Olympia Fields Country Club

Olympia Fields, Illinois

The club was founded in 1915. The North Course was designed by twice British Open champion Willie Park, JR, and was lengthened prior to hosting the 2003 U.S. Open. It features big elevation changes, a meandering creek and hundreds of native oak trees. At one time it was one of four courses at the club, but after the club fell into financial difficulties during World War II, it was forced to sell off half of its land. The remaining holes from the other three courses were reconfigured to make the South Course. Olympia Fields has hosted five major championships in total, three U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships. Other events held at Olympia Fields include five Western Opens, and the 1997 US Senior Open.

Olympia Fields is famous for its enormous clubhouse, which was completed in 1925 at a cost of $1.3 million. It is a half timbered English Tudor style building with an eighty-foot high, four-faced clock tower that has become the trademark of the club. In 2005, the club began a $9.5 million renovation project to improve the practice facilities, revamp some of the bunkers, and make other improvements. The club is on the National Register of Historic Places.

U.S. Open champions at Olympia Fields:

• 1928:  Johnny Farrell
• 2003:  Jim Furyk

PGA Championship winners at Olympia Fields:

• 1925  Walter Hagen
• 1961  Jerry Barber

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia_Fields_Country_Club