Welcome to Sportsmans

2018-2022: New Places to Play

– Sportsman’s Country Club

Beginning in 2020, a new golf experience is underway for the community.
This comprehensive project includes:

• New clubhouse with an improved year-round dining experience
• Rebuilt Classic 18 greens
• New forward tee boxes
• Re-grassed fairways and East 9 greens
• East 9 irrigation improvements
• Practice Range enhancements

Sportsman’s is closed for the 2020 season with a scheduled reopening in the summer of 2021. Reciprocal agreements were finalized with area courses so golfers can continue to play the game they love. Northbrook Park District residents will be given resident rates by the Park District of Highland Park, Glenview Park District and Wheeling Park District during the closure.

 

February 10, 2021

• Drywall installation and taping is 90% completed.
• Exterior wall framing is 90% complete.
• Trespa exterior panels have been delivered and await install.
• Exterior window framing and installation continues as weather allows.
• Interior plank ceiling framing work is 75% complete.  Golf shop is all that remains to be done.
• Golf simulator framing has been installed.
• Wall priming and painting begins soon.

Take a tour of the clubhouse construction with Head Golf Professional John Billiter

January 28, 2021

With significant changes taking place at the property, the Northbrook Park District undertook an analysis of the golf brand with Chicago-based a5 Digital & Branding. Interviews and focus groups with members of the community were conducted to begin the four-month brand review and redevelopment with the District’s internal project team. This process resulted in the decision to rebrand Sportsman’s Country Club to better reflect all the facility offers to the diverse and vibrant Northbrook community.

In December, the Board of Commissioners approved the Golf Committee recommendation to rebrand the Sportsman’s Country Club property as Heritage Oaks Golf Club.

Click here for the full press release.

January 14, 2021

• Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and framing is complete and has passed inspection
• Exterior doors and frames are installed
• Wall insulation is complete
• Drywall hanging has begun
• Installation of the exterior wall panels and interior ceiling framing will begin soon

December 15, 2020

• Clubhouse and range support building roofing are complete
• Interior framing is complete
• Temporary heat has started so that construction can continue
• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing has begun
• Exterior door frames have been installed

November 12, 2020

• Initial germination of the Practice Range and instructional area is complete.
• Contractor related Golf Course Construction concluded in October.
• Grow in and maturation of the new turf by Golf Maintenance staff is ongoing.
• Parking lot asphalt binder has been installed.
• Parking lot sidewalks and paver installation are complete.
• Clubhouse progress update:
  • Great weather has been helpful–the goal is to get the building sealed by the holidays.
  • Structural steel is complete.
  • Exterior metal framing and sheathing is 50% complete.
  • Interior framing will begin soon.
  • Roofing has begun and will be completed by Thanksgiving.

October 14, 2020

• Seeding and initial germination of the Practice Range and the instructional area are complete.
• Irrigation installation is complete.
• Golf cart paths around the clubhouse area and Practice Range are paved.
• Contractor related Golf Course construction has concluded.
• Grow in and maturation of the new turf by Golf Maintenance staff is ongoing.
• The parking lot asphalt binder was installed.
• Installation of the stone base for parking lot pavers has begun.
• Structural steel fabrication of the Clubhouse has finished.

September 24, 2020

• New Practice Range, October 2020
• The short game and instruction areas have been shaped.
• New Classic 18 1st tee complex is complete.
• Putting and chipping greens south of the clubhouse have been shaped and planted.
• All on-course greens have been mowed at least once.
• The Practice Range has been shaped and graded.
• The east side of the Practice Range instruction area has been shaped.
• Practice Range drain tile and irrigation are completed.
• Cart storage area concrete has been poured.
• Parking lot curbing has been laid out and concrete has been poured.
• The stone base has been laid for cart paths around the Clubhouse and Practice Range.
• Clubhouse concrete slab has been poured.
• The new golf practice area has been shaped and seeded September 2020.
• Structural steel beam fabrication is in process.
• Underground electrical installation in process.

September 16 Project Update

• The short game and instruction areas have been shaped.
• At the driving range, installation of the drain tile is taking place along with the beginning of irrigation work.
• Work on the cart pathways includes laying out curbing and installing the base.
• The Clubhouse stone slab has been prepped for concrete.
• The newly seeded areas are growing in beautifully, by planting now the new areas will have two growing seasons prior to the course reopen in late summer 2021.

August 22 Project Update

• The course focus is on the germination and growth of the newly planted turf grass seed.
• East 9 seeding will be complete this week.
• Concrete foundations for the Clubhouse and range support building are complete.
• The Clubhouse foundation backfill is complete.
• Clubhouse plumbing underground is underway.
• Clubhouse electrical work has started.

August 5 Project Update

• Completed drainage and greens mix installation on the Classic 18.
• Grow in of new 007 bent grass seed for tees, fairways and greens has begun on 6 holes of the East 9.
• Prepping of existing tees and fairways for seeding is in process.
• Fairway fill and contouring to improve drainage continues on Classic 18 holes 1, 13, 15, 18 and
  East 9 holes 1, 2, 9.
• Pond expansion and vegetation installation between Classic 18 holes 3 and 16 is complete.
• Pond excavation between East 9 holes 1 and 2 has been completed.
• Driving Range excavation and new target shaping is ongoing as excavation material is generated.
• Clubhouse concrete foundation is 90% complete.
• Range Service building excavation is complete.
• Entrance drive bio swales have been shaped out.
• Sanitary and water main lines to the clubhouse is complete.

July 8 Project Update

• Classic 18 greens have been cored out. Greens contouring, drainage installation and irrigation adjustments are in process.
• In preparation for seeding the Classic 18 greens for holes 1, 2, 3, 7, 16 have been filled with 10” of sand. The sand has been laboratory tested to verify it meets the design specification.
• All existing tee boxes have been stripped. Tee boxes are being leveled and a sand cap is being installed in preparation for seeding.
• On course drainage line improvements are nearing completion. Pond expansion between hole 3 and 16 has been completed.
• East 9 irrigation system improvements are near completion.  Irrigation system has been loaded in preparation for new grass to grow in.
• 60 new trees were planted in June. Over 100 of the project total of 200 have been installed.
• Stripping of topsoil at the Range has begun.
• New entrance drive pond excavation has been completed.
• Clubhouse building pad has been completed. New clubhouse floor is 5’ higher than previous clubhouse.

June 10 Project Update

• Golf Course renovation improvements began in earnest on Thursday, May 21.
• Construction of the new forward tees has begun.
• Demolition of the parking lot, roadway and range tee is underway.
• Irrigation heads have been removed from the East 9 irrigation system and the contractor is installing the new isolation valves and wiring.
• 45 new trees have been planted. Staff will be planting 60 more this week with a project total of 200 when finished.

May 13 Project Update

• Demolition of the cart barn, clubhouse, range building and two starter buildings is complete
• Installation of the construction fence and tree protection fencing is complete
• Construction materials are being reviewed and ordered
• Permits have been received, construction will begin Monday, May 18

April 16 Project Update

• Demolition of the clubhouse, cart barn and range support building is complete
• Clubhouse site clearing is complete
• Bids for the new clubhouse have been received
• Lab testing of the new greens sand is complete
• Course and range construction will begin as soon as permits are approved
  • Work on the course is anticipated to begin in early May

March 30 Project Update

• The cart barn has been removed and backfilling with stone and soil is complete
• The Cubhouse building and foundation have been removed and they have begun backfilling with soil
• Range building demolition will begin next week, weather permitting

March 17 Project Update

• Demolition of the cart barn is nearly complete
• Demolition of the clubhouse has begun
• Site preparations continue
• Clubhouse construction bids are due March 24, 2020 at 2pm
• Civil and golf course construction bids to be awarded at the March 25, 2020 Board meeting

February Project Update

• Demolition permit was obtained and facilities prepared for take down
• Civil and golf course construction bid packets were received
• Staff members continued to work with clubhouse architects to complete construction documents for bid package
• Golf staff finalized purchase agreement for Full Swing Golf simulators

January Project Update

• Utilities are currently being disconnected in anticipation of demolition work.
• The bid process for civil engineering and for the golf course renovations will begin with bid packet posting tentatively set for late January 2020.
• The bid process for the clubhouse construction project will begin with bid packet posting tentatively set for early March 2020.

December Project Update

On Saturday, December 14, the public was invited to celebrate the history and future of Sportsman’s Country Club. Over 450 people attended the Project Open House where they met the project team, viewed project renderings and entered contests and raffles. The history of Sportsman’s was celebrated with a historic timeline and displays of photos. Sportsman’s Country Club is now closed for golf course renovations and new clubhouse construction.

November Project Update

• Staff members continue to work with the golf course consultant, civil engineers, and building architects to bring site plans to the Park Board of Commissioners for review and discussion on a monthly basis. Drawings will be shared on this website as they become available.
• As with any year, the closing date of the course for the season is weather dependent. The course will be kept open for as long as possible, while staff members assess weather conditions to ensure the protection of the course. Closing date information will be shared one week prior to closing.
• Golf staff members have been working diligently with four area courses so that our golfers can continue to play in our area during the closure. Northbrook Park District residents will be given resident discount rates at the following courses beginning Spring 2020.
  • Park District of Highland Park, Sunset Valley Golf Course
  • Glenview Park District, Glenview Park Golf Club and Glenview Prairie Club
  • Wheeling Park District, Traditions at Chevy Chase Golf Course

Background
In 2018, the Northbrook Park District launched 2018-2022: New Places to Play — a capital improvement initiative that will include improvements to the golf courses, practice facilities and clubhouse at Sportsman’s Country Club. This project, in addition to the new Activity Center at Techny Prairie Park and Fields, was selected in response to community feedback regarding our programming and facilities.  The Northbrook Park District Board of Commissioners have allocated $12.5 million for this project.

Overview of Project
Over the past year, the Board of Commissioners and the Golf Project Team have gained valuable insight which called for further exploration of this important community project. We are dedicated to our goal of enhancing the overall golf experience at Sportsman’s and to becoming a desired destination for the entire community. In that spirit, the Northbrook Park District has re-engaged Rick Jacobson, President, Jacobson Golf Course Design, Inc., of Libertyville, IL, for improvements at both golf courses and the range at Sportsman’s Country Club.  Rick worked with the Park District in 2004 on the Anetsberger Golf Course remodel and was the course architect for the 2005 renovations at Sportsman’s Country Club.

“We are extremely excited and tremendously proud to continue our relationship with the Northbrook Park District team on a project that will enhance the Sportsman’s Country Club golf experience for residents and guests”, said Jacobson.

In addition to the current scope of work, the project will create phased opportunities for improvements in future years including bunkers and a recommended tree plan.

The District has hired RATIO Architects, Chicago, IL, to design a new clubhouse at the course.  The clubhouse will be open year-round and be a gathering space for golfers and non-golfers alike.  Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc., Vernon Hills, IL, will be overseeing the civil engineering services for this project.