Winnetka Golf Club opens August 12 with expanded alcohol service – but not at 7 a.m.

A number of liquor license changes proposed for the Winnetka Golf Club proved acceptable to village officials – with the exception of one request that trustees said was inadmissible.

The Winnetka Town Council approved two of three proposed changes to the club’s liquor license during its meeting on Tuesday, July 16, and rejected a request to allow alcohol to be served at 7 a.m.

Keri Kaup, Winnetka’s manager of administrative services, went over the golf course’s requests with the trustees, which asked officials to make an amendment to the existing license to allow beverage cart service and consumption of alcoholic beverages throughout the Winnetka Golf Club property, as well as to update the hours of operation for the sale and serving of alcohol.

As previously reported by The data set, Winnetka Park District officials have entered into an agreement with KemperSports to take over management of golf course operations at Winnetka Golf Club in 2022. As part of this agreement, KemperSports will also manage food and beverage service at the facility.

KemperSports officials announced earlier this month that Winnetka Golf Club will reopen on August 12, and in June Kemper released the facility’s new logo.

The over 100-year-old golf club has been closed since 2022 due to the ongoing Winnetka Stormwater Project. During the closure, the golf club – which includes an 18-hole par 71 course and a 9-hole par 27 course – was renovated. The data set previously reported.

According to Kaup, the existing Class P liquor license authorizes the Winnetka Park District to sell and serve alcoholic beverages in the golf course’s halfway house and clubhouse.

In addition, alcoholic beverages sold in the clubhouse may only be consumed there; however, those sold in the halfway house may be taken to other parts of the golf club, Kaup said at the meeting.

In a village memo attached to the July 16 council meeting records, Kaup noted that KemperSports representatives “would like guests to be able to consume their beverages regardless of the point of sale in the clubhouse, on the patio and on the golf course.”

Trustees showed little to no response to KemperSports’ request to offer beverage carts and expand alcohol consumption throughout the facility, but several board members objected to the proposed start of alcohol service.

Trustee Bob Dearborn called the proposed 7 a.m. start time “kind of ridiculous.”

Currently, alcohol can only be sold in the club between 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., officials said during the meeting. In addition to demanding earlier opening hours in the morning, Kempersports’ proposal also included extending service in the evening until 10 p.m.

Tee times at Winnetka Golf Club begin at 7 a.m. By moving the tee time forward further, “guests with early tee times can order an alcoholic beverage at the start of their round,” Kaup explained.

Kaup also said that Kemper plans to host league dinners and banquets in the clubhouse after the course closes, which is why they have asked for longer alcohol serving hours.

After a brief discussion in the council, the trustees decided to keep the service starting at 9 a.m., but to allow longer opening hours.

Winnetka authorities are asking golf course officials to reconsider their application if everything goes smoothly after reopening with the new liquor license changes.

“That sounds like a lot at once and maybe we should start with that because 7 seems a bit early,” said trustee Bridget Orsic.

Officials also said they will monitor service operations on the route to ensure that the changes do not result in any disruptions.

Vince Juarez, vice president of operations at KemperSports, told the trustees that the management company would closely monitor the proceedings.

“We don’t want any problems, so if we see any problems, we will voluntarily reduce our hours,” he said. “Frankly, we don’t often see operations running until 10 p.m. on the golf course. That’s rare. … We want to be good partners and good neighbors.”

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