That place is the storied Ravisloe Country Club, which reopened as a public course April 1, 2009 and now debuts a special events program that promises to be second-to-none.

Ravisloe boasts a rich, 108-year history as one of Chicago’s finest private clubs and a majestic Spanish Mission-style clubhouse. During Ravisloe’s first season as a public course, new owner Dr. Claude Gendreau invested in enhancing the “European garden” quality of the grounds and renovating the clubhouse’s ballroom and auxiliary rooms, creating an atmosphere that exudes classic beauty.

Now, Ravisloe stands ready to host weddings and a multitude of other special events, from small, intimate private gatherings to large corporate outings. At the helm of Ravisloe’s special events program is Ashley Whitten, who joined Ravisloe in November as its Food, Beverage & Banquet Manager and is thrilled to take the lead.

“I love the challenge of setting the standard and bringing definition to the special events offered here,” Whitten says. “The possibilities are endless. We are dedicated to providing exceptional, personal service from start to finish and wonderfully memorable experiences for our guests in an environment that is truly enchanting.”

  Whitten came highly recommended from Beverly Country Club, where she served as director of marketing and membership, and Idlewild Country Club, where she volunteers on the house committee. She sees her new role as incorporating a wide range of professional and life experiences as well as her passion for working with people.

  Since coming on board, Whitten has established relationships with three primary caterers, all local businesses, and has begun booking events for 2010. She encourages tours of the facility. “I welcome people to visit and see for themselves the unmatched atmosphere we have here and the capability of Ravisloe to host multi-stage events and gatherings of just about any size,” Whitten says.

For more information on special events at Ravisloe, call 708-798-5600 or visit the Website, www.ravisloecountryclub.com. Ravisloe is operated by GolfVisions Management, Inc., a Chicagoland-based golf management firm whose portfolio comprises eight other courses in the area, including Oak Grove Golf Course in Harvard, Foxford Hills Golf Club in Cary, Settler’s Hill Golf Course in Batavia, Nettle Creek Country Club in Morris, and Village Green Golf Course in Mundelein, as well as Pennbrooke Fairways and Green Valley Country Club in central Florida.

February 27, 2009: Under New Ownership, New Management, Ravisloe Country Club to Reopen as a Public Golf Course

Homewood, Ill. -- It’s no April Fool’s joke.
     On April 1, 2009, the storied Ravisloe Country Club will reopen…as a public golf course operated by Chicagoland-based GolfVisions Management, Inc.
     It’s a win-win scenario for Chicago-area golfers and the Village of Homewood, which retains 160 acres of green space just steps from its Metra station in the heart of downtown.
     “I’m absolutely delighted that the Ravisloe property is to remain a golf course and a public golf course at that,” comments Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld. “Ravisloe has been a longstanding asset to the community in that it is an oasis of green space, provides water retention in times of heavy rain, and harbors a variety of wildlife. Now, as a public course, this focal point of our Village will be even more of a magnet to draw people to the Homewood community as well as to our shops and fine restaurants. And Ravisloe affords our golf-playing citizenry and residents of neighboring communities open access to a world-class, championship-caliber course.”
     Ravisloe Country Club boasts a rich, 108-year history as one of Chicago’s finest private clubs, an iconic Spanish Mission-style clubhouse, and a reputation for diabolical greens, expansive fairways framed by mature trees, and distinctive bunkering. A classic, parkland-style course originally designed by Theodore Moreau and James Foulis, Ravisloe is registered with the Donald Ross Society for the legendary architect’s indelible imprint on the layout during a 1917-19 renovation. In 2002, Dave Esler completed an acclaimed restoration of course features consistent with Ross principles. Ravisloe’s new owner, Dr. Claude Gendreau, looks forward to making this South Side treasure available to the golfing public.
     “When I first learned the property might be available and drove out there, I was awestruck by how beautiful the land was and how majestic the clubhouse building,” remarks Gendreau. “I felt I could not leave to chance the future of this park-like property and would like to be associated with its future.”
     The next thing that impressed him was the appeal of the surrounding community and of the nearby downtown area. He also valued the proximity of the Metra station, providing public transportation to and from Chicago. Ravisloe is 161 acres of groomed open land, almost like a European garden that is an island in the middle of an urban area. “It’s a jewel that needs to be preserved as long as feasible, and we hope the golf operation can sustain our goal of retaining this as open space for years to come,” Gendreau says.
     Gendreau, an acclaimed veterinary surgeon, is an innovator in his field, one of the first such specialists to practice outside the university setting. Indeed, he founded what is now the leading veterinary referral center in the Midwest. As an ardent advocate for eco-responsibility and sustainable living, Gendreau views preserving Ravisloe as an ideal situation to enact these values and make a difference. While he is not himself a golfer, he understands and appreciates Ravisloe’s unique heritage. His excitement in opening the course as a public venue is palpable.
     “I feel more people need to have the opportunity to have access to an environment like this,” says Gendreau.  He regards Ravisloe as a public amenity that should be enjoyed by everyone.
     To operate Ravisloe as a public facility, Gendreau has enlisted GolfVisions, which manages via contract or lease eight other courses in the metro area and one in Florida. Tim Miles, Sr., president of GolfVisions, shares the new owner’s enthusiasm for the endeavor.
     “GolfVisions is pleased and honored at this unique opportunity to bring a truly delightful Donald Ross course to all golfers,” Miles says. “Ravisloe is a very special place that has stood the test of time. It encompasses 160 acres, which was a large tapestry for courses designed during the Gilded Age of golf. The clubhouse provides a glimpse of a bygone era of opulence and grace.”
     More than a history lesson, however, Ravisloe offers a spectacular golf experience. “The 2002 restoration by David Esler pays homage to both Foulis and Ross at their best,” remarks Miles. “Ravisloe’s intriguing design embodies the true values of the game. Here, there is a premium on shot-making skill and mental strategy.”
     Jim Wright, a lifelong Homewood resident and unofficial Village historian, calls Ravisloe “the jewel of our community” and points to the longtime affinity between the Club and the Village. Adds Mayor Hofeld, “Not only the immediate neighbors, but the entire community, welcome the purchase of Ravisloe and the plan to retain it as open space with the golf course and other amenities available for public enjoyment.”
     Further details on Ravisloe’s transition to a public, daily-fee golf course are forthcoming. Visit the Club’s Website, www.ravisloecountryclub.com for updates. Visit www.golfvisions.net for more information on GolfVisions Management, Inc., and the other courses in their portfolio, including Oak Grove Golf Course in Harvard; Foxford Hills Golf Club in Cary; Settler’s Hill Golf Course in Batavia; Nettle Creek Country Club in Morris; Village Green Golf Course in Mundelein; and Pennbrooke Fairways in Leesburg, Fla.

June 4, 2008: Nettle Creek Welcomes New Golf Professional
Morris, Ill. -- Morris native Kurt Nolen, who served as Nettle Creek Country Club’s assistant pro in 2003, has returned to Nettle Creek in the dual role of head golf professional and assistant manager.
     "We are delighted to have Kurt on board," says Nettle Creek GM John O’Connor. "He has great people skills and is an outstanding instructor who enjoys teaching the game."
     For Nolen, the golf bug bit early. He grew up in a neighborhood adjacent to Morris Country Club where, at age 11 or 12, he scored his first golf industry job: picking up range balls for the pro. By 13 or 14, Nolen had learned about Ferris State University’s pioneering professional golf management program and settled on a career in golf. At age 16, Nolen followed the Morris C.C. pro to Nettle Creek. He worked at Nettle as a cart attendant for two years before heading to Big Rapids, Mich., home of Ferris State.
     After graduation, Nolen worked as an assistant pro first at Nettle Creek, then for two years at Kishwaukee Country Club. He was the head golf professional at Marengo Ridge Country Club for three years before his "homecoming" to Nettle Creek.
     Nolen is enthusiastic about the opportunity, and the course. "Nettle Creek has a great layout and is golfer-friendly," says Nolen. "It requires the use of all the clubs in your golf bag—you’re not limited to a driver and a wedge, all your clubs come into play out here."
     Nolen confirms that he enjoys giving lessons and feels he especially excels at teaching women and juniors, two critical groups to involve if the game of golf is to sustain and grow its participation rate. "I’m currently in the process of planning junior golf programs to begin in July," notes Nolen.
     Meanwhile, Nettle Creek is gearing up for a successful season. The facility is hosting a number of large groups in upcoming days, including the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce Friday, June 6; the IBEW Union on Saturday, June 7; and the Grundy County Sheriffs on Monday, June 16. The onsite Gables Restaurant, with indoor and patio seating, offers phenomenal 19th hole fare and continues to draw local residents for lunch and dinner, including a regular Friday-evening fish fry.
     "Nettle Creek has the most attractive rates you're going to find anywhere in Chicagoland for this caliber of course," O'Connor says. "We're only 20 minutes from Joliet and 30 minutes from the Naperville-Bolingbrook area. For this kind of experience, with rates peaking at only $49 including cart on weekends, we are well worth the drive. And we run coupon specials on the Web and in print on a regular basis, so golfers seldom pay that peak rate."