Wing Park’s new golf clubhouse, featuring golf simulators and the Chip Shots Golf & Whiskey Bar, is to open in mid- to late-June, an Elgin city spokesperson said.
“The new Wing Park Golf Course clubhouse is a state-of-the-art facility that blends modern amenities with the historical significance of the course,” Josie Beecher-Crotty said.
“Inside, the details pay homage to the industrial era, from the finishes throughout the building to the full-service whiskey bar, other liquor offerings and Elgin’s own 1908 lager.”
While not yet ready for use, a plaque dedicating the 9,600-square-foot building was unveiled by Mayor Dave Kaptain during a tour held last week for local officials. It reads, in part, that the facility is “hereby dedicated to the enjoyment of the game and the spirit of the community in Elgin. May this course inspire friendship, sportsmanship and a lifelong love of the game.”
One of the amenities of the new Wing Park Golf Course clubhouse in Elgin is the Chip Shots Golf & Whiskey Bar food truck, which will provide menu items to park visitors in addition to golf course patrons. (Gloria Casas/The Courier-News)
FMG Architectures Inc. designed the $4.8 million venue to blend in with the original clubhouse, which was built in 1936 and remains part of the site. Both are located across the street from the nine-hole golf course at 1000 Wing St.
The new clubhouse has three full-swing Pro 2.0 simulator bays that allow users to virtually play top global courses and practice regardless of the weather, the club’s website said. Course membership is not required to use the clubhouse or its amenities.
It’s also home to Chip Shots Golf & Whiskey Bar, which will have rotating beer on tap, signature cocktails, a lounge area and, of course, whiskey pours, the site said. Plank Road Tap Room is providing the food, a menu for which is to be available soon.
A Chip Shots food truck is already onsite, parked in a patio area between the old and new clubhouses, which can be accessed by golfers and park visitors when open.
“With golf continuing to grow in popularity, the new clubhouse creates a more complete experience at Wing Park Golf Course,” Beecher-Crotty said.
It’s also designed to provide a welcoming destination for families, she said, and offers indoor and outdoor spaces for gatherings and events.
“Visitors can come for the dining experience, enjoy a round of golf or make it a full outing at one of Elgin’s most historic recreational destinations,” she said.
A wall in the new clubhouse chronicles the history of Wing Park, which opened to the public in 1903 after the estate of William H. Wing donated 121.5 acres to the city of Elgin. The nine-hole golf course opened in 1908, the same year the city’s first outdoor swimming pool at the park was created by damming up Tyler Creek.
It’s the oldest nine-hole course in the state, and that history was an important aspect in the clubhouse’s planning and design, Beecher-Crotty said. Based on recent social media posts about the venue, commenters appreciate the design and believe it’s a good addition to the park and course, she.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.