Dixie Highway and 175th Street, has been proposed as a location of a factory to build components for manufactured homes as well as an indoor water park, hotel, retail space and restaurant.

January 27, 2023
Schaumburg parks director named Illinois PGA Golf Executive of the Year
Justin Sienkiewicz, Daily Herald

The Illinois PGA Section has announced that Schaumburg Park District Executive Director Tony LaFrenere has been named the 2022 Illinois PGA Golf Executive of the Year.

The Illinois PGA Golf Executive of the Year Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who has performed outstanding services for multiple facilities/course management/ownership operation, Allied Association or golf industry executive management position. As one of the highest honors the Illinois PGA can bestow, candidates must possess outstanding qualities of leadership, vision, courage, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the association and the game of golf.