Downers Grove Park District - Programs & Events

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• Golf Course

The Downers Grove Golf Course hosts a variety of tournaments and events each year. Traditional tournaments at the Course include the Annual Pine Hollow Open and the Annual Bob Nelson Junior Amateur. The ever popular Ladies Nights continue to be a success offering a socializing, relaxation and golf in a pressure-free atmosphere. Some of the new events and programs in 2009 include the Junior Championship and the Intramural Golf Program. driving range

Golf Course Programs & Events

To view the calendar of
golf programs and events, click here.

Upcoming Tournaments and Events

35th Annual Pine Hollow Open
This tournament has been hosted at the Downers Grove Park District Golf Club for 35 years. It features over 100 players each year comprising of males ages 16 and older. Bruce Swanson, Director of the tournament, always has amazing prizes donated to this event. This year’s tournament will take place on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Tee times start at 11:00am. Please contact Bruce at 630-969-2514 for more information or to register today.

13th Annual Bob Nelson Junior Golf Amateur
This Junior Tournament has been hosted by the Downers Grove Park District Golf Club for 13 years. In memory of the late Bob Nelson, this tournament is sponsored and run by the Downers Grove Squires Men’s Golf League. Fees are only $7 and include greens fees, small bucket of range balls, prizes and lunch consisting of hot dog, chips & fountain drink. This year’s tournament will take place on Monday, June 13, 2011. This tournament is for youth ages 10-18 years old. Tee times start at 12:00pm. For more information, please contact the Downers Grove Golf Club at 630-963-1306. Registration deadline is Monday, June 6. The rain date is Monday, June 20.

NEW! Inaugural Father/Son Tournament
What better way to spend Father’s Day than with your son? This new tournament will be hosted at the Downers Grove Golf Club on Sunday, June 19th. Tee times start at 11am and continue until all teams have teed off. This tournament is open for ages 10 years and up. You add up the age of the father and son and are placed into that age category. The format is alternate shot. The fee is $45/team. Registration can be made online at www.dgparks.org, at the Golf Club, Lincoln Center or the Recreation Center.

3rd Annual Husband/Wife Tournament
This tournament has been growing in popularity at the Downers Grove Park District Golf Club. We are anticipating over 30 couples in 2011. The tournament is a 9-hole tournament with format to be determined for all married couples. Cost is just $45 per team. This year’s tournament will take place on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 3pm. For more information, please contact the Downers Grove Golf Club at 630-963-1306. The rain date is July 16.

NEW! Inaugural Women’s Scramble Tournament
This is the first year for this tournament. It will be a 4 person scramble format. The tournament fee is $90 per foursome, which includes a complimentary beverage after the tournament, greens fees, contests and prizes. The tournament will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2011with tee times beginning at 2pm. For more information, please contact the Downers Grove Golf Club at 630-963-1306.

*If registration warrants (18 teams) we would look into doing a shotgun start at 4pm.

NEW! The All-American Hickory Open
THE ALL AMERICAN HICKORY OPEN will be held on the historic links of Downers Grove Golf Course on July 22nd at 8am and July 23 at 10am. The Open is for ages 18 and up. Downers Grove Golf Course is the original site of the Chicago Golf Club, one of the most prominent country clubs in the United States. On this very site CB MacDonald built the first 9 holes for the Chicago Golf Club in 1892, becoming a spring board for golf in the West. By 1893, MacDonald and his fellow members decided to build an additional 9 holes, thus becoming the first 18 hole golf course in the United States. In 1894, on this very site the Chicago Golf Club became a Charter Member of the United States Golf Association. In 1895, however, the Chicago Golf Club parted ways with this golf course and moved their club to its current location in Wheaton. Why did they depart these original links? Apparently a semi large portion of their golf course was leased by a landowner to the West of the current course. The landowner for reasons unknown, decided not to renew that lease in 1895. The members of the Chicago Golf Club facing the loss of several holes moved on leaving this course abandoned for the entirety of 1895. In 1896, the course was adopted briefly by the Illinois Golf Club then by the Belmont Golf Club and was cut back down to nine holes roughly 3000 yards in length and a bogey score of 41, quite a challenge in its day. The course is now owned and operated by the Downers Grove Park District . 7 of the 9 greens are original, as are the majority of the bunkers, which will still be in play for THE ALL AMERICAN. The course will be set up for gutta percha golf and will play as she did on opening day in 1892. It is our hope that you come to THE ALL AMERICAN and play this historical treasure the way CB MacDonald intended her to be played. This 36 hole tournament will be hosted at the Downers Grove Golf Club for the next 3 years. All pre 1900 equipment is available (clubs and balls). The fee is $98.

4th Annual Parent/Child Scramble Tournament
The Parent/Child Scramble is a great way to spend time with your young one. Over 30 teams participated last year. Fees are $45 per team and includes lunch. The tournament will take place on Sunday, July 24, 2011 with tee times beginning at 2pm. The tournament is for kids ages 10-18 along with a parent. For more information, please contact the Downers Grove Golf Club at 630-963-1306. The rain date is July 31.

NEW! The Inaugural Par 3 Shootout
The Downers Grove Golf Club will transform its regulation course into an exciting Par 3 golf course on July 30 at 4pm. We will set up tee boxes in fairways from all angles and locations. You will play 9 unique holes ranging from 75 to 190 yards. We keep the pin and tee placements a secret until the day of the event. The tournament is open for all ages. We will break down divisions into youth, men and women. Tournament includes skins and 9 closest to the Pin contests. Cash awards for overall winners. Amount based on registration. The fee is $25. Registration includes greens fees, prizes and BBQ dinner. Registration is accepted online at www.dgparks.org on in person at the Golf Club, Lincoln Center and Recreation Center.

31st Annual Firefly Nightlight Golf Open
Our most popular tournament is back for its 31st year. This nighttime golf tournament is for golfers ages 21 & over. Fees are $200 per foursome and include greens fees, prizes, light sticks and golf balls. The tournament is scheduled for Friday, September 9, 2011 beginning at 8pm. This tournament sells out every year so get your foursome together early. For more information, please contact the Downers Grove Golf Club at 630-963-1306. Tournament is sponsored by Brickhouse Tavern and Tap.

Winners of the 2011 Tournament:

1st place : Brotz team with score of 30 (6 under par) - putts were used as tie-breaker

2nd place : N. Tohland team with score of 30 (6 under par)

3rd place : W. Neustadt team with score of 32