BOLINGBROOK, Ill., Oct. 24, 2005 – Bolingbrook Mayor Roger C. Claar today announced that PGA TOUR star John Daly and noted golf course architect John Robinson will join forces to design a new golf course in Bolingbrook, Ill.
The Village of Bolingbrook currently serves as home to the award-winning Bolingbrook Golf Club, designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 2002. The new 18-hole Daly/Robinson design will be located adjacent to the existing Bolingbrook Golf Club, creating a total of 36 holes of championship-caliber golf. "Having two uniquely designed courses in the locale will attract avid golfers from across the Midwest," said Mayor Claar.
A state-of-the-art 76,000-square-foot clubhouse, complete with two restaurants and spacious banquet facilities, accompanies the course. Bolingbrook Golf Club also hosts the Tom Dreesen Celebrity Invitational, a premier stop on the Celebrity Players Tour, which made its third consecutive run at the facility this summer. Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports manages Bolingbrook Golf Club and will assume management of facility operations of the Daly/Robinson course upon opening.
Daly’s first PGA TOUR win took place at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. "Beginning with John’s victory at Crooked Stick, he has thrilled golf crowds worldwide with his prodigious drives and daring style of play," added Mayor Claar. John Daly’s first signature course, Wicked Stick, is located in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The new Bolingbrook layout has been tentatively named Big Stick in recognition of Daly’s first TOUR victory and first course design.
Big Stick will stretch more than 8,200 yards from the tips, bringing John’s "grip-it-and-rip-it" style of golf to Illinois. The par-5 holes will exceed 600 yards, the par 4s will measure more than 450 yards, and each par 3 will feature a tee that makes that particular hole difficult and memorable. Daly’s vision for the links-style course also encompasses long, open fairways with a challenging approach and undulating greens. His spirit and enthusiasm for the game will positively complement the vision of golf course architect John Robinson who will collaborate with him on the project.
"I have a passion for building golf courses and look forward to making Big Stick one of the longest tracks in the country with a number of tee boxes to allow for maximum playability," said Daly.
Daly, known as the "Lion," turned professional in 1987. Among his victories are the PGA Championship (1991), B.C. Open (1992), BellSouth Classic (1994), British Open (1995), BMW International Open (2001), Pebble Beach Invitational (2003) and the Buick Invitational (2004). In 2004, Daly was named "Comeback Player of the Year." The PGA TOUR notable also collaborated on design of Thundering Waters Golf Club, the first John Daly signature golf course in Canada.
Big Stick will be conveniently located off the I-55/Weber Road interchange, just north of Bolingbrook Golf Club, and will include an ancillary golf shop and starter building, parking and food service. Access to the main clubhouse will be via a tunnel under Rodéo Drive.
For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office in Bolingbrook, 375 West Briarcliff Road, at 630.226.8416.
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