How’s that Glencoe Golf Club construction coming?

With the last outstanding permit anticipated to be approved in the coming weeks, the construction of Glencoe Golf Club’s new clubhouse remains on track to complete next summer, the village’s director of public works said.

The century-old clubhouse was demolished in May after Glencoe residents voted in 2023 in favor of allowing the village to borrow up to $15 million to rebuild and renovate facilities at the 126-acre golf course. 

A large portion of the course’s land is owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Negotiations with county representatives over the village’s lease on the land, which is set to expire in 2049, stalled last year before an updated agreement between the two municipalities was approved in December. 

Now, Monica Sarna, Glencoe’s director of public works, said the village is just awaiting approval of one necessary permit from the Cook County Building and Zoning authority to move forward.

In the meantime, the county has granted Glencoe’s early-start requests for the construction of the new clubhouse. Sarna said that has involved limited site work and utility work primarily to the building’s foundation, as well as the installation of tree protection measures.

A July 31 update on the Glencoe Golf Club webpage dedicated to the project has video updates (last one in July) of the construction and details that the main foundation of the building and the walls for a golf cart ramp have been poured. 

Sarna said the outstanding approval of the last permit will not cause any significant delay to the construction. She anticipates that walls for the clubhouse structure will go up next to allow for interior work to take place throughout the coming winter months. 

The director noted the unique multi-jurisdictional element of the project, which required approval from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, a regional government agency that manages storm and wastewater, as well as the county. The MWRD permit was approved on Aug. 28, she said. 

The Cook County Building and Zoning outstanding permit pertains to building and engineering work for the clubhouse’s construction; the Village of Glencoe’s approval pertained to health and fire protection and the MWRD permit to further site development, Sarna said. 

The new clubhouse, designed in a Prairie Style by FGMArchitects, will offer an “upscale dining experience” from a year-round full-service restaurant and bar, indoor and outdoor event spaces and two multi-sport simulators, according to the project’s website and a press release from the Friends of the Glencoe Golf Club.

Other additions to the outdoor site will include a croquet court, short-game practice area, event lawn, sustainable gardens, bicycle repair station, new parking and winter-recreation areas.

Stella Nanos, general manager of the Glencoe Golf Club, said the golf courses have remained operational amid the ongoing construction, with a food service truck and tent offering golfers refreshments on site between rounds. 

The driving range at the golf club, however, closed for the season on Sept. 17, which allows for construction crews to begin work on an underground water-storage tank. Slowed seasonal activity at the golf club has also allowed site work to begin under the parking lot, Nanos said.

“The construction is all contained behind a fence, everyone that comes out here is always peeking in there. Everyone’s very excited and looking forward to the new building opening,” Nanos said. 

“We have quite a few people calling and sending emails interested in booking event space, which unfortunately we are not able to do any bookings at this time, but it just proves that people are very eager to have a space in the community that can be utilized for celebrations with their families,” Nanos added.

The construction reportedly has not significantly discouraged golfers from visiting the Glencoe course. The golf club is on track to end the season with having hosted 40,000 players, a number in line with previous seasons, Nanos said. It will remain open until temperatures reach below 40 degrees or when snow begins to fall.

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