Chicago Area Golf News

July 2, 2024
Mill Creek Golf Course wins nearly $3.5 million judgment over mismanagement

• Learn more about Mill Creek Golf Club

Brenda Schory, Shaw News

A judgment of nearly $3.5 million was leveled June 28 against three companies for their mismanagement of the Mill Creek Golf Course, according to federal court records.

The judgment is against defendants Evergreen Alliance Golf Limited LP, Premier Golf Management Inc., and Premier Golf EAGL GP LLC Inc. for $3,469,564. But according to Mill Creek Country Club attorney Matthew Herman, after costs, attorney’s fees and pre-judgment interest, the total will likely be closer to $5 million.

July 10, 2024
Naperbrook GC hosts the 2024 Naperville Junior Amateur Championships

• Learn more about Naperbrook Golf Course

Justin Cornwell, Naperville Community TV

The Naperville Junior Amateur Championships returned to Naperbrook golf course, providing young players ranging from the age of 9-17 the opportunity to compete with some of the best the area has to offer.

The annual event held by the Naperville Park District is split into eight flights, the four oldest groups playing 18 holes, two playing nine holes, and the youngest playing six holes.

July 16, 2024
Winnetka Golf Club to host grand reopening on Aug. 12

• Learn more about Winnetka Golf Club

Alex Hulvalchick, Chicago Tribune

The Winnetka Golf Club is set to reopen Aug. 12 after being closed for two years following the construction of a stormwater retention system to prevent flooding in southwest Winnetka.

Attendees to the reopening event can look forward to a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony followed by a ceremonial first tee shot at 10:30 a.m. The course will officially open to the public at 11 a.m. Those interested can sign up beginning July 30 for tee times by calling the golf course (847-501-2050) or going to its website.

The driving range is currently open for business.

“It will be the first time that folks get to play and see all the work that has been done,” KemperSports Vice President of Operations Vince Juarez said.

July 16, 2024
Storm in Joliet hits hard in Marycrest neighborhood, Inwood Golf Course

• Learn more about Inwood Golf Course

Bob Okon, Shaw Local

The high winds ripped up trees across the Inwood Golf Course off on west Jefferson Street.

Joliet Park District Executive Director Brad Staab said park staff was assessing the damage Tuesday before deciding what to do next. But he acknowledged it was likely that new trees would have to be planted because of the extent of the damage.

“There are a significant number of experienced trees that are down,” Staab said. “We’re going to have to do something.”

July 16, 2024
NV5 Invitational comes to Glenview next week

• Learn more about The Glen Club

Pete Zimmerman, WGN News

Chris Montagano, PGA, Tournament Director, NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank, joins John Williams to talk about the 6th installment of the NV5 Invitational coming to the Glen Club in Glenview next week, who typically competes in the tournament, why it’s a great event to watch the future stars of golf, and how the tournament benefits the Evans Scholars Foundation.

July 17, 2024
Conflicts continue for area golf tournaments
Len Ziehm, Daily Herald

Scheduling conflicts have been a problem for Chicago’s tournament organizers for years. This week marks the first big conflict of this season, and the two tournaments involved are very big ones.

The 93rd Illinois State Amateur and the 124th Women’s Western Amateur both teed off Tuesday. The State Am concludes Thursday and the Women’s Western wraps ups up with a 7:30 a.m. championship match on Saturday.

This conflict isn’t as problematic as some in the past because only the Women’s Western is played on a Chicago area course. Onwentsia in Lake Forest, which hosted the first two championships in 1901 and 1902, is the host site for the fifth time.

July 17, 2024
Day 1 of the 93rd Illinois State Amateur Championship
Zach Piatt, News-Gazette

Jason Gordon from Northbrook leads the way after shooting a bogey-free 6-under-par 66. Carter Stevenson from Marquette Heights is close behind in second at 5-under, and Marcus Smith from Rockford sits in third at 4-under. They pace a field that saw only 14 players shoot below par in Tuesday’s opening round.

July 18, 2024
Bunny Hutch and Novelty Golf celebrating 75 years in Lincolnwood
George Castle, Chicago Tribune

Time stands still in so many ways for the venerable business celebrating its 75th anniversary on the northwest corner of Lincoln and Devon avenues in Lincolnwood, abutting the Chicago city line.

If you didn’t look closely, the layout of Lincolnwood Novelty Golf and its adjacent hot dog stand Bunny Hutch – by which the miniature golf courses are also known – could pass for 1954 or 1974 or 1994. Concessions to modernity of course are found, be it Summer Olympics-themed structures on the golf course or a wider menu than just wieners (no ketchup, please!) at Bunny Hutch compared to mid-20th century.

July 18, 2024
Joliet looks to reopen Inwood GC front nine on Thursday

• Learn more about Inwood Golf Course

Bob Okon, Shaw Local

The Joliet Park District on Thursday plans to reopen the front nine holes of the Inwood Golf Course and four of the baseball fields at the Inwood Athletic Complex as it recovers from the wild winds that swept through the area Monday night.

Park district facilities became the latest public venues to be shut down by the one-two punch of stormy weather that hit Joliet on Sunday morning and Monday night.

July 18, 2024
Winnetka GC makes changes to alcohol service and liquor license ahead of re-opening

• Learn more about Winnetka Golf Club

Martin Carlino, The Record North Shore

A series of liquor license amendments teed up for the Winnetka Golf Club proved to be on par for village officials — with the exception of one request that trustees said was out of bounds.

Winnetka’s Village Council approved two of three proposed amendments to the club’s liquor license during its Tuesday, July 16 meeting, striking down a request to allow alcohol service to start at 7 a.m.

July 23, 2024
NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank: Tournament facts, storylines and more

• Learn more about The Glen Club

Staff report, PGA Tour

The Korn Ferry Tour returns to Illinois for the sixth rendition of the NV5 Invitational. Past winners include 12-time PGA TOUR winner Scottie Scheffler (2019), 2021-22 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Cameron Young (2021) and 2024 ISCO Championship winner Harry Hall (2022)

Tim Widing and Taylor Dickson are gunning for that all-important third victory of the season. Achieving the Three-Victory Promotion means an immediate promotion to the PGA TOUR. Harry Higgs also has two victories, but isn't in the field this week.

July 24, 2024
Batavia-based Tour Edge announces golf industry stalwart Tim Clarke as president
Press release, First Call

Tour Edge, the pound for pound industry leader in performance and innovation, has appointed long-time golf industry leader Tim Clarke as their new President effective August 5th.

Clarke was previously with Wilson Golf for more than 25 years and was president of the brand from 2006 until 2023, one of the longest-tenured leaders in the golf equipment industry.

July 28, 2024
Thomas Rosenmueller wins NV5 Invitational at Glen Club

• Learn more about The Glen Club

Staff report, PGA Tour

Thomas Rosenmueller converted a two-stroke 54-hole lead into his first Korn Ferry Tour title Sunday, closing in 5-under 66 for a two-stroke victory over 22-year-old Australian Karl Vilips at the 2024 NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank.

Rosenmueller totaled 25-under 259, tying the fourth-lowest 72-hole score on Tour this season, in addition to tying the 72-hole tournament scoring record established in 2023 by Trace Crowe and Patrick Fishburn (Crowe prevailed in a sudden-death playoff.)

July 30, 2024
Naperville police make 20th gun-related arrest at Topgolf parking lot in just under a year
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune

In just under a year, police have made 20 firearm-related arrests in the Naperville Topgolf parking lot — the latest logged over the weekend.

Camarion Jai Cobbins, 19 of Huntsville, Alabama, was arrested shortly after midnight Sunday outside the 3211 Odyssey Court business on one charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 5, according to DuPage County Circuit Court records.

Sunday’s arrest, as has been the case with the Naperville Topgolf arrests before it, was the result of a police officer performing a foot patrol through the business’ parking lot and spotting a gun in plain view.

July 30, 2024
Glencoe Golf Club renovation causes friction with Forest Preserves of Cook County

• Learn more about Glencoe Golf Club

Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune

The renovation of the Glencoe Golf Club including a new clubhouse has led to a dispute between the Village of Glencoe and the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

After more than a year of talks, the two government entities have so far failed to come to terms on a proposed lease extension for the new clubhouse, a tree removal understanding and promotion of the golf course throughout the county.

The two sides need to come to an agreement as the Golf Club is located on both village and FPCC property.

July 31, 2024
Deerfield’s Vince India returning to tournament-playing mode
Len Ziehm, Daily Herald

Deerfield’s Vince India needed to get back into tournament-playing mode in defense of his Illinois Open title next week, and he certainly went after it with enthusiasm.

India just completed a six-month suspension for betting on golf with a legal online sportsbook. That was a severe penalty, considering India was not a participant in an event he bet on and immediately apologized for the PGA Tour infraction.