Demo for Glencoe Golf Club clubhouse begins in autumn

Glencoe Township officials expect demolition of the existing Glencoe Golf Club clubhouse to begin this fall while preparations for the estimated $18.6 million project are ongoing.

At a committee meeting on June 20, Glencoe staff updated councillors on the budget and construction plans for the golf club redevelopment.

Last year, a majority of villagers approved a referendum to sell $15 million in bonds to finance the bulk of the project, which will culminate in a new combined clubhouse and pro shop.

Stella Nanos, general manager of Glencoe Golf Club, estimated the current project cost at just over $18.6 million. She said the specific financing plan now calls for using the $15 million from bond proceeds and tapping an additional $2.2 million from the village’s golf capital fund.

The Friends of the Glencoe Golf Club, a private fundraising organization, has received a $1.25 million donation from an anonymous donor. The majority of those funds will help cover the remaining costs of the new clubhouse, Nanos said.

Nanos added that the community is also applying for at least $250,000 in grants for a geothermal HVAC system and hopes to avoid having to use a $600,000 planning backlog included in the current construction budget.

Regarding construction, Nanos said the project is currently in the construction development phase and 50% of the construction documents have been received and reviewed. The goal is to have all construction documents completed by early August.

“Any delay in the schedule will have a negative impact on the budget,” she said. “We will face increasing labor costs, as our project manager has already warned us.”

She expects building permits to be submitted to the Cook County Building Department by August. This is necessary because half of the golf club is located on land owned by the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

Nanos said she hopes to present a demolition plan and preliminary scope of work to the council in August to approve the demolition of the old existing clubhouse. The plan then calls for council approval of the tender results for construction in September.

“There is a lot to do, the schedule is very tight,” said Nanos.

Village Manager Phil Kiraly said the goal is to potentially open the new building by the end of 2025.

He said the existing pro shop would remain open during construction of the new clubhouse.

“We don’t want to close the golf course while construction is underway,” Kiraly said. “We hope to make great progress during the winter months.”

The project includes a new 10,000-square-foot clubhouse/pro shop, as well as a croquet court, restaurant and bar, outdoor patio, private event space, community garden and other outdoor amenities such as cross-country ski trails.

Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.