Such is the timeless charm and appeal that Skokie possesses today that one would imagine that little ever happened to the course since its original inception. And yet, nothing could be further from the truth!

The first version of the course was built by the members just before the turn of the 20th century and was a nine hole course. Tom Bendelow expanded and modified the course to eighteen holes in 1905. Donald Ross's 1914 revision of Bendelow's course became the third version and was deemed good enough to host the 1922 U.S. Open, won by Gene Sarazen.

Fourteeen years later as Europe plunged into World War II, the club gave up several Ross holes when it sold to a real estate venture the land around the present fifteenth and sixteenth holes. In the process, it picked up additional land south of its existing border. Rather than go back to Ross, Skokie hired the local architect firm of William Langford and Ted Moreau to design the holes on the newly acquired property. Thus, the present third, fourth, fifth, sixth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth holes were created with Langford/Moreau tying the remaining Ross holes into these seven new ones.

Whether Ross's 1922 course or Langford/Moreau's 1938 version was the design zenith of Skokie is a matter of conjecture but the author sides with the 1938 one. The introduction of the stream and lake at the south end of the property was a distinct plus as the resulting third, eleventh, and twelfth holes add variety to the overall challenge and are undoubtedly among the finest on the course. Plus, Langford/Moreau's exaggerated bunker walls are a handsome addition to the subdued topography.

Unfortunately, from WWII until the mid 1990s, a number of lesser architects tinkered with the course to the point where neither Ross nor Langford/Moreau would likely have recognized it: cross bunkers were removed, other bunkers were softened and became maintenance nightmares thanks to their high sandy faces which were in vogue in the 1970s, mounds were added for 'framing', and the putting surfaces shrunk to where many greens were bland ovals.  In addition, tree encroachment continued unabated, thus negating many of the playing angles within the holes. With the most interesting hole locations gone and the strategic requirements reduced, the course was a shadow of its former glorious state.

The Green Committee concisely outlined these concerns in 1999 to the membership in a very well produced six page fold-out brochure entilted Course Restoration Plan. A full color aerial rendering of the course was included by Ron Prichard that showed the course's features before and after the proposed restorative work. Also, several of the most potentially contentous issues were addressed head on, such as tree removal, how long the course would be closed and how much it would cost.

In addition, the Green Committee made it clear to the membership that there would be no cherry picking of Prichard's ideas: the plan would be accepted in its entirety or not at all. As they wisely noted, ' It is best to stick with plans drawn by an experienced professional. No matter how good the intention, modifications made by amateur hands tend to produce unsatisfactory results.'

Once presented with the facts, the membership voted to pursue restoring the course in a comprehensive manner as outlined by Prichard. Working closely with Green Keeper Don Cross and his crew, Prichard's work came in on time and on budget. The result is a startingly transformation that returned the course to a centerpiece of classic design.

While every phase of the project was a complete success, Prichard's fairway bunker work is especially noteworthy. He re-introduced cross bunkers, he rotated the axis of numerous fairway bunkers 90 degrees so that the bunkers once again protrude into play as opposed to just paralleling the fairway, and he gave hands on attention to ensuring the grass bunker walls had irregular shape and flow to them. 

Langford and Moreau's work is often compared to that of Seth Raynor, a compliment to all parties
concerned. However, one difference is the pronounced rolling faces that Langford often
used with his bunkers. Above is the greenside bunker as seen from behind the
third hole, with its face recaptured by Ron Prichard.

 Here at the sixth, the golfer must first carry two restored fairway bunkers on the left while staying
short of one on the right. The right fairway bunker was brought into the fairway by
turning it ninety degrees and it protects the ideal approach angle.

Skokie is a walker's paradise with greens and tees in close proximity to one another. With few
trees as protection, Ross steered the golfers away from the players in front by the use
of bunkers. The horseshoe bunker above fronts the eighth tee and those
golfers playing the seventh do well to stay clear of it.

With conversation tending to center around Skokie's distinctive bunkering and interesting green contours (e.g. the sixth and eleventh), overlooked can be the fact that Skokie also possesses length. With the course having expanded nearly 1,000 yards since Bendelow's effort, the Championship Card shows a course that measures 7,020 yards against a par of 71. Indeed, its three hole finish of 250 yards, 445 yards and 465 yards is as demanding a stretch as one would ever wish to find.

Still, length for length's sake is boring but it is important that Skokie possess it. Why? Without it, the cross bunkers which add so much to the course would be meaningless. Afterall, cross bunkers 40 yards shy of a 360 yard hole or 100 yards shy of a 500 yard hole only trap the duffer in this modern age of aerial golf. However, those same bunkers on a 440 yarder and a 560 yarder remain in play for all levels of golfers. Thus, though many courses claim to do so, Skokie accurately enjoys the reputation for providing an engaging challenge to all levels of players.

Holes to Note

First hole, 440 yards; Hard to imagine a more appealing opener. From the elevated tee 20-25 feet above the fairway, the golfer is afforded a clear view down the broad fairway, which he'll want to hit as carrying the restored cross bunkers fifty yards shy of the green can be difficult from the rough. Of course, when Ross first built these cross bunkers, the golfer would have been trying to just carry them with a spoon, in hopes of watching his ball bound along the ground for forty yards and onto the green. Nonetheless, these cross bunkers remain much in play for the modern game for all but a well placed tee ball.

With trees removed from the playing corridor and the cross bunkers restored,
the first at Skokie has returned as one of the game's grand openers.

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