Jack Zur gave up most of his golf season at the Glenview Park Golf Club a year ago and for a few more months again this year as the course underwent an extensive renovation project.
But Zur, the president of the Glenview Men’s Golf Club, said the wait was worth it. The course re-opened on Friday, July 24.
“We were on the road traveling everywhere to play,” said Zur, who grew up in Glenview. “We still got our golf in, but we are tickled to be back home.”
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A player at the course since 1962, Zur said it’s better than ever.
“I’ve really enjoyed it,” Zur said. “It’s visually more appealing, and it’s more challenging. It requires more shot-making than it did before.”
The project, led by Libertyville-based architect Rick Jacobson, cost $5.3 million and lasted nearly one year. The major course work included regrading fairways, reseeding tees and greens, rebuilding bunkers and repositioning others. Another big aspect of the renovation included implementing a storm-water management system that improved drainage throughout the property and in neighboring areas.
“It was a tremendous project and comprehensive in nature,” said Jacobson, who owns Jacobson Golf Course Design. “It was a complex project to execute.”
While Jacobson has done work at dozens of golf courses throughout the Chicago area, including at nearby North Shore Country Club, the Glenview public course is a special place for him. He is from Glenview and learned how to play the game there.
“What an honor it has been for me to be a part of the project team that preserved and enhanced this historic golf facility,” he said.
The routing of the par-70 course, which plays to 6,113 yards from the back tees, remained the same, but Jacobson said the changes bring a different character to the layout. The par-5 seventh hole now features a pond to the right of the fairway, and the old pond down the left side of the hole was made longer.
“You really have to thread the needle off the tee, really be accurate,” Zur said. “That has become such a tougher hole, maybe the signature hole.”
Ron Cassidy, the course’s director of golf, said some of the other noticeable changes are on Nos. 6 and 10, two par 3s.
“The sixth hole used to be flat, but now there is a nice contour to it and it’s a more defined shot to the green,” he said. “On 10, there is a berm to the right of the green and flower beds in the back that really frame the hole nicely.”
Cassidy said the common refrain of players since the relaunch has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Most people just simply say, ‘Wow,’ ” he said.
Zur said the reviews from the league members reflect Cassidy’s statement.
“Everybody is really pleased,” Zur said. “We are all very excited about the changes and proud of them.”
The clubhouse also was redone at an additional cost of $1.2 million. Improvements were made to the golf shop, dining room and restrooms.
Twitter: @harnesspreps