Updates to Sportsman's Country Club are looking good

Two things near to Chicagoans, one not so dear to their hearts, merged this year in Northbrook: the golf season and the construction season.

Closed since September 2019, Sportsman's Country Club is in the process of a major renovation to its Classic 18 and East 9 courses and its practice range.

Also, the former 6,000-square-foot clubhouse has been leveled to make way for a new 10,000-square-foot model.

The $12.5 million allocation to improve the 89-year-old Edward Dearie loops and facilities is part of the Northbrook Park District's "2018-22: New Places to Play" initiative, passed in 2017 by its Board of Commissioners in response to community feedback.

"New Places to Play" also included renovations to Oaklane Park; the new Techny Prairie Activity Center, opening in January; and six pickleball courts at Stonegate Park, which debuted this summer.

When completed, the new Sportsman's clubhouse, served by improved flow from the parking lot, is going to absolutely blow away the former space.

Designed by RATIO Architects of Chicago and engineered by Gewalt Hamilton Associates of Vernon Hills, in addition to the pro shop, offices and a golf room with swing simulators, the clubhouse will offer a full-service restaurant and bar, space for private parties and events, and an outdoor patio terrace.

The concrete slab for the new clubhouse has been poured and structural steel fabrication has been completed.

"The clubhouse area is the major focus of the work at this point, with the goal of being under roof by the holidays, with substantial completion in the summer of 2021," said Greg Baron, the park district's director of golf operations and a PGA professional.

He said the facility will be "a year-round destination for the entire community, not just golf-specific."

For those who basically are golf-specific, Libertyville golf architect Rick Jacobson and Northbrook Park District staff have completed most of the work on the courses and will now primarily depend on Mother Nature to finish the job.

With two planting seasons for the hybrid 007 bent grasses used on selected tees, fairways and greens on the two courses - resistant to disease, it's hoped this turf will reduce the spring application budget by 50% - the courses should look gorgeous and play well when they reopen late next summer.

"The Classic 18, that name in and of itself is apropos for what it is," said Baron, whose best round on it has been a 1 under-par 69. Perhaps his favorite hole is the par-5, 544-yard No. 17, which takes either bravado to try to carry the water on a second shot, or precision and distance to reach the green in three.

"It's a classic course that has a lot of beautification to it that is unrivaled in our area. We have some roll to the terrain that doesn't exist at other facilities that the original designer took advantage of," Baron said.

Key to the rehab is replacement of the Classic 18 greens, which had clay foundations Baron said lacked a sound growing medium for the new grass and hampered drainage.

Irrigation and drainage, new forward tee boxes, a pond expansion, cart path improvements, a planned 200 new trees and enhancements to the chipping and pitching greens all will help provide "superior playing conditions to what there were in the past," Baron said.

Also, Jacobson created a recontoured practice range that includes five target greens. They reflect what golfers can expect on the Classic 18.

"Our goal is to be the premier public practice facility on the North Shore," Baron said. "The design features that Rick Jacobson has brought to the practice range will make it stand out."

Simultaneously, between closure of the Classic 18 and the East 9 and the coronavirus dashing many other entertainment options, the sister facility, the par-3 Anetsberger Golf Course, has enjoyed a banner season.

Baron said that on Oct. 31 the number of rounds played at Anetsberger exceeded 22,000, nearly twice the old record of 12,500. Opened this year on May 1, every month's total surpassed the record for that particular month.

The park district traditionally closes Anetsberger the day after the clocks "fall back" for daylight savings, which occurred at 2 a.m. Nov. 1.

"This year we'll let the weather dictate it," Baron said. "Let the players play."