Billy Casper Golf has been selected to lead the re-opening and manage University Golf Club in University Park, Ill., which features an 18-hole golf course and banquet facility.
BCG will oversee all aspects of the daily-fee operation, located near the campus of Governors State University, 45 minutes south of Chicago. Course and property maintenance, sales, marketing and public relations, staffing and training, merchandising, restaurant and banquet activities, special events, golf instruction and financial management are among the company’s responsibilities.
With a reputation for injecting fun programming for golfers of all abilities, BCG will position University Golf Club as a convenient and family-friendly golf oasis ideal for quick escapes from the hustle and bustle of city life.
"University Golf Club is a symbol of community pride,” said Vivian Covington, mayor of the Village of University Park. "We are thrilled with Billy Casper Golf’s plans to reinvigorate the club and cause golfers to return to what was once their ‘home course.’”
“Realizing the potential of outstanding golf clubs like University Park is the bedrock of our business,” said Peter Hill, chairman and CEO of BCG. “Here’s to popularizing the club as ‘the’ place to learn and play golf, and the area’s first choice in hosting unforgettable banquets and other social outings.”
The University Course at the University Golf Club opened in 1962 and was designed by celebrated architect Lawrence Packard. Greg Martin updated the layout in 2004, and the par-71, 6,650-yard layout now features elevated tees, rolling fairways and several water hazards. Golfers hone their skills on the 350-square-foot practice putting green.
Complementing the course is an elegant banquet facility and the Urban Room restaurant well known for its weekend brunch. A renovated 7,000 square-foot clubhouse includes a fully stocked pro shop and bar area.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Billy Casper Golf to breathe new life into University Golf Club,” said Johnna Townsend, acting village manager. “It will be an invaluable asset within our community and the site of lasting memories for many families on and off the course.”