Fox Run Golf Links

Owned by the Elk Grove Park District, this course opened in 1984 and was designed by Bill Newcomb and Bob Lohmann. The original cost was $3 million. Fast forward to 2012, the course was renovated by Greg Martin for $2.5 million, which redesigned course aesthetics, improved drainage, and more. Golf courses are basically like homes, as they require upkeep, and you gotta keep up with the Joneses. So you won’t be shocked to hear they kicked off a major renovation again starting in 2020. The park district invested $10 million for a completely rebuilt clubhouse, which opened for the 2022 golf season and looks fantastic. It houses the plainly named Bar & Grill restaurant, the small pro shop, golf simulators, a slot machine gaming area, and more.

The word Links is in the name here, but it’s not really a links-style track in the pure sense. There’s plenty of trees lining many of the nicely manicured fairways. Fox Run measures 6,275 yards from the back tees, so it’s not super long. However, the holes can be tight, requiring accuracy so your ordnance doesn’t end up in a parallel fairway or water. Speaking of water, there’s a healthy amount of it on the course, with a series of interconnected ponds that seem to attract your golf ball like a magnet. There’s only two par-5’s on the property, resulting in a par of 70, and a course rating of 70.1. The terrain here is largely very flat. There’s a cluster of townhomes in the center of the real estate here; I imagine they have an endless supply of lost golf balls at their disposal.

Fox Run has two separate practice facilities. The course itself has two practice greens -- one is a huge putting green, and the other is a smaller green for chip shots and bunker practice. East of the course, across Meacham Road, is a full driving range with both mats and grass tees. This area also has a short game practice space for chips, pitches, and a small bunker. There’s no putting green here however.

The aforementioned new clubhouse is totally modern and has the trappings you’d expect. The only slight letdown was the pro shop. It occupies a small corner of the clubhouse footprint, and barely has any merch to offer the duffers of Elk Grove. I guess retail is a tough business these days. The clubhouse also has golf simulators, which will be popular in the winter, and a restaurant that offers classic American fare.