BIGGER-that’s what the WIllow Hill Dome is all about. Chicago’s largest dome, over 150 yards long, allows for golfers to see more ball flight. The Dome is located at 1350 Willow Road in Northbrook. So to learn more about hours and golf lessons-please visit WillowHilldome.com. The golf hours are 8a to 3 pm. The holiday light show is now over.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram
Architect Greg Martin (seen here at Settler’s Hill) continues to stay busy with several Midwest projects on his drawing board.
GREG MARTIN is keeping busy.
So with many courses taking on new capital projects, Batavia Illinois based architect Greg Martin has stayed busy.
AND THAT is good thing for golfers who enjoy playing good golf courses.
Because in recent years, Martin has been involved in many area renovation projects. Several of them have turned out to be national award winners. Martin is highly known and respected for getting a maximum amount of production accomplished, when having to work with public money or tax payer funding.
Greg Martin speaks to the town hall audience at Maple Meadows in Wood Dale, about the upcoming project at Maple Meadows GC. Photo by Ed Stevenson.
Martin is a just a few years past serving as the national president for the ASGCA. Which stands for the American Society Golf Course Architects.
Martin’s multiple award winning work at The Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison, has had golfers flocking there to play the golf course in recent years.
The Preserve-formerly known as just Oak Meadows, has been able to wipe away the flooding problem it suffered with for years. In fact-Martin has been involved with two of the area’s projects that have suffered with major flooding issues in the recent years. Oak Meadows and The Wilmette Park District golf course. So with Martin’s involvement-both courses are playing much dryer, to the delight of area golfers. In addition to the management bodies that operate them.
MARTIN’S SUCCESS at recent projects includes public clubs like The Preserve at Oak Meadows, Wilmette Park District, Settler’s Hill in Batavia, Phillips Park in Aurora, Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, White Tail Ridge GC in Yorkville, Fox Bend in Oswego. But Martin’s list of private club work is growing with clubs that include Park Ridge CC, and upcoming projects with Frankfort based Prestwick Country Club and in Wisconsin at Green Bay Country Club.
Architect Greg Martin in the ASGCA red tartan jacket.
So as projects continue to move forward around the area and into Wisconsin, Martin will stay busy. This is great news for golfers, who might be seeing their favorite courses making improvements.
ORCHARD VALLEY in Aurora is on the tee for later this year. Because planned improvements do include, tee boxes, bunker renovations, expansion to the greens and infrastructure.
BUT AT THE NAPERBROOK Golf Course in Naperville, there will be changes to the 18th hole which will allow for the addition of a short-game and practice area. But future improvements include, bunkers, tees and irrigation.
MARTIN’S WORK at The Preserve at Oak Meadows has earned him another project with the DuPage Country Forest Preserve District that over-see’s DuPage Golf. So while work is expected by late 2025, it could start in 2026. The new routing was recently put on display at an open house, that was held at Maple Meadows last October.
VILLAGE LINKS IN GLEN ELLYN will be another Martin project that will take place in stages, over the next few years on the clubs 27 holes. So new practice area’s are part of the plan. But tree clearing, bunker renovations, tee improvements and fairway realignments are included, along with drainage and irrigation improvements.
White Tail Ridge Director of Golf Alex Balog, invites golfers to the new White tail Ridge Golf Dome. Located in Oswego right off of Orchard Road.
MARTIN’S WORK will take him to Indiana with a project at the Youche Country Club in Crown Point that starts with master planning in 2024.
“I am excited about the future of golf. I am equally thrilled about our current projects and our client list. These projects are valuable to memberships, local golfers and their communities. We want to make the game better-socially, strategically, environmentally, and operationally. I am hopeful these improvements will stand the test of time, offering golfers an engaging experience for decades,” said Martin.
Martin Golf Design is now at 30+ years in the golf business,. For information on Martin Golf Design, please visit Martindesigngolf.com.