Club History

'Tractor and Plow Give Way to Driver and Putter' was the headline in the Sunday Chicago Tribune September 18, 1960. The article came out one year after a new golf course opened in the Western Suburbs. The feeling was such because, according to the article, "a new, regulation 18 hole golf course in the Chicago area" hadn't been built in 30 years. Located on 75th Street, the Village Greens of Woodridge opened in the summer of 1959 in the quiet, wide open area of Woodridge, in southern DuPage County. A lot has changed over the years, especially the wide open part. However, the land the golf course occupies has belonged to only three principle owners.

Ownership of the 127 acres the Village Greens occupies can be traced back to 1870, when the Faulhaber family settled on the land as German immigrants. For the next 86 years, corn and soybeans were the preferred crops that were cultivated. The land remained in the family until John S. Henry purchased the land for the sole purpose of building a public golf course and cultivating golfing customers. At the time, Henry owned Maplecrest Country Club, near LaGrange, but was forced to sell 6 holes worth of land for the then-new I-55 Stevenson Expressway. He then bought the Faulhaber farm in 1956 and named his new golf course Maplecrest Lake Country Club.

The land was perfect for a golf course: rolling, with a stand of old Oak trees at the southern portion. Robert Bruce Harris, then a relatively new golf course architect, was commissioned for the course design and layout. A pond was excavated at the southeast end of the property, it's lowest point, for the 14th and 15th holes. Henry even decided to keep the farmhouse intact and construct additions for a Pro Shop and Banquet facility. The first employees given the task of shaping the new course were Golf Pro Wayne Solomon and Superintendent Lloyd Roth. By 1970, Henry had thoughts of selling the golf course, but his fears of seeing it develop into housing kept him from making the transaction. Then, the Village of Woodridge became involved in negotiating a purchase. In September, 1972, Woodridge voters approved the purchase by a 2 to 1 margin. A new era of John Henry's golf course began the next season when 'The Village Greens of Woodridge' name was adopted. In 1995, the Woodridge Park District assumed the management of the course under a unique intergovernmental operating agreement between the Village of Woodridge and the Woodridge Park District. The Park District's first priority was to tear down the original farmhouse-clubhouse, and in 1996 the current, state-of-the-art clubhouse opened for business.

The course has remained basically the same since it's inception. Water hazards on #5, #11, #12, and #18 were added years later when neighboring developments prompted the need for water retention. The addition of the #18 water hazard (opened in 1990) has made the finishing hole truly difficult, especially from the very back tee, affectionately known as 'The Chute'. Recently, over 10 new forward tees have been added to attract beginning and high handicap golfers. Many bunkers have been reshaped and drainage has been added to fairways and bunkers that required repair. Mounding has been constructed to aid in player safety and to enhance the playability of the course. Finally, many acres of 'out-of-play' areas have been reverted back to a naturalized state to increase environmental stewardship and course aesthetics.

A full tournament schedule has developed over the years including the Illinois State Scramble, held every April since 1983. The Illinois PGA, the Chicago District Golf Association, and Illinois Junior Golf Association have had events at the Village Greens over the years. In addition, over 20 leagues offer weekly events (some since 1959), and dozens of corporations host annual golf outings on our pristine fairways.

Village Greens has had its share of recognition over the years, including the 'Top 100 Golf Shops' by Golf Shop Operations Magazine, the 2002 'Excellence in Business Award' by the Business Ledger Magazine, a two time recipient of the 'Best Buys in Chicagoland' by Chicagoland Golfer Magazine, and '2001 Illinois Golf Course of the Year' by the Illinois Golf Course Owners Association. Avid golfers can purchase a 'Frequent Golfer Incentive Card' and Woodridge Residents get a discount off the regular rates.

Many golfers feel that the course is just now coming into its full maturity. Over 1500 trees define the fairways and roughs, and the Woodridge Park District has implemented an aggressive Capital Development Program to continue to improve and preserve the integrity and playability of the course. We invite you to find out for yourself why this course is considered one of the best values for golf in Chicagoland.