Most readers of this magazine know the names of at least a few of the game’s 20th century Golden Age architects. Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor, Harry Colt, Charles Alison, William Langford, Alister Mackenzie and, of course, the legendary Donald Ross. One name often missing from that impressive roster is William Watson. Watson had his hand in a number of famous courses, including The Olympic Club in San Francisco and Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix, Michigan. In the Chicago District, he did work at Olympia Fields and Ravisloe Country Clubs. His original design of Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette is in the process of being restored by Bruce Hepner, who formerly worked with Tom Doak.
“We’re going back to the original William Watson design,” said Hans Larson, the club’s longtime director of golf. “Bruce is going to redesign every bunker the way Watson originally had them. We’re going to re-grass all the greens and fairways, expand the practice range, create a putting course and a short course.”
All this on 114 acres on the North Shore. Westmoreland, which hosted the 2022 Illinois State Amateur Championship, closed on July 13 and plans to reopen next July, if all goes as planned.
“It’s the highlight of my career to be able to work with Bruce on this project,” Larson said.
Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC will visit the Cantigny Youth Links on Monday, Aug. 4, in advance of LIV Golf’s return to Bolingbrook Golf Club in Bolingbrook later in the week. In addition to Watson, a two-time Masters champion (2012, 2014), the Range Goats include Matt Wolff, Peter Uihlein and Ben Campbell. They will be competing both individually in the tournament Aug. 8-10 and as part of their respective teams. On Aug. 4, 45 junior golfers will have the opportunity to play golf with Watson. The RangeGoats also will host a youth golf clinic for more than 100 children.
The fifth annual Jackson T. Stephens Cup will be played Sept. 15-17 at Shoreacres in Lake Bluff. The event, named after a former chairman of Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Club, features 12 men’s and women’s collegiate teams plus individuals from the U.S. Military Service Academies and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Northwestern will have teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
SMARTGolf & Fitness opened a third location in Northbrook last month. The 12,000-square-foot facility, which complements the Lincoln Park and Lombard locations, features nine TrackMan simulator bays, a 3,000-square-foot performance gym and more. —Barry Cronin