Set along the shores of Lake LBJ in Texas, The Club at Horseshoe Bay Resort offers a lifestyle that blends golf, lake living, and Hill Country wine culture. From the Jack Nicklaus Signature Summit Rock to evenings at nearby vineyards, every day feels like a retreat.
Founder: Bill Daniels
Publisher: Dave Weretka
Editor: Dave Silbar
Art Director: Stephen Hawk hawk@hawkdesign.net
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At its core, golf is a game of quiet introspection and shared experience. It’s a sport where opponents walk side by side for hours, engaged in a common pursuit against a common foe: not each other, but the course itself. On the green, political and social differences recede, replaced by a universal language of shared frustration over a missed putt or mutual admiration for a well-struck shot. It’s in these moments of shared challenge and simple companionship that people can see each other not as representatives of an opposing ideology, but as fellow human beings, each trying their best in a beautiful, albeit frustrating, game.
The etiquette and traditions of golf provide a subtle yet profound framework for respectful engagement. The game demands integrity, sportsmanship, and a genuine respect for both the rules and one’s playing partners. By stepping onto the course, individuals implicitly agree to a temporary ceasefire, a commitment to treat one another with dignity and grace. This shared commitment to fair play and mutual respect, cultivated on the links, can ripple outwards, helping to re-establish the norms of civility and understanding that are so desperately needed to heal the divisions within our country.
Our cover story focuses on a resort near and dear to my heart: Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I was fortunate to handle public relations for the property for more than a decade. It’s where business relationships turned into friendships that went well beyond the corporate world, where I would play The Brute and Highland nearly twice a week during the summer with media from across the country, and where my children learned how to ski during the winters.
Neal Kotlarek introduces us to the resort’s brand new “Wee Nip” 11-hole short game course that is being constructed on the former site of the Grand Geneva airport, where Hugh Hefner used to land his jet during the resort’s famed Playboy era.
Flipping pages, we stroll even further north into Packer Country, where Publisher Dave Weretka makes his way around stunning Door County, introducing us to the incredible golf there.
Beverly Country Club PGA Head Professional Billy Fitzgerald provides instruction on how to deliver more clubhead speed by simply using your hands.
Our ‘Chicago Proud’ features a local golfer with a story to share. This month we meet Lake Forest native Tommy Lacher and share the work he does day in and day out for Bernie’s Book Bank.
Joe Aguilar introduces us to Hollembeak, one of the country’s premier golf course construction companies located in far west suburban Big Rock. There are numerous courses across the greater Chicagoland area that have Hollembeak stampings.
Aguilar’s second piece takes us to southwest suburban Mokena and a local gem: The Golf Facility. The sprawling center that is open 24 hours a day features the latest technology, personalized coaching and much more.
Our Sweet Home Chicago Department takes you on a spin of what’s making news through the area, and our Good Stuff pages are filled with the latest and greatest gear, gadgets, and must-haves the game has to offer.
So here’s to Fall golf. To many, it is the best time of the year to play, and while the weather is cooling off, it at least provides the opportunity to bring all of our great fall golf apparel out of the closet as we get set to close out yet another great golf season.
Whether you’re walking, riding, carrying, or pushing, the Dri Lite Hybrid Tour 2 is a golf bag designed to be as versatile as you. Made from advanced waterproof fabrics, Big Max has constructed this bag to be ready for the elements and for storage. The Dri Lite Hybrid Tour 2 is available in four colorways, but this olive greenblack combo has our complete attention.
$279 us.bigmaxgolf.com
PUMA is taking a retro, yet highly recognized, shoe design and reviving it for the golf course. The new Helsinki G is a spikeless golf shoe that might remind you of gym class, but don’t underestimate its traction and functionality for the course. Five equally retro color combinations are available for you to complete your throwback look on the links.
$110 www.pumagolf.com
Have you been thinking about a new set of irons? Something that could be classified as game-improvement, for more distance and more forgiveness? The PING G440 irons have all of those attributes thanks to a more flexible face, their PurFlex badge, and low/back CG. Plus, these are not oversized or have a thick topline! PING began operation way back in 1959, and their Eye 2 irons were everywhere back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It’s time to take a look at PING for these powerful and attractive clubs! Starting at $949.99 for a set
The 2025 Ryder Cup has been one of the most anticipated golf events on U.S. soil in quite some time. What better way to commemorate it than with this small batch bourbon from Elijah Craig? With finishing notes that honor the host state of New York, you’ll pick up on applewood (Big Apple, get it?) and sugar maple as a nod to the state tree.
$69.99 www.elijahcraig.com
Slip into effortless sophistication with the B. Draddy Sport Everyday Vest—a layering piece designed for life in motion. Crafted with lightweight performance fabric, it moves seamlessly from course to casual dress. Water repellent and breathable, this vest will be your new go to. Sleek, versatile, and timeless, it elevates everyday style while offering comfort that never quits.
$240 www.bdraddy.com
Heel Your Putting Woes
L.A.B. Golf is in another stratosphere when it comes to innovative putting technology. The idea of removing torque to make a repeatable stroke is L.A.B.’s calling card, and until now, consumers only had center-shafted options. The new OZ.1i HS is a more traditional look, but with all of the customizable options as other L.A.B. putters, such as weighting, shaft lean, and even head color.
$499.99 www.labgolf.com
Caution: This little orange contraption will vastly improve your ball striking. The Strike Wedge is a fairly simple idea of a product, but it might be the key to you cutting strokes. Designed to address all ailments of poor impact, the Strike Wedge can be set up in several ways with included attachments to get you on the right path, literally and figuratively.
$67 www.strikewedge.com
FlightScope proved that the average consumer can obtain superior technology with the original Mevo. Now, the Mevo Gen2 has landed, and in-home simulator setups just got even better. With patented Fusion Tracking Technology, the Mevo Gen2 produces enhanced data that’s faster and more accurate. With no hidden fees, the Mevo Gen2 can be used indoors or outdoors, depending on where your practice takes you.
$1,199 www.flightscope.com
The key to achieving maximum speed and accuracy lies in the creation of levers on both sides of the swing and the development of a functional grip that enables such motion. Without these levers, speed is significantly reduced, making it almost impossible to match the swing motion with the body’s natural movement. Consequently, accuracy suffers as a result.
Let us commence with a drill designated as L to L. This drill is predominantly executed with the hands generating a lever in the backswing, and as the club executes its swing through impact, it subsequently establishes a second lever on the forward swing or the follow-through phase.
During the backswing, when the lead arm reaches a parallel position with the ground, the club should be positioned at a 90-degree angle, establishing the initial hinge or lever in the swing. This technique allows for the capture of speed within the lever system while simultaneously creating a straight lead arm and maintaining the desired production width throughout the swing.[Picture 1]
As the club unhinges due to the force of the club head on the downswing, it re-hinges on the forward swing, with the front side of the ball. Conversely, the front side of the club now has the trail arm parallel to the ground, and the club creates a 90-degree angle once again. This is the most significant speed producer in the swing. These levers must be constructed to generate speed and a well-sequenced swing, and then the body begins to move. As the body turns and moves, it transports the levers from one side of the ball to the other, creating harmony between the hands, wrists, arms, and body. [Picture 2]
Before proceeding with the swing, it is imperative that your hands are positioned correctly on the club to facilitate proper hinge movement. The lead hand should be positioned on top of the grip, aligning with the shoulder socket. This hand will function as the “chopper,” similar to a baseball bat swing. The trail hand should be placed on the side of the grip, acting as the “thrower.” The pocket in the palm of the trail hand should fit into the thumb of the lead hand, which is slightly offset from the side of the
grip, thereby molding the hands together. [Picture 3]
The grip should be positioned in the fingers of both hands. This placement is paramount to facilitate maximum wrist movement, enabling a complete hinge on both sides of the swing. [Picture 4]
A highly effective drill to enhance the hinging motion is the shoulder-to-shoulder drill. Stand tall and maintain a vertical posture. Place the club on your trail shoulder. This action promotes the club’s movement through your fingers, enabling you to perceive the relaxed state of your hands and arms during the swing. By adopting this
technique, you can achieve increased speed and mobility. [Picture 5]
From your trail shoulder swing, propel the club onto your lead shoulder. This motion imparts the sensation of how the club head generates motion in your hands and the club “breaks” or levers through the center of your body. It also establishes the stability of your body as the levers are developed. [Picture 6]
Billy Fitzgerald, PGA Director of Instruction
Neal Kotlarek
Chicago, as most every tourist knows, is a steak town. Find your way into the Loop and you will bump into a highly-praised, stylish restaurant specializing in steaks just about every few blocks. Well aware of this deserved legacy, JamesBeard nominated restaurateurs Jeffrey and Michael Mastro strolled into the lion’s den back in 2017 with a singular goal of upping the ante. The end-result: Steak 48 in the city’s River North area.
The two fine-dining entrepreneurs basically took the classic atmosphere of a steakhouse and re-imagined the atmosphere to create intimate dining in a spacious setting. Tables across the floor are smartly closed off from one another to provide at least a bit of privacy between groups. Servers and managers walk the floor discreetly but ensuring that wine glasses are kept full and guests are content. An evening out should be a celebration, the philosophy goes, so guests are discouraged from wearing t-shirts, cargo pants and flip-flops. You are here to enjoy an experience well beyond the stale-beer aura of another sports bar.
And then, of course, come the food and drinks. Hand-crafted cocktails (I highly recommend the Whistlepig Rye Old-Fashioned) are complemented by a liquor connoisseur’s dream line-up of aged scotches and bourbons. You are out on the town. So treat yourself to a 30-year Macallan or a cellar-aged Maker’s Mark. A wide array of tequilas and craft beers are also available.
Before describ-ing the steak menu, I can’t help but make space for the stunning seafood selection at the restaurant. My date and I were lucky enough to snag a booth near the kitchen which is walled off by a icy mountain of crab legs, Maine lobster, oysters and shrimp. Each species was obviously hand-selected for size (massive), quality, region of origin and—no surprise here—flavor. The fresh seafood tower we ordered was built to our specification and was fit for a governor if not a visiting president.
While we could have easily rested on our laurels and happily nibbled and sipped the night away on seafood and bourbon,
we couldn’t resist ordering off the prime steaks and chops section of the menu. Hand-cut by the restaurant’s master butcher, each of the proteins were seared to our request. I ordered the Australian Tajima grass-fed New York strip steak while Mary Beth dove into the Westholme Australian wagyu filet. Drive a knife through either (we prefer medium-rare) and you can’t help but admire both the cut of the meat and the perfection of the preparation. Complement the meats with sauteed wild mushrooms and the chef’s au gratin potatoes. After 10 minutes of silence, my wife and I looked at each other across the table before she spoke: “Are you kidding me?” she whispered. We went out of our way to seek out the chef after dinner to describe our experience. “I would have been devastated if you didn’t tell me you had a great meal!” he said.
A few more words are needed to describe the Steak 48 experience. By virtue of sitting near the kitchen, we were dazzled and fascinated by the staff of no less than 14 cooks, chefs and managers who worked in harmony to prepare each meal. These were serious professionals dedicated to making each preparation fantastic for us and for every other guest in the sophisticated, well-appointed restaurant. We sat on the main floor, but the second floor also opens up to a patio for romantic outdoor dining.
While we were too sated to enjoy a full dessert like the Red Velvet Pudding, our waiter insisted on a few bites of Lou Lou’s Homemade Cookies & Gelato Cake. A great recommendation!
Steak 48 is located on Wabash between Ohio and Ontario streets. It’s right across from the Bally’s Casino.
Dave Silbar
For Tommy Lacher, golf has always been more than just a game—it’s a thread woven through the fabric of his life.
While growing up in Glastonbury, Connecticut, Tommy’s earliest memories are of following his parents onto the course, acting as a miniature caddie alongside his brother. “We started really little, finding golf balls, repairing divots, and just being out there as a family,” he recalls. When his family moved to Lake Forest in 2010, Tommy was just 11 years old. He quickly found his place at Carmel Catholic High School, playing on the golf team all four years.
“We made it to State our senior year, but all four years were just an incredible experience,” Tommy shares. His love for the sport only deepened, and he continued to play at local courses like Knollwood Country Club, Pine Meadow in Mundelein, and Deer Path in Lake Forest.
But Tommy’s journey wasn’t just about perfecting his swing.
After high school, he briefly attended Notre Dame before finding his true home at Lake Forest College, where he majored in economics and political science, with a minor in legal studies.
“Lake Forest was understanding and supportive. I fell in love with the campus and never looked back,” he says.
It was during these formative years that Tommy’s path intersected with Bernie’s Book Bank, one of the most successful and revered non-profits in the Chicagoland area. Starting as an intern in 2015, he balanced part-time work during the school year with fulltime roles in the summer.
“I started in the processing center and am now the Director of Supply Chain and Information Technology,” he says. His responsibilities include overseeing book selection, purchasing, inventory, and IT—ensuring that over 2.6 million books reach more than 300,000 children each year across Chicagoland and Milwaukee.
Bernie’s Book Bank, founded in 2009 by Brian Floriani, was inspired by a simple but powerful idea: access to books can change lives. “Brian saw that
kids didn’t lack motivation or skill—they just lacked books at home,” Tommy says.
What began in a garage has grown into a 50,000-square-foot operation based in north suburban Lake Bluff powered by 17,000 volunteers annually, including major area companies such as pharmaceutical giant Abbvie.
Tommy’s passion for golf and giving back come together each year at the “Birdies and Books” charity tournament, the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. Held at the prestigious Shoreacres Country Club in Lake Bluff, the event brings together the community to support literacy and opportunity for children. A signature event for Bernie’s Book Bank, the event, held in both morning and afternoon waves, sells out months in advance.
Despite his busy schedule, Tommy still finds time to play golf—mostly at Knollwood, where his parents remain members, but also at courses like Ivanhoe and Royal Melbourne.
“Golf is about enjoying the game and the people you’re with,” he said, just before teeing off in Carmel Catholic High School’s annual charity tournament at Royal Melbourne this past August.
“I’ve learned to relax and have fun, and my game has improved because of it,” he reflects.
For Tommy, the real win isn’t just a low score on the course—it’s knowing that his work helps open new chapters for thousands of children. Could he have aspired to work in the corporate, for-profit world? Of course.
“But any other path just never held up to the great work I get to do here at Bernie’s, the opportunities, and the joy it brings,” he says.
As Tommy Lacher continues to blend his love for golf with his commitment to service, he stands as a testament to the power of passion and purpose—on the fairways and beyond.
Experience the Pete Dye-designed course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana. With the Golf & Spa Package at the Union Club Hotel, relish the signature cuts, raw bar, and curated cocktails at Boilerhouse Prime, located within the clubhouse. Then return to your boutique guest room furnished with academic-inspired decor from Purdue University’s history. Awake to a unique breakfast at Leaps Coffee or brunch at 8Eleven Modern Bistro, then renew your body and mind before a late check out with a rejuvenating treatment at The Spa Union Club Hotel.
Joe Aguilar
Jeff Hollembeak’s Scottish blood runs so deep that he would make Old Tom Morris proud.
It explains his desire to maybe one day buy hickory-shafted clubs, wear knickers and tee it up in a tournament where golfers pay homage to the game that originated centuries ago in Scotland.
“I’ve got a lot of Scottish blood from my mother’s side,” Hollembeak said. “My grandmother was a Pringle [Scottish clan].”
It explains his love for Donald Rossdesigned golf courses and finding relics buried deep in sand bunkers. Ross was born and raised in Scotland but moved to the U.S. as a young man and became renowned as one of golf’s greatest course designers.
“These [Ross] golf courses resonate with me because of my Scottish blood,” Hollembeak said.
For now, Hollembeak’s golf clubs collect dust in his attic, he jokes. The 55-yearold is too busy serving as president of Hollembeak Construction, a family-operated company that was established in 1969 and entered the world of golf course renovation almost two decades later when Jerry Rich asked Mike Hollembeak (Jeff’s dad) to “dig a pond,” Jeff said, on Rich’s 1,820-acre property in Sugar Grove.
Hollembeak Construction calls itself “the most trusted name in golf course construction and renovation” on its website, which also features a testimonial from Rich. The company, whose headquarters are
based about 50 miles due west of Chicago in Big Rock, also specializes in shoreline stabilization and ravine restoration.
Rich’s Rich Harvest Farms started with one golf hole, grew to six, then nine, then 18. It officially opened in 1999, and three years later Golf Digest placed it on its list of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.” It hosted the 2009 Solheim Cup and serves as host to the Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois and the Northern Illinois University’s men’s and women’s golf teams.
Hollembeak Construction’s work is featured all over Rich Harvest Farms. Rich has used the company for all of his golf course construction needs, from surveying, to earth moving, to shaping, to every aspect of bunker design, to USGA greens standards, to drainage, to irrigation, to final seeding.
“It’s been a working relationship and a great relationship with Jerry since Day 1,” Hollembeak said.
Today, Hollembeak Construction is a major player in Chicago for course renovations, specializing in golden-age architecture, while also boasting out-ofstate projects that helped strengthen its reputation.
“We’re doing full-blown, 18-hole renovations across a better part of the whole nation,” Hollembeak said. “We’ve been to Erie, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Iowa. My favorite part of renovation work would be rebuilding the Donald Ross
courses that we’ve been getting into the last three years.”
Hollembeak lights up when talking about the company’s full-blown renovation of the prestigious, Ross-designed Kahkwa Club in Erie, which was founded in 1893. The renovation was completed two years ago.
“It was phenomenal going in and working with the architect (Kris Spence), finding old floors on the bunkers,” Hollembeak said. “Finding artifacts in the bottom of the bunkers was quite cool, too. You would find little whiskey bottles down there on the ground. It feels like an archaeological dig project getting into a Ross work and bringing back those features that were erased by time.”
While Hollembeak waits for a potential project at the Ross-designed Oconomowoc Golf Club in Wisconsin to be finalized, work for a private company in Chicago is underway.
About a year and a half ago, Hollembeak completed a bunker renovation at the Rossdesigned Kenosha Country Club, which sits along the Pike River in southeastern Wisconsin. This fall, there are plans for the company to rebuild two original greens that “won’t hold a shot,” said Hollembeak, whose company also plans to rebuild the course’s short-range practice area.
“They did a nice job with our bunker project, and I’m assuming they’re going to do a good job with the two greens that they’re going to do,” said John Schneider, Kenosha Country Club’s general manager.
Hollembeak Construction’s other works in Illinois are many. They include Glen Oak Country Club, Schaumburg Golf Club, Cantigny Golf Club, Biltmore Country Club, Bryn Mawr Country Club, Palatine Hills Golf Club, Bob O’Link Golf Club, Briarwood Country Club, Cress Creek Country Club, Eagle Brook Country Club, Evanston Golf Club, Exmoor Country Club, Fox Bend Golf Course, The Glen Club, Harbor Shores Resort and Hawthorn Woods Country Club.
“Our guys are a very talented group of guys,” Hollembeak said. “We don’t mess around. We’re a very small-knit company, but the size of the work that we can pull off is amazing.”
Traci Hollembeak, Jeff’s wife of 34 years, serves as the company’s office manager. Jeff and Traci’s daughter, Amelia, 22, is engaged to Dylan Ohlson, 21, who’s running projects for his future father-in-law.
“He’s what I feel is the future of Hollembeak Construction,” Jeff Hollembeak said. “He, quite honestly, reminds me of myself.”
Mike Hollembeak worked for his father in the gravel and quarry business in tiny Mount Sterling in west-central Illinois in the 1950s and ’60s. The family eventually moved north and settled in Big Rock. Mike Hollembeak eventually branched off, and one day he was contacted by Jerry Rich.
“At the time, Jerry didn’t have the golf course,” Jeff Hollembeak said. “We dug a pond, and then Jerry approached my dad
and said, ‘How would you like to build an 18-hole golf course?’ “
Jeff, who has been working for his father since he was 10, graduated from Hinckley-Big Rock High, attended Joliet Junior College and then came back home to help his dad at Rich Harvest Farms. Glen Oak, which would become a longtime client, was Jeff’s first full-blown, 18-hole renovation in 1991.
Andy Dauksas has been Glen Oak’s course superintendent since 1988, and his relationship with Hollembeak Construction and the Hollembeak family started with the complete renovation in 1991.
“Every project that we’ve done they’ve been involved in,” Dauksas said. “We didn’t hire anyone else.”
Dauksas remembers not only Jeff Hollembeak and his dad being involved in the renovation in ’91, but the entire family.
“It was a team effort out here, a family effort,” Dauksas said.
Several years later at Glen Oak, when hot golf balls and hotter drivers started making courses play shorter, Hollembeak had about nine fairway bunkers placed further from tee boxes.
Hollembeak also installed Better Billy Bunker sand traps at Glen Oak. The company built a new practice chipping area for the club about five years ago. The members, Dauksas said, love it.
“Whenever we needed to build a bunker, or if we wanted to expand a green,
they would always do it,” Dauksas said of Hollembeak. “It’s been wonderful to see [the company] grow. All of the different jobs they’ve worked on, all the different architects they’ve worked with … their knowledge of construction work from greens, tees and fairways is [impressive]. We’ve had a great working relationship. They always try to fit us into their schedule.”
Mike Hollembeak turned 80 this year and still works for the company. Jeff’s “great Scot,” his mom Marlyn, is 79.
“My dad’s still running equipment in the company,” Jeff said. “He’s one of those who’s not going to quit. His grandfather was the same way. My dad had to lift his grandfather on the machine toward the end. So I have a feeling I might be doing the same with Dad.”
It’s all smiles for Jeff Hollembeak today. He’s proud of his company’s growth the past three years and excited for its future. It hasn’t been easy, however, especially after the U.S. economy negatively affected the golf industry and many other industries starting about 2008.
Jeff Hollembeak is focused on running his company, “instead of having it run me,” he said. He’s learned to not let the job consume him. He’s learned to make time for family and let his employees do the same.
“I enjoy building the courses,” he said.
Playing golf someday with hickory-shafted clubs, for now, will remain a dream.
IPGA Pros Rake in 1,257 Birdies, Raise Over $640,000 for Area Charities
The Illinois PGA Foundation annual ‘Birdies for Charity’ held September 2nd at River Forest Country Club raised over $640,000, bringing the 15-year total amount raised to over $5 million for several area nonprofits. A total of 42 Illinois PGA Professionals tallied a mind-boggling 1,257 birdies with proceeds split between the Ann Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, G.O.L.F. (Greater Organization for the Less Fortunate), and the Illinois PGA Foundation.
Team Butler National Golf Club, consisting of Rodney Wray, PGA, Andrew Svoboda, PGA, Sean Kelley, PGA, and Joe Bentivegna, PGA, carded the most birdies at River Forest, totaling 142, and raising the most money on the day at more than $123,000. Brian Carroll (The Hawk Country Club) led the field in birdies made at 46.
Meanwhile, at the Central Illinois PGA Birdies for Charity event, which was hosted at The Country Club of Decatur, host PGA Professional Nick Taute carded 37 bird-
ies in 72 holes leading the chapter in birdies made. Scott Brownfield (Country Club of Peoria) led the fundraising, bringing in over $15,000 on 23 birdies. The 2025 Chapter Birdies for Charity event benefited OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria and the Illinois PGA Foundation.
Birdies for Charity was created in 2011 when Travis Johns (Medinah Country Club) brought the concept with him from the North Texas PGA Section and proposed it to the Illinois PGA Section Board. At the time, Chris Gumbach, head PGA Professional at River Forest Country Club was the Partnership Committee Chair and immediately thought this type of event was just the kind of community involvement program the section and its members needed to rally around.
The Annual Ted Rhodes Junior Golf Championship was held on Saturday, August 9th at Joe Louis “The Champ” Golf Course in Riverdale. The Ted Rhodes Junior Golf Tour is part of the Ted Rhodes Foundation’s Future Golfers of America “Growing the Champions of Tomorrow” Program. The tour is an ongoing partnership with The First Tee of Greater Chicago.
Junior golfers from Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri between the ages of 5 and 18 participated, including junior golfers from The First Tee of Greater Chicago, Teemasters PGA Junior League Golf Program in St. Louis, Chicago Police Department “Play Like A Champion“ Golf Program, CEO Superheroes, Illinois Junior Golf Association, Prestwick Country Club, Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, and Better Family Life.
Ted Rhodes, often called the “Jackie Robinson of golf,” was a pioneering African-American golfer who broke racial barriers in the sport during the mid-20th century. Born in 1913 in Nashville, Tennessee, Rhodes
became one of the first Black players to compete in PGA-sanctioned events, challenging the discriminatory “caucasian-only” clause that kept minorities out of professional golf. A gifted player with a smooth, powerful swing, he competed in tournaments like the U.S. Open and inspired a generation of Black golfers, including Charlie Sifford and Lee Elder. Beyond his skill on the course, Rhodes served as a mentor and symbol of perseverance in the face of systemic racism, leaving a legacy that helped pave the way for greater inclusion in golf.
This month we remember the storied life of Michael “Hevy” Domek, who passed away June 26 after a courageous three-year battle with glioblastoma. Born April 16, 1969 he founded VIP Tour Company in 1992 with just $100—an early sign of his resourcefulness and vision. In 1999, he launched TicketsNow. com, a pioneering online marketplace that reshaped secondary ticket sales. Under his leadership, TicketsNow grew exponentially and earned him accolades such as Inc. magazine and Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” honors, along with recognition as one of Chicago’s top entrepreneurs. The venture culminated in its acquisition by TicketMaster.
In 2005, he and his wife Amy acquired 150 acres in far northwest suburban Woodstock, initially for a private family retreat—Bunker Hill Farms. Over the years, this evolved into a sprawling 450-acre luxury destination featuring a championship-caliber golf course, lodge, cottages, spa, outdoor recreational areas, events
venues, and much more, becoming a standout destination in the region.
Mike’s commitment to giving back was equally passionate. He founded Bunker Hill Charities in 2015, directing 100% of proceeds from the resort experience to support nonprofit causes across the northwest Chicago suburbs. His philanthropic spirit also shone through in signature events like “Rockin’ the Hill”—an annual charity concert that drew iconic artists from multiple generations, and measures such as the Muddy Bunker mud run, with all proceeds benefiting local organizations.
The Northwest suburbs has a new golf sim player in town with the opening of Swing Loose Golf in Hoffman Estates. The state-of-the-art facility opened in August and has been attracting the surrounding community, but in particular, its neighboring tenants.
Swing Loose Golf is part of Bell Works Chicagoland, an incredible mixed-use building of offices, retail, and community. With six Trackman-equipped hitting bays, Swing Loose Golf is now one of the premier spots in the area to host a corporate event or to play a round of indoor golf with your buddies.
If you’re looking for something a bit more long term, you’re just in time to sign-up for one of their Fall golf leagues. Prizes include cash, gift cards, and Swing Loose swag.
Walk-ins are welcome, but you can visit their website to find out about memberships and to see what this new sim on the block has cooking.
Swing Loose Golf
2000 Center Drive, Hoffman Estates, 60192 847-886-2770
swingloosegolf.com
October 8th: Play Dubs Like the Pros, Four-person Scramble
October 11th: Trick or Treat Open, Two-person Scramble on Course Two
November 1st and 2nd: Turkey Shoot, Four-person Team. Sign up at www.coghillgolf.com.
October 18th: 10am Shotgun Start. Round up the herd, the GOATs are taking over Glenview Park Golf Club. Join them for a four-person scramble like no other. A day on the course with the GOATs, raising money for charity, and making memories that matter. Cost is $150 per player or $500 per team. Sign up at golfonanytee.com.
Todd Mrowice
When you look at the past two to three decades, has any one individual been busier in our area than Greg Martin? Quietly, this golf course architect has construction dirt on his boots from The Preserve at Oak Meadows, Rich Harvest Links, Settler’s Hill, Whitetail Ridge, and Coyote Run. Not to mention renovations to Park Ridge CC, River Forest CC, Arrowhead, Phillips Park, Springbrook and more.
There never seems to be a dull moment for Martin Design. And as we wind down our 2025 golf season, he’ll be spending significant time at Orchard Valley Golf Club in Aurora. In November 2024, Martin began major renovations and repairs to the 31-year-old course of what was once a must-play in the western suburbs.
“It’s a very complex project,” said Martin. “Logistically, the course is very spread out. Then you consider the wetlands and permitting, along with having to rebuild all the bridges and seawalls around green complexes, construction access was challenging. Despite all of that
and the recent rainstorms, we’re looking to have the last seed in the ground this month (September).”
The efforts from Martin Design and construction partner, Wadsworth Golf Construction, have the $8.8 million project on schedule for a summer 2026 opening. Bunker reconstruction, a new irrigation system, refreshed and recaptured greens, tees and new bentgrass varieties are all part of the project.
For those that have been enjoying this Ken Kavanaugh layout since its opening in 1993, Martin noted that this is no overhaul, and it is true to the original design. “When you work with an existing course, you don’t want to remake it in your vision. You study what it was, why it was successful, and you honor the design strategies that worked,” said Martin.
“Orchard Valley will be recognizable. But make no mistake, each hole will be fully re-imagined,” said Martin. “Fresh, rejuvenated, renewed and modernized— basically a full facelift.”
Perhaps, no one knows the local importance of the project more than Greg Martin himself. Aurora is his hometown and as a current resident of Sugar Grove, he plays Orchard Valley quite often and admits that this venture has had no shortage of opinions from area golfers. Opinions, he adds, must be heard for the betterment of the project.
But before Orchard Valley is ready to open, Greg Martin will turn his focus to his next project at Maple Meadows Golf Course in Wood Dale. Beginning in November, the sister course to The Preserve at Oak Meadows will have a renovation of its own.
“Maple Meadows is a project that will illustrate how a golf course can be more enjoyable than penalizing and doesn’t have to be 7,000 yards to be entertaining. Maple Meadows will emphasize and promote fun and be a wonderful walk in nature.” Martin said enthusiastically.
As you can see, Greg Martin continues to renew, re-imagine and make the game better for golf courses throughout Chicagoland.
by Neal Kotlarek
On a picture-perfect morning in late August, a small contingent of media members walked across a grassy mound to study the 11th green of Wee Nip, the new golf course under construction at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva. “Pretty amazing, isn’t it ?” asked Ryan Brown, director of golf at the resort. “There are almost unlimited possibilities for this
green’s pin placement,” he said. Indeed, the green in front of Brown spans over 150-feet and looks like a cross between a velvetgreen landing strip and a bent-grass roller coaster. The putting surface begins on a flat expanse and then subtly moves upwards before transitioning toward a dramatic mound on the far left side. This position will one day soon be the toughest flagstick
location not only at the resort, but possibly across the entire state of Wisconsin.
Set to open in Spring, 2026, Wee Nip will usher in a new era of golf experiences at one of the most popular and renowned golf resorts in the Midwest. Long before the explosion of high-end golf courses in the central part of state, The Brute and The Highlands (formerly The Briarpatch) set the bar for premier golf in Wisconsin. And the resort’s location just east of the pristine waters of Geneva Lake have made this legacy property accessible to Chicagoans in less than a 90-minute drive.
“Grand Geneva Resort & Spa continues to evolve and enhance its amenities for guests both on and off the greens,” said Greg Marcus, president and chief executive officer of the Marcus Corporation, which owns and operates the complex. “The addition of Wee Nip reflects our dedication to providing fun, memorable experiences for everyone who visits, ensuring that Grand Geneva remains a beloved destination for all.”
The introduction of the 11-hole Wee Nip course to the golf menu at the 610-room AAA Four-Diamond property adds not just much-needed capacity; it expands the entertainment options for guests who are either new to golf or are pressed for time due to conference schedules.
Acclaimed golf architect Matt Dusenberry took those two aspects into consideration when putting together his plan for the par-3 course.
“The resort team let me know immediately how important this new short course was to the property,” he said from his suburban Milwaukee office. “The location is right behind the first tee of the Highlands course, which is just a short walk from the hotel,” he said. “The first goal was to make the course accessible and visible to guests as they stroll across the property. While Wee Nip is built
for avid players who come to the resort to golf the two championship courses, it will also cater to guests who are new to golf and to those who are just looking to try something new, exciting, interesting and fun.”
Both Dusenberry and Brown emphasized that the atmosphere around Wee Nip will be just as important as the design. The atmosphere will be relaxed and laid back. “It will be a great way to end the day, to settle bets from your earlier round and to ensure that you finish your day of golf with a big smile on your face,” said Dusenberry.
To accommodate the needs of guests who have multiple activities scheduled in a day, Dusenberry cleverly designed the course as a series of loops that bring players back to a gathering area. It’s a great place to enjoy a beverage or have a savory bite. “The idea works for a couple of reasons,” said Dusenberry. “You can complete your round after three holes or sxi holes if you’re so inclined ... or you can re-load on your favorite craft beer or cocktail at multiple intervals during your round.” The name “Wee Nip” is a direct reference to the shortness of the holes but may also reflect the size of sips taken between shots by guests who are encouraged to create foursomes, fivesomes and moresomes when challenging the course. A curated selection of whisky and bourbon will be available, including an exclusive barrel unique to the course. Additionally, there will be firepits and Adirondack chairs with a great view of the action below—a quintessential part of the Grand Geneva experience. Who needs s’mores when aged libations are readily available?
Even though a few holes remained under construction going into September, Wee Nip has already taken shape with gleaming bluegrass fairways and bent grass greens trimmed and seemingly ready for action. All 11 holes will play to 90 yards or less. Each will feature massive rolling green complexes including a few that will funnel toward the hole for better chances at birdies and aces. The 8th hole will be a putting hole, with a green starting at the tee and ending past the flagstick.
“Wee Nip is going to be a blast,” promises Dusenberry, whose impressive resume includes award-winning golf courses in Colorado, Connecticut and Argentina. “There are massive green complexes, elevation changes, a real cool routing, few bunkers, a horseshoe-shaped green, no rough and easy access to the refreshment area. Who won’t want to play this golf course?” he asked rhetorically with a hearty laugh.
Returning guests to the 44-year-old resort will undoubtedly be taken by surprise by the many flourishes and improvements that have been added to the sprawling property over just the past few years. The airport landing strip that once bisected The Highlands’ front nine has been transformed into a state-of-the-art practice center. This course has undergone an amazing evolution through the years as its origins as a Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus
continued on page 43
A return trip to Sand Valley Resort is a kind of déjà vu experience. The front entrance looks pretty much the same as it did during your last visit. And the hotel in the center of the complex looks exactly as you remembered it. But the more you look around, the more it becomes obvious that something has changed. And you have every reason to maintain that sense as change is a constant part of the master plan of this Central Wisconsin golf wonderland.
In just its ninth full season, this 12,000acre sandy expanse has maintained a constant arc of evolution, expansion and improvement. The dynamic Sand Valley course was followed by the intriguing Mammoth Dunes course. Which was very quickly joined by the Sandbox short course. Which then momentarily ceded the spotlight to the nationally-heralded Lido course. Which almost simultaneously was joined by the rolling and rollicking Sedge Valley course. And all that happened between 2017 and 2024.
The latest bauble scheduled to be added to this spectacular charm bracelet of golf will be formally introduced in the spring of 2026. The 12-hole Commons course will become the resort’s sixth layout. Located just north of Sedge Valley, the course was designed by Jimmy Craig, a shaper who worked for Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (designers of the Sand Valley course) and was the lead associate on their 17-hole Sandbox par-3 course. Already shaped and seeded, the course has received praise from national golf publications who enjoyed a sneak peek. The course—said to be inspired in part by the North Berwick Golf Club in Scotland--consists of one par-5, four par-3s and seven par-4s. The first hole is a fascinating par-5 that ends on a contoured green supported by a massive sand dune. Following the first eight holes that are located on rolling land, three of the final four holes take on a vastly different character as they weave toward, around and across Luna Lake. Like the 6,000-yard Sedge
Valley, the course encourages finesse over brawn. Place tee shots in strategic landing areas and be rewarded with open approach shots to greens. Errant tee shots, on the other hand, may wind up in one of the course’s gaping bunkers.
“The Commons course could be considered an ‘afternoon course,’” said Tom Ferrell, vice-president of media and communications of Dream Golf Resorts, in an August interview. “Guests will play one of the resort’s championship courses in the morning and might then look to test their skills with a fun, shorter course. While not a par-3 course like the Sandbox, the Commons will be accessible to every handicap level. And at 12 holes, it can be played in a couple of hours.”
Like every course at Sand Valley, the Commons is designated as a walking-only experience.
The Commons will serve as an extension of the Sedge Valley community residences located near the Sedge Valley course. These residences are located near the Tennis Center which hosts an indoor “court tennis” court, a fully-stocked pro shop and the bistro-style The Gallery Italian restaurant. Guests across the property have access to both the center and the restaurant.
“I think the Commons course will surprise and delight a lot of people,” said Ferrell. “The water holes are unlike anything else at Sand Valley—or on any Dream Golf destination, really.”
Over the past two years, the grand openings of both The Lido and Sedge Valley courses have basically defined Sand Valley as one of the nation’s premier golf complexes. Along with adding 36 holes to this former tree farm in Nekoosa, the resort has also added to its accommodations; evolved into a four-season destination; opened multiple dining options; and expanded its unique tennis offerings which includes grass tennis courts.
The origins of Sand Valley date to the early 2010s when golf construction executive
Craig Haltom came across a parcel of sand, trees and wild vegetation that he sensed would make for a great golf property. Haltom shared his discovery with Michael Keiser, who very quickly shared his enthusiasm. After the land acquisition from the Plum Creek Timber Company, Keiser hired Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to shape the land into a championship course unlike any other in Wisconsin. From emptied lakebed and forested dunes emerged the humble beginnings of what would quickly evolve into one of America’s premier golf destinations.
Honored as the Best New Course of 2017 by multiple national golf magazines, the Sand Valley championship layout appears at first glance to have been designed by Mother Nature. Sand dunes flow into wide expanses teeming with red pines, native grasses and even prickly cacti. The course design is amazingly varied and dramatic. Fairways play hard and fast; thus, tee shots spring forward by 10, 20 and even 30 yards if the ball catches the back end of a hill. Greens are large and massively undulating as they challenge players to consider angles and pin positions on every approach shot.
While it is tempting to compare Mammoth Dunes to its sister course, the fact is that the two layouts reside on completely different landscapes. Sand Valley is wide-open with saplings and shrubs lining the layout’s perimeters. Trees are a prominent feature on Mammoth Dunes—not necessarily as obstacles but to frame holes. Named Best New Course of the Year by multiple national golf magazines in 2018, Mammoth Dunes was inspired by McLay Kidd’s earlier work at Bandon Dunes in Oregon. His stated philosophy is to create courses “as natural as possible, as seamless as possible, and as sustainable as possible.” Given 500 acres of pristine land, the architect produced a feast for the eyes complete with remarkable panoramas, extravagantly wide fairways, contoured greens and even a pair of drivable par 4s. The endresult is a course that is unique, fun and visually thrilling.
The Sandbox is an ingenious 1,757-yd. 17-hole creation that serves up loads of fun in a fraction of the time it takes to play a regulation course. Laid out over 25 acres of sandy soil, The Sandbox features holes that vary in length from 40 yards to 150 yards. The green
complexes are the featured attractions on the course, with undulations and tiers challenging players to calculate landing areas sometimes far away from the flagstick locations. Depending on the greenkeeper’s inclination, some flags on the course have to be ignored as their position just behind a greenside bunker basically eliminates any chances of landing the tee shot anywhere near the hole.
In December, 2023, Sand Valley Resort was selected by the USGA to host four prestigious USGA championships. The Lido will be the primary host of the 2026 U.S. MidAmateur and of the 2029 U.S. Junior Amateur. In 2030, the resort will host the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and will follow that event in 2034 with the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur.
Five years ago, Sand Valley Resort transitioned into a four-season resort complete with holiday and wellness events as well as cross-country skiing, fat-tire biking and snowshoeing during the winter months. During spring, summer and fall, hiking trails and grass court tennis are the primary non-golf amenities. “The transition from a seasonal resort to a fullseason property was the result of demand from our guests, many of whom consider Sand Valley Resort their home away from home,” said Carter. “The obvious benefit is that our resort staff can stay in place year ‘round.”
Sand Valley Resort is just one of four premier US golf resorts in the Dream Golf Resorts portfolio. The first was the Oregon Coast’s Bandon Dunes Resort. The vision of Mike Keiser (father of Sand Valley’s Michael and Chris Keiser), the resort today encompasses seven true links courses all located along a breathtaking, remote coastline.
Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, the Sheep Ranch, Bandon Trails and the new 19-hole Shorty’s par-3 course have captivated scores of golfers from around the world ever since the original course opened in 1999.
The Dream Golf portfolio is set to expand rapidly in coming months with the introduction of two new resorts in Texas and Colorado. A 40-ft. high sand protrusion nicknamed “Old Baldy” will become the starting point for three holes over two courses at Wild Spring Dunes in East Texas. Set to open for limited play at the end of this year, the first course was designed by Tom Doak and was built on 2,463 acres of land incorporating dense areas of towering pines, steep elevation changes, spring-fed
creeks and open savannas. The resort is located in an isolated part of the state a few hours’ drive from both Dallas and Houston. Along with first-class accommodations and dining options, planned amenities include a short course and a practice center. The second course was designed by Coore & Crenshaw.
Sand dunes towering up to 90-feet high inspired the construction of the first course at Rodeo Dunes in Colorado, less than an hour’s drive from the Denver airport. Scheduled to open in 2026, the course was designed by Coore & Crenshaw, a rolling site that Coore has called “gifted land” that provides a natural canvas for greens and fairways.
“Opening up two resorts and the Commons at the same time is a real juggling act,” said Ferrell of Dream Golf Resorts with a laugh. “We would like to think that golfers who have enjoyed great experiences at Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley will be eager to travel to other parts of the country for new experiences.
“Rodeo Dunes will be vastly different from Wild Spring Dunes which is also vastly different from our other properties,” Ferrell continued. “But the one important common thread of all Dream Golf properties is our commitment to provide great experiences that will stay with our guests long after they leave the properties.”
The first course at Rodeo Dunes will be succeeded by a second course designed by the same Jimmy Craig who designed the aforementioned Commons course at Sand Valley. Craig traveled throughout Scotland and Ireland for ideas and inspiration for routing the course alongside a dramatic landscape teeming with sand dunes.
“The support we’ve received from founders and partners on all of the projects has really helped motivate these ambitious construction plans,” said Ferrell. “The name ‘Dream Golf’ is based upon a single vision of great golf experiences accessible and affordable to the general public.”
When asked about the next change coming to Sand Valley, Ferrell paused for a moment before speaking. “All I can tell you today about Sand Valley,” he said with a chuckle, “is that we’re not done building golf courses there!”
To create your own dream golf package, visit the Sand Valley Resort website:at www. sandvalley.com or Dream Golf Resorts at www.dreamgolf.com.
The Coore/Crenshaw-designed Saguaro course (No. 1) and the Scott Miller-designed Cholla course (No. 11) have been ranked among the very best You Can Play in Arizona for a decade. And you can experience both within a 3-day period with the 36-hole package. Located minutes from Scottsdale, Arizona in the pristine Sonoran Desert of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
At Dothan Country Club’s centennial, the mandate was simple and ambitious: preserve a classic golf spirit while readying the course for its next hundred years. Partnering with architect Billy Fuller and club leadership, Mid-America Golf & Landscape delivered a master plan renovation that blends Golden-Age strategy with modern craft—an effort MGL’s team is proud to call a home run.
From day one, collaboration set the tone. MGL worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Billy and the club’s project group to sequence work, protect corridors, and turn design intent into durable, day-today playability. Greens and surrounds were rebuilt with precise subgrades and internal drainage to support healthy turf and consistent speeds. Fairway widths and mowing lines were restored to reintroduce angles and choice from the tee. Bunkers were reconstructed with dependable liners
and consistent sand profiles that hold up under heavy play and Southern weather. This renovation wasn’t just about how the course looks—it’s about how it plays. The rebuilt green complexes have expanded everyday hole locations. Surrounds invite recovery options on the ground or in the air. Strategy is clearer, variety is richer, and the walk feels like the classic course members love—only more engaging round after round.
Mother Nature made sure we earned it. A very wet early summer tightened windows and put real pressure on grassing deadlines. Our crews responded with flexible phasing, added work fronts, and close coordination with the superintendent to capture every planting opportunity. The result: turf establishment stayed on track and the schedule held—without compromising finish quality.
What stands out most, looking back, is the partnership. Billy’s design direction
and the steady input from those at the club created a truly shared process. MGL’s role was to bring discipline to the details—subgrade, drainage, irrigation, and finish—so that the architecture could shine and the maintenance team would inherit a course built on strong bones.
Dothan Country Club at 100 is proof that new work can feel classic. It’s golf that welcomes every player, rewards thoughtful aggression, and holds up beautifully day after day. For Mid-America, it’s also a favorite—because great outcomes follow when architect, owner, and builder pull together.
Thinking about a master plan—or targeted improvements—with the same balance of tradition and performance? Let’s talk.
Mid-America Golf & Landscape Lee’s Summit, Missouri mid-americagolf.com
by Dave Weretka
O
n Nova Scotia’s Northumberland Shore, where the light comes in silver and blue and the wind tastes faintly of salt and spruce, Fox Harb’r Resort unfurls like a tapestry beside the sea. Twenty-five years young this season, the property feels both classic and newly burnished—an Atlantic refuge where golf is the heartbeat. In 2025, the resort celebrates its quarter-century with a striking golf evolution, expanded culinary flourish, and the same East Coast warmth that has drawn players and families here since the gates first swung open.
Fox Harb’r has always been blessed with a rare canvas: broad parkland meadows stitched to cliff-hugging shoreline. The original championship course—long a fixture on Canadian must-play lists—offered that dual personality: inland holes with a statuesque, parkland poise yielding to a back nine that brushes the edge of the strait. Tiger Woods once wrote a 63 on its card, a ghost-low number that still whispers across the tees on breezy mornings.
“We first started talking about building more golf holes about five years ago. Initially, the plan was to build nine holes, but shortly after starting construction, we made the decision to expand and build a full 18. This past May, we opened the first new nine holes, and the second new nine will open next May. In addition, we’re redoing two of our existing holes to further enhance the course. By 2027, golfers can look forward to having all 36 holes open for play—offering an incredible variety of layouts and experiences”, said Elliot Isenor, Director of Golf Operations.”
Now the resort’s next chapter puts the sea squarely in the frame. For the 2025 season, Fox Harb’r introduced the Ocean Nine, a dazzling stretch of new coastal golf crafted by Canada’s acclaimed duo, Doug Carrick and Tom McBroom. Routed hard by the water, the holes are sculpted with a light hand—ribbons of fairway laid across dunesy shoulders, greens perched to receive salt-laced wind and low, flighted approach shots. To complete an 18-hole round, this Ocean Nine pairs temporarily with an existing nine while construction continues on the full oceanside course—part of a master plan to create two distinct 18-hole layouts at the resort. The sibling on deck? The Vineyard Course, a heathland-parkland expression that will move among grape rows and inland contours, offering a windsheltered counterpoint to the strait. Together, they promise a twin-dial experience: one links-leaning and wild-edged; one inland, tawny, and strategic. Doug Carrick states, “Both courses will be marketed as equal but distinct experiences, emphasizing the unique coastal drama of the Ocean Course and the sheltered, heathland-inspired charm of the Vineyard Course. The goal is to appeal to golfers seeking variety, with the Vineyard Course offering a respite from windy conditions and a different visual and playing experience. “
Beyond the scorecard, Fox Harb’r treats the rhythms of a golf day with indulgent care. Wander from the range—breezes combing the practice tee—toward the first tee with a coffee still warm in your palm. Post-round, a twilight walk down to the marina and take in the sunset where the horizon bruises purple.
If the golf is the headline, the stay is the satisfying subhead. Fox Harb’r’s accommodations feel tailor-cut for golfers who favor space, quiet, and the gentle ceremony of returning “home” after a day’s round. Along the hillside above the water, the Marina Landing Villas gather sunrise and sea into floor-to-ceiling frames. Three- and four-bedroom layouts mean a buddies’ trip can spread out— each bedroom with its own bath, fine linens, and shawl robes that convince even the most restless player to linger in the morning. A gourmet kitchen sets up late-night snacks and early-builder breakfasts; the private deck becomes your 19th hole, with wind-softened conversations carrying into the blueon-blue evening.
Elsewhere on property, the newly constructed Harb’r Stone Village Townhomes offer open-concept, four-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot retreats—marrying the comforts of a private residence with the polish of a five-star resort.
Hunger at Fox Harb’r is a delicious thing to have. The resort’s culinary program leans into its geography with confidence and care—Atlantic seafood pulled from nearby waters, Tatamagouche lamb, greenhouse greens and herbs coaxed from the resort’s own soil. Cape Cliff Dining Room sets the fine-dining tone: a contemporary Atlantic table where a spring pea-and-mint soup sings of the season, Digby scallops arrive perfectly glazed, and caviar—yes, sustainably harvested and elegantly presented—adds a celebratory shimmer. The seared filet of Blue Salmon sat on a bed of chorizo and split pea risotto, tomato confit and torn herbs. So many flavors enlightening the tastebuds. For a more casual experience, visit The Willard Gastropub. Think elevated comforts: a proper Fox Harb’r burger, that essential classic Nova Scotia lobster roll, crisp fish and chips, a chicken-and-waffle sandwich that smiles at decadence. It’s the clubhouse you always wished for—lively, welcoming, stocked with local craft pints.
The culinary through-line is simple: ingredients that taste of place, treated with respect. Even the resort’s broader regional partners acknowledge that Fox Harb’r’s kitchens are a stage for Atlantic Canada’s pantry—Malagash oysters, Northumberland lobster, and seasonal produce making repeat appearances in ways both classic and inventive.
It’s easy to spend an entire day—from that first warm-up swing to the last putt—within the gravity well of Fox Harb’r’s golf. But to come here and not sample the rest is to leave treasure in the sand. The Spa & Wellness Centre coaxes travel-tired muscles back to suppleness, while the junior Olympicsize pool invites long, meditative laps or a lazy float beneath skylights. Beyond restorative pursuits, the resort offers an enthusiast’s playground. The Sporting Lodge offers a non-equine Trifecta that includes sport shooting with expert instruction at a licensed five-stand facility, archery and axe throwing. On the water kayaking awaits. Try an e-bike and get the blood pumping tracing ocean-view paths, and pontoon or yacht tours that turn the coastline into a moving panorama. The deep-water marina ties the sea to the doorstep. A private airstrip and charter service meet guests who prefer to arrive on their own timetable.
continued on page 44
We at Golf360 are preparing for our 10th year, and 30th year overall, of producing golf TV shows. Each monthly episode airs a minimum of 10 times on The Marquee Network, the official station of the Chicago Cubs. We are proud to announce that longtime WGN-TV sports anchor/reporter Dan Roan is the new host of Golf360 TV!
For airtimes, visit
www.linksvideo.net/golf360tv
Just off I-80 in Mokena, Illinois, there’s a haven where golf never sleeps. At The Golf Facility (TGF), the season never ends, the technology is cutting-edge, and the doors are open around the clock. For golfers of every level—from beginners gripping a club for the first time to seasoned players refining their edge—this is where games are sharpened, skills are nurtured, and confidence takes root.
Step inside and you’ll feel the hum of possibility. The bays gleam with the glow of Foresight Sports GC Hawks, the same trusted technology used by PGA and LPGA professionals to measure every detail—club path, face angle, launch trajectory, spin rates. Here, practice isn’t guesswork—it’s science. Players can tee it up on over 150 world-class courses without ever leaving Chicago’s South Suburbs, from windswept links to storied championship layouts.
Then there’s the putter studio, a sanctuary for those who understand that every round is won or lost on the green. Outfitted with Quintic, the world’s premier putting launch monitor, and V1 Sports high-speed cameras, it captures the most subtle elements of your stroke— the roll, the side spin, the exact launch of the ball. Add the mesmerizing Puttview interactive green, a 750-square-foot canvas that projects break lines, drills, and even games onto the surface, and suddenly, practice becomes immersive, almost playful. Yet every roll takes you closer to mastery.
But what truly sets TGF apart isn’t just the technology—it’s the people. A team of approachable, encouraging PGA Professionals bring wisdom and motivation to every lesson. They understand that no two players learn alike. Some need technical precision, others thrive on encouragement, and all benefit from TGF’s mantra: “You can do this—you just need more time.”
And time is something members here never run short of. With 24-hour access through a simple mobile app, golf finally bends to your schedule. Early riser? Practice before work. Night owl? Tee it up at midnight. The freedom to train when it works best makes progress inevitable.
Beyond lessons and practice, TGF buzzes with the community. From indoor events to friendly competitions, the facility hums year-round with energy and camaraderie. Whether you’re chasing lower scores, seeking the perfect putter fit, or simply looking for a welcoming place to keep your game alive through Chicago’s winters, The Golf Facility is designed to meet you where you are—and take you where you want to go.
So the next time your swing is calling, don’t wait for warmer weather or clear skies. Head to Mokena, where the lights are always on, the greens always roll true, and your best game is waiting.
For more information, visit www.thegolffacility.com, email info@thegolffacility. com, or call (708) 694-4014. Check out the social pages on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Dave Weretka
There’s a certain ritual that stirs in the hearts of Chicagoans when the city’s heat begins to rise or when the soul longs for a reprieve from steel, glass, and gridlock. They point their cars north, crossing into Wisconsin, and follow the ribbon of highways until they reach the peninsula known as Door County—a landscape that seems painted with a softer brush, where Lake Michigan cradles the land on one side and Green Bay glimmers on the other. It is here that Chicagoans have, for generations, found a second home. Not only for its quaint villages, cherry orchards, and clapboard cottages, but for its intoxicating outdoors: the trails, the lakeshore, and—most reverently—the golf courses that unspool across meadows and forested bluffs.
Door County is the place where city folk shed their hurry and lean into the rhythm of nature. For golfers, hikers, cyclists, and kayakers, this peninsula is a sanctuary, a place where time expands and the spirit breathes more deeply. “We’re pretty easy to get to just up the lake from Chicago. It’s an easy drive. You can expect a really kind of a small town feel, but like a lakeside retreat”, says Jon Jarosh, the Chief
Communications Director of Destination Door County..
the Magnetic pull of the peninsula’s Outdoors
Door County is stitched together by five state parks, 30 beaches, and hundreds of miles of trails. For Chicagoans accustomed to running or cycling along the Lakefront Trail, the peninsula offers a more untamed and varied playground. Peninsula State Park, the crown jewel, draws tens of thousands visitors every year. Spread across nearly 4,000 acres, the park is a patchwork of dense hardwood forest, limestone bluffs, and sandy shoreline. Lace up your boots and trek along Eagle Trail, its rocky paths hugging dramatic cliffs, or rent bikes and glide through the Sunset Trail, a paved loop that ambles past marshes, woods, and scenic overlooks of Green Bay. A perfect place to rent a bike is right outside the state park entrance. Nor Door Sport & Cyclery is family owned and has been serving the area since 1984. [www.nordoorsports.com] Water, too, is a magnet. Kayakers slip their boats into the clear shallows at Nicolet Beach, their paddles dipping rhythmically
as they trace the shoreline past caves and eagle nests. In summer, sailboats catch the afternoon breeze, and in autumn, the shoreline burns crimson and gold as maples and oaks show off their brilliance.
It is this close marriage of land and water that appeals so deeply to Chicagoans—a contrast to their own city’s manicured parks and crowded lakefront. Here, the elements feel raw, unfiltered, and infinitely more personal.
For many Chicagoans, Door County is not only a retreat but a golfing pilgrimage. The peninsula boasts an array of courses, each with its own personality, scenery, and legacy. These aren’t cookie-cutter suburban courses—they’re living landscapes where lake breezes, migrating birds, and ancient forests share the fairways with players.
No course embodies Door County’s character more fully than Peninsula State Park Golf Course, perched inside the state park itself. Established in 1923 as an 18 hole course, Peninsula has been embraced by Chicagoans who are drawn to its charm: the rolling fairways lined with towering maples and birches, the views that open like windows onto Green Bay, the sense of stepping into another era of golf. Jarosh adds, “Peninsula State Park is one of the most popular parks in all of Wisconsin. It features a plethora of activities and scenic beauty. In addition, the golf course has some really great waterfront views.”
Each hole feels cut by nature itself rather than by bulldozers. There is nothing pretentious about Peninsula; its greens are true, its fairways generous, and its beauty quietly humbling. It is a breath of fresh air and it feels like an escape into the essence of the game.
The seventh hole is currently under construction for the season as our friends from Hollembeak Construction are rebuilding the green and putting in Better Billy Bunkers. It will re-open during the 2026 golf season. Hole #10 is a beautiful dog leg left guarded by trees on the left side as you navigate your tee ball to the right side of the fairway overlooking Eagle Harbor. Hole #12 is a true shot maker’s hole as your tee shot must find a narrow fairway and then
hit your approach to an elevated green that slopes right to left. It’s a course that holds up to the test of time and leaves you wanting more.
Not far away, The Orchards at Egg Harbor offers a different tone—refined, sculpted, and elegant. Built among former apple orchards, the course winds through mature hardwoods and water features that glisten in the sun. Designed to test skill without punishing the casual player, The Orchards rewards thoughtful strategy and precise shot-making.
Those who frequent suburban country clubs find comfort in The Orchards’ immaculate conditioning and championship layout, but they also relish the surrounding countryside. This is a course you want to play again and again. The par-5 16th offers a mental test as you must be precise to avoid a pond on your 2nd shot. Strategic bunkering makes this uphill a fun ride. After a round, it’s common to sip a glass of Door County’s famous cherry wine at a nearby tasting room or to wander into Egg Harbor for a leisurely dinner. Golf here feels like a celebration of both sport and place. Further down the peninsula lies Maxwelton Braes, a course with a proud history dating back to the 1920s. Here, one can still feel the aura of the game’s golden age. Its classic parkland design features broad fairways edged with evergreens and bunkers positioned with strategic subtlety. Unlike some modern courses, Maxwelton doesn’t overwhelm with gimmicks or forced drama; it allows the landscape to tell the story. Recently purchased by Mark Murphy, the president of the Green Bay Packers from 2007 to 2025, improvements are already paying dividends as the course is in superb shape due to the addition of fairway irrigation throughout. The greens have subtle movement and are pure.
Plan on staying at the Maxwelton Lodge right next to the course. This Tudor-style lodge opened in 1929. Built with locally quarried limestone, this boutique property blends vintage elegance with modern comfort. The charm of Maxwelton Braes lies not just in its playability but in its timelessness. It is golf as it once was: unhurried, rooted in tradition, set against the pastoral
beauty of Bailey’s Harbor. Many make the pilgrimage here precisely because it feels like stepping into a bygone era where the game was simpler, yet no less profound.
Finally, Cherry Hills, just outside Sturgeon Bay, offers a welcoming atmosphere for families and casual golfers. It is accessible, affordable, and laid-back—the kind
of course where beginners cut their teeth and veterans rediscover joy without pressure. Set amidst cherry orchards and open fields, Cherry Hills glows especially bright in spring when blossoms dust the landscape with delicate white petals.
Chicagoans traveling with family often gravitate here. The course invites everyone, from serious golfers honing their craft to children learning the grip of a club. Its wide fairways and forgiving layout mirror the spirit of Door County itself—open, inclusive, and brimming with quiet delights.
Of course, Door County’s magic lies in more than golf. Weave golf into days filled with biking, hiking, and exploring lighthouses that stand sentinel along the shores. Then shop at farmers’ markets where cherries, cheeses, and baked goods fill baskets,
and in the evenings, gather around fish boils—an old Scandinavian tradition where whitefish, potatoes, and onions are cooked over open flames that leap dramatically into the night sky when kerosene is tossed onto the fire.
Others seek Door County’s artistic soul. The peninsula is scattered with galleries, pottery studios, and small theaters. Chicagoans, accustomed to the grand stages of the Goodman or Lyric Opera, find joy in these intimate performances, where actors, musicians, and painters draw inspiration from the land and waters around them.
But it is the outdoors that calls them back, time and again. Cycling along country roads, pausing at a roadside stand for fresh cherry pie; paddling through limestone caves carved by waves; wandering through Ridges Sanctuary where orchids bloom in summer and sandhill cranes call
overhead. These experiences stitch themselves into memory, becoming reasons to return, year after year.
In truth, Door County is not merely a destination but a relationship. It offers an antidote to the intensity of city life, a place where weekends stretch longer and summer seems eternal. The drive north itself has become a rite of passage for families, couples, and groups of friends—a journey of shedding stress mile by mile until the peninsula’s first glimpses of water greet them.
The golf courses are anchors to this relationship, grounded in tradition and recreation. Whether it’s a round at Peninsula State Park with its sweeping vistas, a polished outing at The Orchards, a nostalgic stroll through Maxwelton Braes, or a joyful afternoon at Cherry Hills, golf becomes the frame through which guests experience Door County’s larger landscape.
Yet beyond the scorecards, it is the embrace of nature—unruly, generous, endlessly changing—that keeps them tethered. “People love getting out on the water here, kayaking tour boats. [We’ve] got some great kayak outfitters that do guided tours”, says Jarosh. The peninsula is a place of both stillness and vitality, where one can paddle into the morning fog, hike until lungs fill with pine-scented air, or stand on a bluff at sunset, watching the sky dissolve into lavender and gold.
Chicagoans have long loved Door County, and the bond only deepens with time. Perhaps it’s the ease of the drive, the familiarity of the small towns, or the constancy of the cherry trees and shoreline. But more than anything, it is the outdoors— the trails, waters, and golf courses—that holds their loyalty. Here, just a few hours north, they find what the city cannot offer: space to breathe, to move, to play, and to be restored.
And so, as each summer dawns and each autumn paints the forests with fire, Chicagoans will keep returning. They will chase birdies on Peninsula’s bluffs, stroll the fairways of Maxwelton, and savor postround evenings under Door County’s starlit skies. The peninsula has become, in its own quiet way, a second home—one defined not by addresses but by experiences, not by walls but by landscapes.
For those who make the journey north, Door County is less a destination than a promise kept: that life is richer when lived outdoors, and that golf—woven into the land as seamlessly as orchards and waves— can be as much about belonging as it is about the game itself.
collaboration transitioned to a far more playable 18 renovated by Bob Cupp in 1996 and then made even more open and accessible by a Bob Lohmann renovation in 2006. “Those two renovations were needed to make the course more open and fun,” said Brown. “The resort is considered the most popular conference destination in Wisconsin, offering groups a prestige golf experience supported by exceptional lodging, a full-service spa, newly renovated meeting space and the diversity of two championship courses,” he added. “Golfers are drawn to The Highlands because of its rugged, backwoods feel and challenge. Today, The Highlands is just as popular as The Brute.
Designed by Robert Bruce Harris, The Brute has maintained its classic look and feel that perennially keeps the course listed among the top 10 layouts in Wisconsin. The 7,029-yard course features greens the size of soccer fields and holes that stretch across swaths of hilly terrain. Every aspect of the course is super-sized, from its tees to its bunkers to its drama. “There is a reason why the course is called The Brute,” said Brown. “It can be tough and unforgiving. But most golfers find a way to look past the bogeys along the way as the scenery is spectacular and the holes are just plain fun from 1 to 18.” Higher handicappers should not despair as the course can be attacked at a more manageable 5,840 yards from the silver tees.
The two championship golf courses at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa have hosted dozens of tournaments, qualifiers and spectator events over the decades. More than 200 outings take place at the property annually. The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame outing is an annual celebrity proam hosted by Green Bay Packers legends Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson. “Each of the two courses can host over 140 players at one time,” said Brown. “Plus the resort has an experienced culinary team to make every event unique and memorable.”
Owned since 1994 by Milwaukee-based Marcus Corporation (which also owns or manages 17 resorts and hotels across the country), Grand Geneva Resort & Spa has received over $45 million in renovations and expansion in recent years—inclusive of the Wee Nip addition. Rooms are elegantly appointed, with many suites overlooking The Brute course and its massive 20-acre lake that lines both the 9th and 18th fairways.
Golf has always been an integral feature of our resort,” said managing director Skip Harless. “We take pride in offering families, couples and business groups an entire spectrum of amenities and activities. The addition of Wee Nip will appeal to all of our guests from beginners to skilled players. The area behind the first tee will be welcoming and festive with music, food and beverage service.”
Non-golf activities are plentiful across the resort, from pickleball, rock climbing, to skiing and sledding in the winter season which is also highlighted by the hugely popular Christmas in the Country celebration. The event stretches over six weeks beginning November 23rd and features over two million Christmas lights, a drive-thru light show, trolley tours and a variety of holiday surprises.
Hotel amenities include 10,000 sq. ft. of wellness at WELL Spa + Salon that incorporates daily fitness classes, a whirlpool, sauna, steam room recovery programs and metabolic testing. The full-service salon and spa includes services ranging from soothing massages to hairstyling, nail treatments and makeup consultations and treatments. Around the resort are miles of wooded, pet-friendly hiking paths as well as indoor
and outdoor pools. Some 62,000 square feet of indoor functional conference space was designed to host meetings, conventions and corporate holiday parties.
Golfers should take advantage of the resort’s amazing Summer Stay & Play packages which for the price of a room each night of a stay, guests can enjoy two rounds of golf with no restrictions on when you play or which course. Packages include cart fee and complete use of practice facilities. Book your tee times early to coordinate with your stay.
No review of the resort is complete without reference to the amazing dining options, which include Ristorante’ Brissago and the Geneva ChopHouse. On my stay on a Sunday night in August, I enjoyed a prime dry-aged bone-in ribeye, expertly prepared medium rare, with potatoes and vegetables on the side. As I finished dinner, Sunday fireworks dazzled kids and kids at heart as they reflected on the lake waters in the distance. A great way to start the week.
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is located in the heart of Lake Geneva, off of Hwy. 50 just east of Hwy 12. For reservations and more information, visit www.grandgeneva.com.
Where one great course leads to another!
This is no ordinary golf getaway. This is an amazing golf experience... This is The Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail. Book your Golf Trail getaway today!
Fox Harb’r continued from page 37
The best amenity, though, may be time itself—how the property seems to stretch it. Mornings unspool unhurried, afternoons lounge at the pace of conversation, and evenings linger like an encore. It’s the rare resort that makes a weekend feel like a week.
The 25th anniversary gives Fox Harb’r a perfect excuse to look both ways: backward with gratitude, forward with appetite. What started as a visionary’s passion project on 1,100 oceanfront acres—an immaculate private-club experience that welcomed the public—has matured into a destination with range and confidence: world-class golf growing into a two-course showpiece; cuisine that honors Nova Scotia’s bounty; accommodations that combine privacy and polish; amenities that invite both adrenaline and ease. The resort’s own celebration this year is telling: opening the Ocean Nine, previewing a full oceanside course, and accelerating work toward the complementary Vineyard layout—signals not of a silver anniversary settling into memory, but of a resort leaning forward into its prime.
And yet, for all the new, Fox Harb’r remains anchored by its original seduction: that moment on a tee box where the strait breathes against your face, gulls caw like distant hecklers, and the flag two clubs down gives a small, taunting nod. You pick a shot shape—low and carving, or high on the wind—and the swing becomes a line you draw across sky and sea. Walk after it. The turf is springy underfoot, the air is clean, the vista unedited. Twenty-five years in, Fox Harb’r still feels like a discovery.
Book tee times with an eye to the Ocean Nine—ask about the current 18-hole routing that pairs those new coastal holes with an existing nine, and get intel on the Vineyard project’s progress. It’s an unusual chance to watch a destination course take shape while you play it.
In the end, Fox Harb’r is less a single note than a chord—ocean and orchard, links wind and parkland hush, polished dining and fireside ease. It is truly the Canadians Atlantic premier destination. A place that, at twenty-five, has never felt more alive. Seasonal packages are available from April through November.
www.foxharbr.com
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Abbey Springs
262-275-6113
One Country Club Dr. Fontana, WI 53125 abbeysprings.org
Abbey Springs has been rated 4.5 Stars by Golf Digest. With spectacular views of Geneva Lake, Abbey Springs underwent a major green renovation in 2021, featuring state of the art 007 bent grass on all greens. Make your reservation at the web site above.
Golf Club
630-653-5800
26W151 Butterfield Rd. Wheaton, IL 60189 arrowheadgolfclub.org
Arrowhead Golf Club is recognized for its beautifully maintained course and inviting atmosphere.
Arrowhead is a public course which offers impeccable golfing conditions at affordable rates on three separate par-72 18-hole layouts surrounded by forest preserve. The West, East, and South Courses feature new bunker renovations and enhancements. The practice area includes a lighted driving range, putting green, and chipping green. Group and individual golf lessons are available.
Belmont Golf Club
630-963-1306
2420 Haddow Ave. Downers Grove, IL 60515 belmontgolfclub.org
The historic Belmont Golf Club is a scenic 9-hole par-36 course featuring mature trees, natural areas, elevation, and water hazards. A driving range with 24 hitting stations, a practice putting green, sand trap, and chipping area includes a 10-station covered shelter.
Avoda Golf info@avodagolf.com avodagolf.com
We’re actively looking for coaches and fitters in the Chicago area to join the Avoda network.
Our Precision Fit System gives professionals access to a mobile, player-led fitting experience—designed to deliver game-changing results by tailoring clubs to each golfer’s unique swing. It’s built for coaches who want to elevate their client offering with a system that puts the player first.
Think you or your facility could be a great fit? Get in touch— Avoda is expanding in Chicago.
The Bluffs
Public Golf Club
815-467-7888
24355 W. Bluff Rd. Channahon, IL 60410 heritagebluffs.com
18 Holes: Par 72
Yardage: 5,035 - 7,171
Located near the intersection of Interstates 80 and 55 just south of Joliet, Heritage Bluffs is the pride of the Channahon Park District. The tranquil surroundings make a day playing golf fun and relaxing.
Along with our award-winning course we also feature a large all-grass practice range, along with a large putting green and a separate chipping green and bunker. After your round you can relax in our Grille Room or out on the patio, enjoying a full menu of delicious food and beverage choices.
Balmoral Woods Golf Club
708-672-7448
26732 S. Balmoral Woods Dr. Crete, IL 60417 balmoralwoods.com
Balmoral Woods offers a demanding, superbly conditioned, magnificent round of golf. Laid out over 280 acres of wooded, rolling hills, the course will test the skill of golfers with its 6700-yard, 72.6 rated, 133-slope layout. It is a public 18-hole golf course, has hosted many local and state events and tournaments, and is the annual home of the Will County Amateur Championship. Check out our website for new rates, reservations, and more information. Follow us on instagram for the latest updates and events.
Bullseye Golf Club
715-423-2225
2800 Ridgewood Trail Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 bullseyegolfclub.com
Designed by Larry Packard featuring towering pines giving a feel of the Carolinas right in Central Wisconsin. The Wisconsin River provides a picturesque view for the finishing holes across our rolling terrain. Warm up before your round on our new 30,000 sq. ft. bent grass practice tee!
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club
866-264-4455
12294 Archer Ave. Palos Park, IL 60439
coghillgolf.com
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, a Jemsek Golf Facility, is a historic 72-hole public golf facility located 30 miles southwest of Chicago. The yearround facility includes a driving range equipped with lights and heated Toptracer stalls, two golf shops, patio dining, and a pavilion for events, along with a 280-seat banquet hall.
• Rated in“America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” by Golf Digest
• 2020 GRAA Top 50 Public Range in the Nation
E9 Club
847-306-4423
25681 Hillview Ct.
Mundelein, IL 60060
e9clubs.com
E9 Club is the premier indoor golf and social club that revolutionized the trend in 24/7 indoor golf memberships. It’s a club where the traditions of golf meet today’s technology. Our members are attracted to the camaraderie and culture of belonging to a group of like-minded golf lovers, who share in the very nature of golf: it’s competitive spirit, challenge for self improvement, and community of life-long friendships.
Elevation Golf
630-590-5105
810 Village Center Drive Burr Ridge, IL 60527 elevationus.com/collections/ chicago
• Open to the Public
• Practice or Play
• Foresight and Trackman Simulators
• Over 50 Golf Courses Available
• Monthly memberships Available
• Contact Us to Reserve Your Permanent Time
• Golf Leagues Available
RightSize Adjustable
Kids Putter
717-745-8524
goforitgolf.com
The RightSize Adjustable Putter is the ultimate all-in-one club for kids and families. With its patented extendable shaft, it grows with your child, eliminating the need for multiple putters. Perfect for mini golf, the basement, or the course. It’s fun, durable, and easy to use!
You now have your choice of simulator rental. Make sure to make all selections before you book your simulator. In this order, please select location, resource, group size, reservation length, date, and time.
The Golf Facility
708-694-4014
19031 Old LaGrange Rd. Suite 200 Mokena, IL. 60448 thegolffacility.com
Golf Facility is an indoor golf club located in Mokena, Illinois, that hosts eight golf simulator bays powered by Foresight Sport’s GC Hawk and FSX Play sim courses, a 750 square foot putting green powered by Puttview, a golf instruction room powered by V1 Sports high speed cameras, and V1 Sports teaching software. Finally, we host a state-of-the-art putting fitting studio powered by Quintic who offers the #1 launch monitor for putting in the world. We have it all to grow your golf game of any level!
Elevation Golf
317-816-3111
Prairie View Golf Club 7000 Longest Drive Carmel, IN 46033 elevationus.com/pages/ indianapolis-1
• Open to the Public Year Round
• Indoor/Outdoor Academy at Prairie View GC
• Four Indoor/Outdoor Hitting Bays with Heaters for Offseason Use
• Three Indoor Simulators
• Trackman, Foresight, Uneekor, and About Golf Simulators
• Memberships Available
You now have your choice of hitting bay or simulator rental. Make sure to make all selections before you reserve. In this order, please select location, resource, group size, reservation length, date, and time.
Golf Factory
224-248-8163
63 Randhurst Village Dr. Mt Prospect, IL 60056 golffactory.golf
The Golf Factory is a 9000-square-foot indoor golf haven created by golfers for golfers. Our vibrant space boasts top-tier indoor golf technology, including 10 state-of-the-art Trackman golf simulators. With over 350 golf courses, games, video, and practice modes, our facility caters to everyone from beginners to seasoned players. Apart from personal enjoyment, Golf Factory is an ideal venue for parties and corporate events,.
Fountain Hills Golf Club
708-388-4653
12601 S. Kedzie Ave. Alsip, IL 60803 alsipparks.org
Fountain Hills Golf Club is a par- 36 9-hole layout measuring 3,233 yards. It has a nice collection of golf holes, unique in character and strategy, making this course playable for the beginning golfer, with plenty of interest and challenge for the experienced player.
Additional amenities include a 30-station lighted driving range, practice putting green, sand trap, and chipping area, along with a 100-seat banquet hall. After your round unwind at our BackNine restaurant and bar.
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
262-248-8811
7036 Grand Geneva Way Lake Geneva, WI 53147 grandgeneva.com
Tee off on two award-winning 18-hole courses that make Grand Geneva Resort & Spa one of the Midwest’s favorite golf destinations. Enjoy individual tee times offering dynamic pricing, private instruction led by certified PGA staff and fully customized group outings.
Green Garden Country Club
815-469-3350
9511 Manhattan-Monee Rd. Frankfort, IL 60423
greengardencc.com
Green Garden Country Club features two 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course. Each course offers its own unique style of golf as well as a variety of scenery and challenges that makes the golf experience enjoyable for players of all levels.
Hickory Hills Country Club
708-598-5900
8201 95th St. Hickory Hills, IL 60457
hhcountryclub.com
Located at the edge of Chicago and nestled within a lush oasis since 1917, Hickory Hills Country Club extends an invitation to a world-class retreat. Remarkably different in character, it has distinguished itself as a premier golf course from all the others in the area.
Massive glaciers once covered most of the Continental United States, and when they stopped advancing the accumulation of glacial debris created beautiful hilly areas called moraines, which have become the signature of our rippling fairways.
Kankakee Elks Country Club
815-937-9547
2283 Bittersweet Dr. Saint Anne, IL 60964 elksgolf627.com
The Kankakee Elks Country Club is an 18-hole par-72 course. It is one of Illinois’ premier Langford @ Moreau design courses, featuring some of the best green complexes in Illinois, 40 miles south of Chicago along the beautiful Kankakee River with very affordable rates. Chose from one of our four tees to accommodate all levels of play.
Driving range, chipping area, and putting green with newly remodeled bar and snack shop.
Lake Arrowhead
715-325-2929
1195 Apache Ln. Nekoosa, WI 54457 lakearrowheadgolf.com
Located in the heart of Central Wisconsin, Lake Arrowhead boasts two of the Midwest’s elite 18-hole golf courses. Here you have the rare opportunity to enjoy not just one, but two 4½ star championship golf courses in one incredible experience.
Harborside International Golf Club
312-782-7837
11001 S. Doty Ave. East Chicago, IL 60628
harborsidegolf.com
Harborside International Golf Center, home to the Port & Starboard Courses, is Chicago’s home for golf. Located minutes from Chicago’s Loop, Harborside offers a premier golf experience in the Chicagoland area. Harborside is the only facility with two of Golfweek ’s “Best Courses You Can Play in Illinois” and is home to an expansive practice facility. Harborside is owned by the Illinois International Port District and managed by KemperSports.
The Golf Courses of Lawsonia
920-294-3320
W2615 S. Valley View Dr. Green Lake, WI 54941 lawsonwia.com
The Golf Courses of Lawsonia offers two distinctly different 18-hole layouts of magnificent design, astounding panoramas, and unmatched beauty. Experience the award-winning Links Course and charming Woodlands Course for yourself. Stay & Play packages with on-site lodging are available.
Heritage Oaks Golf Club
847-291-2351
3535 Dundee Rd. Northbrook, IL 60623
heritageoaksgc.com
Conveniently located between the Edens Expressway and Interstate 294, 30 minutes north of Chicago. Featuring 27 holes of tree-lined golf, a practice range equipped with TrackMan® technology, our golf academy, and indoor golf simulators, Heritage Oaks offers something for everyone. With the elevated Acorn Grill + Terrace overlooking courses certified by the National Audubon Society, Heritage Oaks Golf Club welcomes you for golf, for a meal, or for a timeless experience.
Naperbrook Golf Course
630-378-4215
22204 W. 111th St. / Hassert Blvd.
Plainfield, IL 60585 golfnaperville.org
Located in Plainfield, scenic Naperbrook Golf Course is a “links style” course that features rolling hills and wide fairways. Challenges in the way of ponds, a double green, and hidden bunkers await golfers of all levels. Additional amenities include a recently updated and expanded practice area featuring a one-acre turf range tee, large practice green, and practice bunker. Enjoy post-game refreshments on the picturesque patio. Naperbrook also offers lessons, outings, a well-stocked golf shop, and much more.
Northern Bay Resort and Marina
608-339-2090 ext. 2 1844 20th Ave. Arkdale, WI 54613 northernbayresort.com
Play where the pros play. Experience our unique replica golf course inspired by the most celebrated holes in the game and situated on the shores of Castle Rock Lake.
Northern Bay offers all the amenities of a Wisconsin Dells resort without all the hustle and bustle. Bring your golf buddies to play our one-of-a-kind replica course, or relax around the lake with your family. However you choose to stay, we look forward to greeting you at Northern Bay. Get started and book your tee time.
Purdue’s Kampen-Cosler Course
765-494-3139
West Lafayette, IN purduegolf.com
The Kampen-Cosler Course, a Pete Dye design, is an 18-hole, links-style, par-72 championship course features large bent-grass greens, fairways, and tees. The layout is a challenge for golfers of all abilities with vast sand bunkers, native grasslands, ponds, and a natural celery bog. There are five sets of tees with the championship tees playing over 7,400 yards and the forward tees at 5,300 yards. Kampen-Cosler, one of the top collegiate courses in the nation, has been awarded 4.5 stars on Golf Digest ’s “Places to Play.” It receives high marks as one of the most difficult golf courses in Indiana.
847-566-4653
1 Pine Meadow Ln. Mundelein, IL 60060 pinemeadowgc.com
Pine Meadow Golf Club is known for our beautiful 220 acres of fairways, greens, pine trees, and meadow areas.
Golfers of all abilities and ages enjoy the serene setting and fun playable design of the “Pine.”
The Pine, due to its challenging design, has been host to all types of competitive events ranging from PGA Jr. League, to Men’s and Women’s State Ams, to Illinois PGA Championships.
This is truly a golf facility for everyone.
The Sanctuary Golf Course
815-462-4653 (GOLF) 485 North Marley Rd. New Lennox, IL 60451 golfsanctuary.com
Explore The Sanctuary Golf Course. Spanning 6,900 yards it offers a challenging experience. Also available is the Toptracer practice facility with 20 heated bays, along with a 30-station grass area and state-of-the-art short game and putting green. Unwind after your round at our Bunker Bar and Grill.
PrairieView Golf Club
815-234-4653
6734 N. German Church Rd. Byron, IL 61010 prairieviewgolf.com
Recognized by many suburban golfers as a hidden gem, PrairieView Golf Club boasts beautiful views of restored dolomite prairie land that is well worth a short drive west out to Bryon, Ill. (south of Rockford). With challenging greens, dramatic bunkering, and supreme conditioning, the course will test the skills and nerves of every golfer. PrairieView is also home to PrairieFire Golf & Grill, a year-round Toptracer Range® with heated bays, lounge seating, and great food and drink selections.
Sand Valley
888-398-8671
1697 Leopold Way Nekoosa, WI 54457 sandvalley.com
Sand Valley is known for its three award-winning golf courses, Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, and the Sandbox, which were modeled after the great heathland courses of London. Enjoy dramatic views, a magnitude of strategic playing options, modern lodging, and a culinary experience to match.
Purdue’s Ackerman-Allen Course
765-494-3139 West Lafayette, IN purduegolf.com
The Ackerman-Allen Course, a Pete Dye design, is an 18hole, parkland-style, par-72 championship golf course featuring large bent-grass greens, fairways and tees. The layout presents a challenge for golfers of all abilities with rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, white sand bunkers, and minimal water hazards. Ackerman-Allen offers five sets of tees with the championship tees playing over 7,500 yards and the forward tees playing at 5,300 yards.
The Shack Indoor Golf
847-904-2905
1717 Chestnut Ave. Glenview, IL 60025 theshackgolfclub.com
The Shack Indoor Golf Club features TrackMan® simulator technology for an immersive golf experience. Enjoy delicious food and drinks from our full bar while practicing your swing. Perfect for socializing or improving your game, come and tee off at our state-of-the-art facility.
Springbrook Golf Course
630-848-5060
2220 W. 83rd St. Naperville, IL 60564
golfnaperville.org
Springbrook GC commands some of the finest views of Naperville’s open space and trails. This 18-hole parkland-style championship course was renovated in 2022, and is expected to reopen in mid-year of 2023 with exciting updates including new tees and bunkers. Work on your swing at the one-acre turf practice tee, or fine tune your short game at the large practice putting green or two short-game practice greens with bunkers. Enjoy post-game refreshments on the expansive patio with great views of the course. Springbrook also offers lessons, outings, a well-stocked golf shop, and more.
Willow Hill Golf Course
847-480-7888
1350 Willow Rd. Northbrook, IL 60062
willowhillgolfcourse.com
Willow Hill Golf Course is a Scottish links-style par-35 9-hole course with amazing views of Chicago’s skyline and breathtaking sunsets. The course and clubhouse have recently undergone major renovations. New tee boxes and renovated bunkers have been added throughout. A brand new 35-station all grass driving range opened in late spring of 2025. Expansive new patios surround the clubhouse, and a new kitchen ensures that after your round, you can enjoy a top-shelf drink and delicious food from our new restaurant, Landmark on the Hill!
Tam O’Shanter Golf Course & Learning Center
847-965-2344
6700 W. Howard St. Niles, IL 60714
golftam.com
One of the most important courses in popularizing the game of golf in America is located right here in Niles. In 1953, Tam O’Shanter Country Club hosted the first-ever nationally televised golf tournament. Today, a public 9-hole par-33 course remains, maintained with the goal of providing playing conditions reminiscent of those Hogan, Palmer, and Nicklaus enjoyed years ago. Swing out for a scenic round and walk in the footsteps of legends at Tam O’Shanter! Year-round instruction available!
Wilmette Golf Club
847-256-9777
3900 Fairway Dr. Wilmette, IL 60091 golfwilmette.com
Wilmette Golf Club is the closest 18-hole facility north of Chicago. This par-70 course will test all skill levels with the purest greens on the North Shore. A 30-station driving range and large putting green are available for working on your game. Enjoy a drink or dinner on the patio overlooking the 18th green at The Lawn. Contact us directly to book your next outing or special event. Take advantage of tee time specials by booking online at www.golfwilmette.com
University Ridge Golf Course
608-845-7700
9002 County Rd. PD Madison, WI 53593 universityridge.com
University Ridge is home to the University of Wisconsin Men’s & Women’s Golf Teams. Since 2016, University Ridge has been the host site of the PGA Tour Champions, American Family Insurance Championship, which is hosted by Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker.
Play where the Badgers and the Pros play! University Ridge!
White Pines Golf Club
630-766-0304
500 W. Jefferson Bensenville, IL 60106 whitepinesgolf.com
The White Pines Golf Club’s two 18-hole championship courses, situated on more than 260 acres, have been a favorite among Chicago-area golfers since 1928. The public course, owned and operated by the Bensenville Park District, is an excellent choice for players of all skill levels. Whether it’s an evening at the lighted driving range, a casual round with friends, an outing or special event, White Pines Golf Club offers the perfect setting to get “away from it all.” Enjoy food and drink at 37 Bar & Grill. Take advantage of Monday-Thursday tee time specials and book online.
X-Golf Orland Park
708-966-0486
15876 S. LaGrange Rd. Orland Park, IL 60462
xgolforlandpark.com
We offer eight state-of-the-art simulators which are designed for golfers at all stages of their game. Whether you want to sharpen your game to gain that competitive edge or are just starting out and want to learn new skills without battling the outdoors, this is the place for you. The simulators can give you data about your swing and ball striking to improve your game and along with that, we can help you take your game to the next level by having a PGA-qualified Professional on our team.
X-Golf Schaumburg
847-380-1848
1100 American Ln. Schaumburg, IL 60173 xgolf-schaumburg.com
We spent 15 years engineering, learning from golf experts, and creating a simulator of unparalleled accuracy. The result?
A completely new experience that lets golfers play on the world’s top courses, compete in a wide variety of game formats, and of course – enjoy some of the best golf they’ve ever played in a high-energy indoor entertainment facility. Whether a tee time or PGA Professional lesson, X-Golf has it all: a full bar with beer and cocktails, shareable appetizers, and courses designed for all ages and levels from amateurs to professionals.
On the cOrKScreWS
Stephen Hawk
Chuck Hope and his wife Marlyn came to Paso Robles in California’s Central Coast in 1978 to farm, and eventually to start what would become Hope Family Wines. This early arrival put them on the forefront of the Central Coast becoming a world-class viticultural region. Initially, the Hopes planted apples and grapes in this then sparsely-populated area. Seeing the property's potential for grape growing, Hope eventually replanted the apple orchards with grapes.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Hope family grew grapes for various wine producers. In the 1980s, the Wagner family, owners of Napa Valley’s Caymus Vineyards, turned to the Hope family to source Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for their Liberty School label. Thus began a long-lasting partnership between the two families.
Since that beginning, in Paso Robles specifically and throughout the region generally, Hope Family Wines has built long-standing relationships with over 50 growers. They coordinate with farmers to carefully limit crop yields to ensure concentrated flavors.
In 1996,the Hopes acquired Liberty School from the Wagners. Also in 1996, they launched Treana Winery with Chris Phelps serving as winemaker.
At about this same time, while studying fruit science at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, the Hope's son Austin spent some time working in Napa Valley under Caymus winemaker Chuck Wagner. This opportunity solidified his decision to pursue winemaking for his family. He became the head winemaker in 1998, and has held the position ever since. As president and winemaker, Hope has helped Hope Family Wines grow from producing around 20,000 cases per year to over 300,000 cases per year.
In 2000, the family started a limited-production label, Austin Hope (surprise!), focused exclusively on Rhone varietals grown on the family’s estate vineyard, based on the calcareous loam, marine sediment, and dense clay soil of the Templeton Gap, which has the coolest microclimate in Paso Robles. It closely matches the climate of the Rhône Valley in France, as well as Napa’s acclaimed
Rutherford district. The winery's now-mature vineyards produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Mourvedre, and Grenache.
In 2008, the winery introduced Candor Wines, a multi-vintage label focusing on Zinfandel and Merlot wines with fruit sourced from family-owned vineyards in Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and Lodi. It introduced its second multi-vintage blend, named Troublemaker, in 2010.
Hope Family Wines is committed to sustainable growing practices that promote vine health, improve wine quality, and ensure that growers remain profitable. Spraying is only done when necessary, and never after August first. The number of tractor passes is kept to a minimum, protecting the integrity of the root structures and avoiding compacting the soil. The winery works actively to promote best practices in the vineyards of growers they partner with. They use the self-assessment tools put together by the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to gauge progress and identify areas for improvement over time.
Austin Hope Rhone Blend 2021
The grapes for this red blend came from the Templeton Gap District AVA and York Mountain AVA on the western border of Paso Robles— two adjoining areas marked by a pronounced marine influence. The Templeton Gap District enjoys warm days and cool nights, afternoon maritime breezes, and well-drained clay soils. Farther west, the York Mountain AVA is located just seven miles from the Pacific Ocean at elevations reaching 1,500 feet. This cool-climate AVA receives twice the annual rainfall as Paso Robles proper. The conditions here include foggy mornings, brisk breezes, and weathered sandstone soils reminiscent of beach sand.
The fruit was harvested in mid September, and clusters were hand sorted in the vineyard. The individual lots were destemmed and fermented separately in open-top stainless steel tanks for a period of 20 days, with daily pump overs for a balanced extraction of color, flavor, and tannin. The lots were aged separately for 23 months in French oak barrels (38% new, 33% twice used and 29% neutral). After final blending, the wine
smhawk@winervana.com
was racked to 40 percent new French oak barrels for an additional five months of maturation and integration before bottling. This wine pours a medium dark garnet in the glass. The nose is very aromatic, predominantly blackberry. On the palate, the fruit, including blueberry, boysenberry and black cherry, is somewhat recessive. The profile is super dry, verging on bitter, backed up by very grippy tannins. ABV is 14.5%.
For many more wine and spirits reviews, be sure to visit www.winervana.com.
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