Mistwood Golf Club – The Public Golf Course That Rewrote the Rules

For decades, Chicago’s public golf scene has been defined by accessibility and tradition. From the storied fairways of Cog Hill Golf & Country Club to the scenic layouts at Pine Meadow Golf Club and Harborside International, the Chicagoland area has long set a high standard for public golf experiences. Yet even within that competitive landscape, one suburban facility has redefined what a public course can be — not by chasing price, but by relentlessly pursuing excellence.

That facility is Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. Once a struggling course on the verge of fading away, Mistwood has transformed into one of the most celebrated golf destinations in the Midwest. Its journey is a masterclass in visionary leadership, creative marketing, and an uncompromising commitment to quality.

Here are five lessons from Mistwood that every golfer — and every business — can learn from.

1. When Facing a Crisis, They Didn’t Cut Back — They Invested

In the early 2000s, Mistwood was in trouble. Facing economic pressure and new competition, the expected playbook would have been to scale back. Instead, owner James McWethy doubled down — personally investing millions to elevate the course and its facilities.

That bold move echoes the philosophy behind other Chicagoland success stories. Cog Hill’s Dubsdread didn’t become a PGA Tour venue by cutting corners — it became elite through continuous reinvestment in course conditioning and design. McWethy followed a similar path, proving that even public golf can thrive through vision and courage rather than cost-cutting.

By betting on quality during a downturn, he turned a struggling property into a regional powerhouse.

2. Their Marketing Secret? Make the Staff the Celebrities

While most golf facilities promote pristine greens and perfect drives, Mistwood does something different — it puts its people front and center. Led by Ben Hutchison, a former TV anchor turned Media Marketing Manager, the club’s marketing features instructors, chefs, and superintendents as local stars.

It’s a lesson that other local facilities have also started to embrace in their own ways, highlighting community and personality rather than just fairways and fees. Mistwood simply takes that idea further, turning its team into the brand.

3. A World-Class Facility Built by “Happy Accidents”

Mistwood’s transformation wasn’t born from a rigid business plan. It evolved through curiosity, creativity, and flexibility. A clubhouse redesign accidentally led to a full course renovation with original architect Ray Hearn. A plan for a simple winter practice building evolved into a world-class Performance Center equipped with TrackMan technology and advanced clubfitting tools.

That spirit of iteration mirrors what makes Chicago golf special. The best local courses — from Harborside’s Port and Starboard to Cog Hill’s sprawling 72-hole facility — have evolved through constant improvement. Mistwood simply took that principle to an art form, proving that innovation often begins with a willingness to change course — literally.

4. An Obsession with a Single Detail Reveals Everything

When James McWethy decided to overhaul Mistwood Golf Club in the early 2010s, he and architect Ray Hearn paid close attention to every detail of the redesign. During a round at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, McWethy was particularly struck by the playability and color of their bunker sand. He later learned that it was the “Waupaca Steep Face” sand, a manufactured sand from Waupaca, Wisconsin, designed to pack tightly so it resists erosion on steep bunker faces.

The team imported the same “Waupaca steep face” variety for Mistwood. This wasn’t a minor tweak; it was a reflection of a deeper mindset. Every grain of sand represented his pursuit of perfection.

Mistwood Performance Center

That same attention to detail defines the region’s best public facilities. At Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, golfers rave about its immaculate greens; at Cog Hill, the grounds team maintain championship-level conditions year-round. Mistwood’s bunker sand might seem like a small thing — but it’s emblematic of how big results come from microscopic focus.

5. A “Public Course” with Private Club Standards

Mistwood’s motto — “Public Course, Private Experience” — isn’t just marketing fluff. It’s a lived philosophy. The spectacular 26,000-square-foot clubhouse is on our list of Chicago’s Top 10 Public Golf Course Clubhouses, McWethy’s Tavern, and 5,000-square-foot Performance Center rival anything found at Chicago’s premier private clubs. In the winter, the popular Mistwood Golf Dome is a 60,000 sq ft heated facility with TopTracer, putting greens, and a short game area.

The result: Mistwood consistently ranks among the best public golf destinations in America, including GolfPass’s #2 national ranking for off-course amenities and Golf Digest’s list of “America’s 100 Best Clubfitters.”

Few public facilities in the country can match that blend of access and excellence — a testament to what happens when passion, hospitality, and world-class design meet.

Although the course can be quite a test from the back tees, Mistwood can be a fun layout for even higher handicappers. It’s a beautiful test of golf, especially the six holes that border Lake St. James.

Mistwood features two remarkable par-5’s – the 566-yard 8th hole and the 559-yard 15th hole. Both holes play alongside Lake St. James and require equal amounts of strategy and skill. The 8th hole fairway is bisected by large hills and moguls. You may hit a great shot and still be faced with a downhill lie in the rough. This is one hole where club selection is key.

The 15th hole is a dogleg left across the Lake. It begins with the monumental decision of how much water you’re willing to cross. Hit a solid tee shot and judge your distance properly and you’re in good shape to reach this par 5 in two. Miss on either your distance or swing and you’re in for a struggle.

The Chicago Golf Report Perspective: Passion as a Business Model

Mistwood Golf Club didn’t just improve a golf course — it elevated an entire category. Alongside institutions like Cog Hill, The Glen Club, and Harborside, it proves that public golf in Chicago can deliver both accessibility and excellence.

But Mistwood’s story is about more than facilities. It’s about mindset.
Invest during hard times. Celebrate your people. Obsess over the details. Never settle for “good enough.”

It’s a formula that doesn’t just create great golf — it creates greatness, period.

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