John Schlaman was just starting his career as a golf professional when Eagle Ridge held a grand opening for its South Course. The now 63-hole Galena facility is virtually Illinois’ only golf resort, and the South’s creation took it to a new level.
That came 40 years ago, and the milestone will be celebrated with an afternoon golf outing and dinner on Sunday with participants urged to dress in 1980s attire. It’s an event worth celebrating, though the anniversary won’t resemble the Grand Opening.
“We just had the North Course before that,’’ said Schlaman, then an assistant professional and now the director of golf at Eagle Ridge. “Miller Barber, Mike Souchak, Carol Mann and Bob Goalby – all big names, all Hall of Famers – were there,’’ said Schlaman. “You could never do that in today’s world. Can you imagine getting Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlory together (for a course opening)?’’
The North Course came first, in 1977, and The General became the third 18 in 1997. The late Roger Packard had a hand in the design of all three 18-holers as well as the nine-hole East Course.
In 1985 — the first full year after its opening – the South shared Best New Resort Course honors with Florida’s Grand Cypress in Golf Digest’s annual rankings.
Schlaman eventually became head pro at the South Course, then left to guide the operation at Prairie Landing in West Chicago. He was there 14 years before returning to Eagle Ridge. He wound up the director of golf two years ago with office space at The General after Mike Weiler retired.
The resort opened in 1962 and struggled through some ownership changes until Mark Klausner took over six years ago. A long-time resident of Galena, Klausner has taken on a series of expensive major upgrades impacting all areas of the resort, and has another two-year plan in the works.
“By then it’ll be an all-new resort,’’ he said. “We had lots of hopes and dreams, and all are falling into place.’’
Golf-wise, Klausner’s most significant move was the replacing all of the outdated maintenance equipment with John Deere products. That led to much improved playing conditions on all the courses. This year 278 new power carts replaced the older fleets at all the courses.
Also this year Schlaman introduced new Forward tees on 10 holes of the North and South courses, and they’ll soon be instituted on The General. The markers are orange.
“It started as tees for senior ladies,’’ said Schlaman, “but some of the older senior men are playing them, and rightly so. They cut almost 900 yards on the South and about 500 on the North at The General. It’s a new concept, but when these courses were built women and seniors were almost an afterthought.’’
Next up is a golf studio with simulators, to be built on the driving range.
“It’s two years away,’’ said Klausner, “but the plans have been developed.’’
While Eagle Ridge & Spa is a popular destination for Chicago golfers, some Chicago area residents are building there own facilities away from the city and suburbs.
Here are two some such places:
FAIRFIELD, Wisconsin Dells – Long-time Barrington resident Jim Tracy was in the advertising business during a 23-year career at Chicago’s Leo Burnett when he bought a campground in the Dells in 1984. It had an adjoining nine-hole golf course.
Tracy bought the golf course 11 years ago and sold the campground. Now it’s a 12-hole course, named Fairfield Hills, with a big driving range — one that is 350 yards deep and built on 20 acres. While he was still in the advertising business Tracy would come to Fairfield to keep tabs on the course’s operation.
Then, upon retirement, he tsok over management of his facility and, while bouncing between Barrington and the Dells, made some big upgrades. Nine holes became 12 and the clubhouse was expanded to added two golf simulators. And Tracy doesn’t even play golf.
“We had the land, but I didn’t want to do 18 holes,’’ he said. “People were saying that it took too long to play, but 12 holes was perfect.’’
Players can play three, six, nine or 12 holes at rates far below the bigger facilities in the area. A 12-hole round is $32 and players can walk or ride. Fairfield was named Wisconsin’s nine-hole Course of the Year in 2016 and – though it had more holes last year – it was again given the nine-hole state honor.
BROOMSEDGE, Rembert, S.C. – David McFarlin played high school golf at Loyola Academy, lived in Libertyville and played regularly at both Calumet Country Club and Conway Farms in Lake Forest.
Now McFarlin is co-founder and director of membership at Broomsedge, a course under construction in the Carolina sandhills. It’s being built by co-designers Kyle Franz and Mike Koprowski with the target for opening being Oct. 15.
“Of our team of six (investors) five have roots in Chicago,’’ said McFarlin, “and Michael Keiser Jr. has been a good friend and invaluable to us. It’s somewhat overwhelming building a golf course for the first time.’’
Broomsedge will be a private club that will have a walking culture, but carts will be available. The course will be open 12 months a year.