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THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook, Linkedin. On the bridge at the Preserve at Oak Meadows.

IT STARTED with a fire, that ended a piece of history.

When the Oak Meadows clubhouse  burned down in 2009. Little did anyone know, what the events of that day would bring. Finally, that picture has become a little more clear.

Besides the insurance settlement that came months later, and with the help various grants. A new Oak Meadows in the Village of Addison has evolved.

So new, that even the name is different.

The Preserve at Oak Meadows, replaces Oak Meadows. And the golf course renovation by architect Greg Martin, is now mostly completed. So it’s time for the next phase to begin.

On Tuesday, the heavy equipment started moving dirt. Soon after DuPage County Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard, Executive Director Ed Stevenson, and the members of the districts board of directors, turned over shovels full of dirt. And launched the construction phase for the clubhouse.

Members of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District board of commissioners, led by President Daniel Hebreard (L) start the ground breaking for the new Preserve at Oak Meaodws clubhouse.

Forest Preserve District board members, were joined by officials from the Village of Addison, and a team from Pepper Construction for the ceremony.

The clubhouse architect Daniel Wohlfeil, was present for the ceremony. Afterwards, he told Golfers on Golf during an exclusive interview. That the Preserve at Oak Meadows Golf Clubhouse, will likely be his last clubhouse design.

Wohlfeil has been doing golf course clubhouse work extensively for 11 years, and he is now ready to pursue other career interests.

Click here, to hear the interview with architect Dan Wohlfeil. On the new Preserve at Oak Meadows Clubhouse.

DuPage County Forest Preserve District Board President Daniel Hebreard, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Hebread is extremely excited about the next phase for the Preserve, and the new clubhouse.

Complimenting everyone involved, Hebreard feels the board “got it right.” With all area’s of the new clubhouse, and the golf operation at the Preserve.

The board of commissioners approved the golf cart fleet, to be solar-powered. The first of it’s kind, for any golf course in America. The renovated cart barn, will be equipped with solar panels to collect energy.

The style of windows on the clubhouse, will help lower the amount of bird strikes. That cause injury to birds, that fly into the sides of the building.

Click here, and hear the interview with Forest Preserve District board president Daniel Hebread.

  The foundation work on the clubhouse, started after the ceremony concluded (L). Clubhouse architect Dan Wohlfeil, and DuPage County Forest Preserve District Executive Director Ed Stevenson (R).

The Preserve reopened for limited preview play in 2017. And it’s first full-season was in 2018. Illinois PGA pro Jamie Nieto, became the head golf professional this spring.

Click here, to hear an interview with the Preserve’s head golf professional Jamie Nieto.

With good weather during the construction process, Hebreard is hoping the clubhouse can be open by late August of 2020. But he admits, that a September date is a more likely.

For information on the clubhouse, and golf at DuPage County golf courses, visit DuPagegolf.com. For tee times at the Preserve, call (630)-595-0071.