Chicago Area Golf News

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

• Learn more about Naperbrook Golf Course

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

• Learn more about Springbrook Golf Course

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.