Merit Club picked to host LPGA's International Crown
The LPGA confirmed a new site for next year's UL International Crown on Tuesday. It'll be played July 21-24 at the Merit Club in Libertyville.
Merit Club hasn't been the site of a significant competition since it hosted the U.S. Women's Open in 2000, a major event that was won by Australian Karrie Webb.
"Everyone at the Merit Club is excited for this opportunity," said general manager Don Pieper in a statement released by the LPGA. "We can't wait to showcase the world's best golfers."
The club, founded by Bert Getz, was only eight years old when it landed that prestigious event. Now it will take over as host of the International Crown after the LPGA and Rich Harvest Farms broke their deal to hold the second staging of the biennial competition there.
Merit Club now has only eight months to get ready for one of the LPGA's biggest events. The International Crown brings together the top four players from eight qualifying countries for a team competition that was first held in 2014 at Cave's Valley in the Washington D.C. area. Spain won that event.
Disagreements among LPGA officials and Jerry Rich, the owner of Rich Harvest and a longtime supporter of women's golf, led to the two parties mutually agreeing to part company earlier this month. Neither the LPGA nor Rich has provided details behind the split.
Rich was a leader in the creation of the Crown and had hoped to regularly host it at Rich Harvest. The Sugar Grove layout hosted a successful Solheim Cup battle between the U.S. and Europe in 2009, which led to the creation of the International Crown. When that event was announced at the PGA Merchandise Show in Florida in January 2012, Rich Harvest was immediately named the second host site, and Rich and his staff began working diligently to prepare for it.
Eventually the LPGA decided to take the third International Crown event to Korea in 2018 and - after the break with Rich - opted to keep it in the Chicago area for 2016. Several other clubs were under consideration before the LPGA decided on Merit Club.
"We were flattered by the many suitors with championship resumes who came forward," said LPGA commissioner Mike Whan in the organization's announcement. "Merit Club has a wonderful history and prestige, and will offer a spectacular backdrop to see which country will take home the Crown."
Next year's event could mean the return of Webb to the course where she won her title 16 years earlier. She played for Australia in the first International Crown and figures to be playing for the Aussies in July.
Chicago architect Bob Lohman and Ed Oldfield Sr., Merit Club's first head professional, worked together on the original course design and Oldfield's involvement was a big reason the club landed the U.S. Women's Open so early in his history.
Oldfield, who had a long career at Glen View Club before going to the Merit Club, was the swing instructor for many LPGA players, most notably Betsy King. He parted ways with the Merit Club shortly after Webb won her title but the club's reputation as a quality venue continued even without the return of a big-time tournament. Among its most notable members was former Bulls superstar Michael Jordan.
This year Jim Billiter, one of Merit Club's assistant professionals, made a major impact on the Chicago tournament scene with victories in both the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship at Kemper Lakes and the Illinois PGA Championship at Medina's No. 1 course.
Next July's team event, which will start with two pro-ams before the team battle begins, launches a three-year run of big-time women's golf in the Chicago area. The PGA of America has announced that its KPMG Women's PGA Championship will be played at Olympia Fields in 2017, and Kemper Lakes in 2018.
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