A new era appears set for the Glencoe Golf Club with the approval of a $15 million bond sale referendum that will fund a massive makeover of the facility.
With all precincts reporting, unofficial results indicated the bond sale measure received the support of almost 58% of the voters, with just over 42% disapproving, according to the Cook County Clerk’s website.
The Friends of the Glencoe Golf Club, a nonprofit organization established ahead of the vote, released a statement Wednesday expressing happiness with the decision of the voters.
“The success of yesterday’s referendum shows that the community-oriented vision for the Club at Glencoe project resonated with Glencoe residents, golfers and nongolfers alike,” the statement read. “Friends looks forward to continuing its work to help ensure that this vision is successfully implemented.”
The apparent voter approval allows the village to proceed with construction of a new approximate 10,000 square foot clubhouse/pro shop replacing the existing clubhouse that was built nearly a century ago, and has been long been viewed as dilapidated by village officials.
The new building is set to have a private event space including a conference room with a bar/restaurant open throughout the year.
Additional amenities envisioned include an event lawn/open space for games, a bicycle repair and rest station, indoor golf simulators, a community garden, croquet court, a new parking lot and the inclusion of winter sports on the property such as cross-country skiing and sledding.
A majority of Glencoe voters supported the bond sale that will place an additional $140 in property taxes for every $10,000 paid on a yearly basis for the next 20 years with an interest rate not to exceed 7% per annum within the village.
Some residents thought the enhanced Golf Club was worth the property tax hike.
“I don’t even golf but I am super excited about the prospect for a cool restaurant for us to hang out at. My husband and kids do golf and the love the course,” resident Debbie Jha said after voting Tuesday.
She said she was not bothered by the cost.
“If we are going to get a nice restaurant where the community is really going to hang out gather then I don’t mind,” Jha said.
Another resident, Chris Fay, also supported the proposal.
“I understand that many out of town golfers come to our local golf course and I am optimistic that any facilities placed in that new building will generate more tax revenues than expected,” Fay said.
However, the detractors have concerns.
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“The neighboring clubs invested their money to improve play on the course,” said resident Chris Baskin. “The people in Glencoe who want the nicer amenities such as a croquet court and a restaurant and more green space likely already belong to a country club so they will not be hosting events there. So this makes no sense.”
Another resident, Jason Walsh, said he also voted no.
“I believe in the golf course and the benefits to the community but not the way it was proposed,” he said.
Glencoe Golf Club General Manager Stella Nanos anticipated construction would start sometime in 2024 and thought the project would last eight to 10 months. She added the Golf Club would remain open during construction.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.