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What women's golf tournament means for Kemper Lakes

Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer was once a top site for pro tournaments, hosting dozens of major events like the 1989 PGA Championship won by Payne Stewart.

But Wednesday's announcement that the Kildeer golf club will host the KPMG Women's PGA Golf Championship in 2018 ends a 16-year hiatus from major tournaments.

Since it last hosted a PGA tournament, the LaSalle Bank Open in 2002, Kemper Lakes has undergone a lot of changes. The golf course changed ownership, and became exclusively private, and investments were made to improve the property. More than $1 million was spent on a major rehab of the clubhouse in 2006, Kemper Lakes owner Steve Jouzapaitis said.

With help from Libertyville architect Rick Jacobson, many parts of the course were renovated, including a three-year project to update the bunkers. When that work was finished in the spring, Kemper Lakes management felt prepared to try to bring pro tournaments back.

"We're tournament-ready now," Jouzapaitis said. "We have a challenging course that plays to top-rated players."

One Kemper Lakes executive called the club's renewed interest in hosting pro tournaments the "Restore the Roar initiative," Daily Herald golf columnist Len Ziehm Ziehm reported in a recent story about Kemper Lakes on his blog, Len Ziehm on Golf.

While the prestige and exposure of hosting a PGA tournament can translate to big bucks, it's become rare for exclusive, private golf clubs like Kemper Lakes to host them year after year because the events come with hefty price tags and financial risk, said ESPN Senior Golf Writer Bob Harig.

Plus, frequent tournaments have the potential to annoy club members, golf experts say. Kemper Lakes has roughly 285 members, according to Ziehm. A PGA tournament can bring tens of thousands of spectators to the course every day, not to mention vendors and sponsors.

The annual KPMG tournament attracts the top female golfers in the world and will draw an estimated 75,000 spectators over three days, Kemper Lakes officials said.

"Even if you're not into golf, the economic boom this is going to bring into Kildeer and Lake County is going to be huge," said Chris Comes, director of media relations for Kemper Lakes' management company, Green Golf Partners.

Officials also announced Wednesday that the 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Golf Championship will be at the South suburban Olympia Fields Country Club.

That means the Chicago suburbs will be showcased for back-to-back years in this tournament, which will be broadcast on television as part of a partnership with NBC and the Golf Channel.

Jouzapaitis said course improvements were one reason Kemper landed this tournament, one of the biggest events in women's professional golf. But he also credits the club's history, staff and members for helping to beat out the other courses.

"It's very competitive to get this," Jouzapaitis said.

LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan said the Chicago area has always been a strong supporter of the LPGA.

"That was on full display back in 2009, when we hosted a successful Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms (in Sugar Grove)," Whan said in a statement. "With this announcement, and the UL International Crown taking place at Rich Harvest Farms in 2016, the great fans in Chicago will now have an opportunity to see the best female golfers in the world in each of the next three years."

Kemper Lakes Golf Club has previously hosted the 1989 PGA Championship, four Grand Slam of Golf events, six Senior PGA Tour events, the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, the USGA Women's Amateur Championship and 26 consecutive Illinois PGA Championships.

Olympia Fields, Kemper Lakes to host Women's PGA Championship

Mick Yelovich of Zion golfs at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer during a fundraiser last year for CASA Lake County. Kemper will host the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in 2018. courtesy of CASA Lake County
Curtis Malm of Aurora watches his drive during the 63rd Illinois PGA Match Play Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer. Kemper will host the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in 2018. Daily Herald File Photo/2014
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