Chicago Area Golf News

October 3, 2024
Medinah set to host next Presidents Cup
Len Ziehm, Daily Herald

There was cause for celebration at Medinah Country Club when the last putt dropped in the Presidents Cup Sunday in Montreal. That meant that Medinah, already rich in golf history, went on the clock for another place in golf history.

Medinah, celebrating its centennial this year, will host the next Presidents Cup from Sept. 14-20 in 2026. When that battle between the U.S. team and an international squad concludes, Medinah will be the only club in the country to have hosted a U.S. Open, a PGA Championship, a Ryder Cup and a Presidents Cup.

October 8, 2024
Fresh Meadow Golf Club Closing

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Walter Lis, Chicago Golf Report

A century of golf is coming to a close at 22nd and Wolf Road. Located 20 minutes from downtown Chicago in the rolling hills of Hillside, Fresh Meadow Golf Club is closing for good on October 14, 2024.

Owned by the Archdiocese of Chicago, the land on which Fresh Meadow sits was initially intended as cemetery land. What the property will be used for in the future has not been announced.

Originally known as The Fair Lawn Golf Club, the facility opened on April 16, 1924 with plans to include a limited membership of 250. The initiation fee for the first 110 members would be $110, while the next 140 members would pay $125, which included federal tax and lockers.

October 14, 2024
Indoor golf simulator opens this month in Arlington Heights
Christopher Placek, Daily Herald

With a liquor license in hand and building upgrades partially funded by tax increment financing district monies almost complete, a long-planned golf simulator venue is set to open at the end of the month in Arlington Heights.

Golf VX, which will have a dozen golf bays and restaurant/bar with a robotic bartender, will be in a 12,000-square-foot big box space at 644 E. Rand Road in the Southpoint Shopping Center.

October 16, 2024
Orchard Valley Golf Course to Close During Renovation

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Walter Lis, Chicago Golf Report

The Orchard Valley golf renovation necessitates the complete closure of the golf course from November 4, 2024, through the 2025 season. This closure will allow for a smooth and efficient renovation process, minimizing disruptions and ensuring the course is ready for its grand reopening. The anticipated reopening date is set for summer 2026.

October 18, 2024
Cog Hill's time on the global golf stage may have passed — but its owners are holding on

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H. Lee Murphy, Crain's Chicago Business

Cog Hill Golf & Country Club was once a popular destination for golfers seeking to play on legendary courses. It hosted the Western Open, a prestigious PGA Tour event, for many years. However, the tournament was moved in 2011, and Cog Hill's business has since declined. The Jemsek family, who have owned the club since the 1950s, have vowed to keep it a family business despite the challenges.

October 21, 2024
Canal Shores Golf Course renames, introduces youth development programs

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Isaiah Steinberg, The Daily Nortwestern

The Canal Shores Golf Course began its $5.9 million renovation to bring its irrigation system up to par last year. With a fresh name — The Evans at Canal Shores — the course is teeing off a new era and chipping in with several new youth development programs to the Evanston community.

The first 13 holes reopened in August after being closed since June 2023. The remaining holes — 19 in total, including one new hole to be used primarily for a youth development program — are expected to open in spring 2025, said Josh Lesnik, executive vice president for golf at KemperSports, which operates The Evans.

October 21, 2024
Worth’s Water’s Edge Golf Course on a hot streak

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Staff report, The Reporter

Despite some recent rain and suddenly falling temperatures, the last few months at the Water’s Edge Golf Course in Worth has been heartwarming.

“The September numbers are unbelievable,” said Trustee Laura Packwood about the local course. “Rounds of golf are down but everything else is up, and that is because of youth golf is going on.”

October 26, 2024
Docuseries Sheds Light on Joe Louis and the Legacy of Black Golfers

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Sharon Fountain, The Crusader

The documentary series "ACCESS," directed by Joseph Chopin and Tracy Raoul, uncovers the legacy of Black golfers and their fight for inclusion in a historically exclusive sport. It features boxing champion Joe Louis, who battled racial barriers in golf, and highlights key moments in the struggle for access.

The first episode details Louis’s fight against the "Caucasian-only clause," while the second focuses on the community efforts of Black golfers in Chicago. The final episode explores the Pipe O’ Peace course, symbolizing Louis's lasting impact.