Championship Tradition











 
Olympia Fields has had championship caliber golf in its' DNA since the doors opened nearly 100 years ago. While the tournaments that get the attention feature the pros, like US Opens or PGA Championships, we also have been host to dozens of high caliber amateur events for men and women on both of the championship courses.


  • Course History

    • To host high caliber tournaments, the courses must be worthy of this level of play and Olympia Fields' members have remained adamant to always keep both courses interesting, challenging and in competitive condition. Our courses were designed by two legendary architects whose work has stood the test of time and competition: Willie Park Jr. designed the US Open proven North Course and Tom Benedelow is responsible for our South Course which was recently renovated by Steve Smyers in 2007. The North Course has been selected for 20 straight years as a Top 100 course by Golf Digest, most recently at #62. Since its renovation, the South Course has relieved Top 20 honors in Illinois consistently and continues to prove its valor.

      "I have examined thousands of places adaptable for the ideal golf course, both in Europe and America, but I have never seen a more natural setting for a championship course. I am satisfied now that your number IV course is the equal of any golf course I have ever seen and I know of none that is superior, either in beauty or natural terrain." - Willie Park, Jr.

  • Professional Tournaments

    •        

      2 US Opens, 2 PGA Championships, 5 Western Opens and a US Senior Open are the more notable championships that have been competed on our property. Names like Walter Hagen, Johnny Farrell, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Sneed and Jim Furyk all have hoisted trophies on the North Course's 18th green. Additionally, we have been host to multiple Illinois PGA Championships and will again in 2013.

  • Professional Championship Winners

    •    
      1920  Western Open                    Jack Hutchinson            
      1925  PGA Championship            Walter Hagen
      1927  Western Open                      Walter Hagen
      1928  US Open                         Johnny Farrell
      1933  Western Open                 Macdonald Smith
      1938  Chicago Open                 Sam Sneed
      1961  PGA Championship         Jerry Barber
      1968  Western Open                 Jack Nicklaus
      1971  Western Open                 Bruce Crampton
      1997  US Senior Open             Graham Marsh
      2003  US Open                         Jim Furyk

  • National Amateur Tournaments

    •     

      Olympia Fields has always been supportive of amateur golf and very active recently in hosting some of the most prestigious. This culminates in 2015 by bringing the oldest amateur championship, the US Amateur, field to our home. 

         

      The USGA Girls Junior and Junior Ryder Cup were hosted in the past two years with great success. The OFCC Four Ball Championship draws from a national team field and the Fighting Illini Invitational, which hosts 20 top collegiate teams, takes place every year on our grounds. Rickie Fowler, playing for Oklahoma State University in the 2008 Fighting Illini Invitational, tied the course record of 63 set 5 years earlier by Vijay Singh at the 2003 US Open.