THE NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING TO RICH HARVEST FARMS in Sugar Grove, starting May 19th and teeing up two great weeks of golf, two final fours and national champions. Hosted by NIU-See NCAA.com/tickets that are moving fast.     ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to the Preserve at Oak Meadows, on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

THE PRESERVE-AT OAK MEADOWS

That is expected to be the new name of the golf course formerly known as simply Oak Meadows, or further back as The Elmhurst Country Club.

The name has been submitted to the DuPage Country Forest Preserve District Board of Directors for vote, as of this morning’s board session.

The final vote will take place next week on the 21st.

As of now, the board is expected to approve the name recommendation submitted by Interim DCFPD Executive Director Ed Stevenson. Stevenson was unavailable for comment this afternoon, but is expected to comment on the new course name in the next few days.

The entrance sign is about to change. For everything DuPage County Forest Presevre District Golf, see DuPagegolf.com

Why the “Preserve” name ?

If you visit the counties website, you can learn more about it’s rules and regulations regarding the naming of Dupage County Forest Preserve District properties. DuPageforest.org.

No, it can not be named after a person like what is is frequently done in Cook County.

Architect Greg Martin did oversee a team that restored the property, but there was never a chance of the golf course becoming Martin Meadows or anything close to that. In spite of the properties history with the great golf legend Ben Hogan, naming of the property as some sort of tribute to Hogan was also not possible.

Interim-DCFPD Executive Director Ed Stevenson stands on the renovated driving range at “The Preserve”.

In past interviews, Stevenson has said that the properties history will be remembered when the course reopens, which will take place this summer.

There is no official opening date set for the course at this time, but both Stevenson and other county officials are hopeful that the course can open around Memorial Day weekend. But if not at that time, then at some point in early to Mid-June. All will depend on the kind of weather the area gets, over the next 90 days.

The Preserve at Oak Meadows is expected to offer Chicago area golfers an exciting new place to golf beginning this summer.

While the final cost is not in as of yet, cost estimates for the entire project have been around the 15 million dollar range. However that is NOT 15 million dollars all spent on golf.

The golf part of the total cost, is expected to be around 1/3 rd of the final cost.

The project does show how golf can be an asset to the surrounding community in terms of storm water management, wildlife habitat enhancement, and being able to have better control over Salt Creek, that has been known to flood many area’s and neigborhoods in Cook and Dupage counties after heavy storms.

Golfers can follow DuPageGolf.com, this website or Chicagoland Golf Magazine (see the Preserve at Oak-Meadows ad in the Chicago Golf Show edition) for news regarding opening day and special events at the golf course coming up later this summer.

Progress is being made in the planning phase for the construction of a clubhouse, that is currently expected to open in 2019.