Olympia Fields and Kemper Lakes to host 2017 & 2018 Women's PGA Championships

[Howard Riefs]

Interesting to see Olympia Fields formalize a relationship with the PGA of America to host the 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Is a future PGA Championship down the road? 

Um, Kemper Lakes?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/golf/ct-source-olympia-fields-to-be-awarded-womens-major-in-2017-20150812-story.html

http://www.kpmgwomenspgachampionship.com/news-and-media/news/2017-and-2018-host-sites

[Matt Frey, PGA]

I've never played Kemper Lakes, nor do I know much about it other than Payne Stewart's PGA Championship victory there, but the few Rick Jacobson designs and restorations I have played were a lot of fun. Rick recently worked on Kemper Lakes.

[Jeff Goldman]

We are very, very pleased to be hosting this Championship, and, as Mr. Bevacqua said in the PGA press conference a bit ago, we look forward to a long and continuing relationship. Given that the great Carol Mann grew up at Olympia Fields, acted as honorary Chairman at the U.S. Girls' Jr. in 2012, and was a guest of honor (and gave a great and hilarious speech) at our centennial celebration last Saturday, it is very fitting that we welcome the greatest women golfers in the world to Olympia Fields.

First things first. We are anticipating a tremendous U.S. Amateur Championship next week, renewing our commitment to amateur golf with our friends from the USGA. Greens still look quick, too.

[Tim_Cronin]

This was great news today. Olympia Fields will be a great host and challenge, and don't discount Kemper Lakes for the ladies. The Jacobson renovation of the bunkering has improved the shot value, and the last three holes are a terror, especially when the wind blows (which it never does when Chicago hosts a big tournament).


Chicagoland now has the LPGA in town for big shows three years running, counting the International Crown at Rich Harvest in 2016.

[Andrew Buck]

This was great news today. Olympia Fields will be a great host and challenge, and don't discount Kemper Lakes for the ladies. The Jacobson renovation of the bunkering has improved the shot value, and the last three holes are a terror, especially when the wind blows (which it never does when Chicago hosts a big tournament).


Chicagoland now has the LPGA in town for big shows three years running, counting the International Crown at Rich Harvest in 2016.

Any chance they blow up the 18th?

The 17th is fine for championship golf, although not much for everyday play, but 18 is just such a bad hole, IMO.

[Tim_Cronin]

Andrew, at which course? And the answer would be no in any case.

[Andrew Buck]

Andrew, at which course? And the answer would be no in any case.

Keeper Lakes, of course.

I enjoy the course overall more than many, but the 18th just seems awkward.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Funny thing about KL 18 - it was meant to be a pretty standard cape hole, with the green just south of the clubhouse.  At the last minute, Kemper wanted to reserve that parcel for a clubhouse expansion in the future, so the final hole gets pushed into an odd configuration.  Looking at Bing, nothing has been done with that site for 36 years, so in hindsight, maybe the forced a bad decision on Killian and Nugent.