Suburban Stadiums: Winnetka Golf Club

WINNETKA GOLF CLUB

Facility and History: In 1914, William H. Langford designed the first nine holes in Winnetka over 30 acres of flood-plain marshland. Eight years later, the Park District added another nine holes. Then, during the Great Depression, Charles D. Wagstaff led another renovation project, turning the course into what it mostly resembles today.

Winnetka Golf Club features two different setups: a regular 18-hole par 71 course and a 9-hole par 3 course.

The par 3 course hasn’t undergone many changes. All of its bunkers have been restored over the last five years and some of the longer par 3 holes have fairways now.

In 2007, the club hired Jacobson Golf Course Design Inc. of Libertyville to do a master plan for the facility. The majority of the work went into replacing an outdated irrigation system and pump house, but also included the restoration of bunkers and expansion of tee boxes. 

"We felt like we wanted another option for people to play from, another yardage that would be out there for different players,” said Cortney Miller, head golf professional at the Winnetka Golf Club.

“On some holes we needed tees that were a little bit longer to keep up with the changes in equipment and on some holes we needed some shorter tees to handle seniors or forward tee [for] women players that--when the hole was designed--weren’t taken into consideration and played too long,” he added.

Winnetka Golf Club, overseen by the Park District, has played host to Illinois PGA Section events and has been the home for American Junior Golf Association's annual Golfweek Chicago Junior since 1999.

Among the features of the golf facility are a 10,000-square-foot practice putting green and two smaller chipping greens. The 28-station lighted driving range has five target greens and is open with varying hours from March until November. The clubhouse consists of a full-service pro shop, snack bar and lockers.

Programs and Events: As do most Chicagoland golf courses, Winnetka Golf Club thrives in the summer time.

Weekly men’s club leagues routinely draw 100 participants, and the two women’s leagues--one for 18 holes and another for 9--bring out about 125 golfers each week.

But the junior golf program is where Winnetka is making its mark. Miller estimates that more than 25 percent of the facility's activities is directed toward junior golfers.

Miller and Matt Johnson, director of instruction, recently overhauled the club's already successful junior golf program in the hopes of better and quicker development. They installed a five-step progression that takes grade-school-age youngsters from a couple hours a day on the range to more than six-hour days for those in high school.

“We took part of [Titleist Performance Institute’s] model and added the things that we think are practically important for us and [what] our resources can provide,” Miller said. “We believe long term it’s the best model for developing golf skills.”

Last year, the club started winter golf training. It installed indoor amenities, including a heated putting and chipping green, hitting nets and computer software, so local golfers can train year-round.

Calendar:

July 27: Men’s Club Invitational

Sept. 24-25: Jim Walker Cup (Club Championship)