The Club at Wynstone: Jack Nicklaus’ Signature Masterpiece in North Barrington

The Club at Wynstone is one of the premier private golf clubs in the Chicago area and among the finest Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses in Illinois. Located in North Barrington, Illinois, the club opened in 1989 as the centerpiece of an exclusive residential community developed on the former estate of entrepreneur and philanthropist W. Clement Stone. Over the past three decades, Wynstone has hosted prestigious amateur championships, undergone significant course renovations and remained true to Nicklaus’ original architectural vision. Here’s a look at the history of The Club at Wynstone and how it became one of Chicagoland’s most respected private golf clubs.

From Country Estate to Golf Community

The story of Wynstone begins long before the first tee shot was struck.

The property was once part of the country estate of W. Clement Stone, the legendary Chicago businessman, insurance entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for combining positive mental attitude principles with business success. During the mid-1980s, Stone envisioned transforming more than 370 acres of his estate into an upscale residential community anchored by a world-class golf course.

In 1985, Stone partnered with the Jack Nicklaus Development Corporation to bring that vision to life. Rather than simply building a golf course surrounded by homes, the project was conceived as a carefully planned luxury community where golf, nature and residential living complemented one another. North Barrington annexed the property in 1986, residential lots began selling the following year, the first homeowners arrived in 1988 and the golf course officially opened in 1989.

Today, the gated Wynstone community encompasses approximately 750 acres with more than 430 homesites surrounding the golf course, lakes and preserved natural areas.

Jack Nicklaus Creates a “Now” Course

Unlike many courses that require years for trees and landscaping to mature, Jack Nicklaus wanted Wynstone to feel established from opening day.

Nicklaus later described Wynstone as a “now course”—a design intended to look and play as though it had existed for decades rather than requiring years of growth before reaching its architectural potential. By routing holes through mature oak groves, natural wetlands and existing elevation changes, Nicklaus created a course that immediately blended into the landscape.

Wynstone remains one of the few Jack Nicklaus Signature Designs in Illinois, a designation reserved for courses personally designed and supervised by Nicklaus himself.

The layout features many of the hallmarks golfers associate with Nicklaus architecture, including dramatic elevated tee boxes, large undulating putting greens, deep strategically placed bunkers, multiple risk-reward decisions, significant elevation changes unusual for northern Illinois and water hazards that influence strategy rather than simply penalize misses.

Rather than relying solely on length, Nicklaus balanced long championship holes with shorter strategic opportunities that reward thoughtful shot selection.

The course currently stretches beyond 7,100 yards from the championship tees but offers multiple teeing options that make it enjoyable for golfers of varying abilities.

Signature Holes Throughout the Property

The Club at Wynstone – 4th Hole

One of Wynstone’s greatest strengths is its variety.

Several holes play around the property’s lakes and wetlands, while others climb and descend through wooded ridges rarely found in suburban Chicago. The routing continually changes direction, forcing golfers to adapt to changing wind conditions throughout the round.

Nicklaus also gave many holes memorable names—including Nicklaus Challenge, Bailout, Isle of Sand, Sahara, Peninsula and Double Jeopardy—reflecting the strategic decisions presented throughout the course.

Despite its championship pedigree, Wynstone was always intended to be playable for members. Nicklaus believed great courses should challenge elite golfers without overwhelming average players, and Wynstone reflects that philosophy through generous landing areas coupled with demanding approach shots.

Preserving the Original Vision

After more than two decades of play, club leadership undertook an ambitious renovation designed not to change Nicklaus’ architecture, but to modernize the playing conditions.

The comprehensive 2014-2015 renovation included:

• Complete reconstruction and regrassing of every putting green
• New bentgrass fairways
• Laser leveling of all tee boxes
• Improved bunker drainage
• New bunker sand throughout the course
• Extensive bluegrass renovation around the property

Rather than altering the routing or redesigning holes, the project focused on restoring championship conditioning while maintaining Nicklaus’ original strategic concepts.

Nearly a decade later, Wynstone again invested heavily in the golf experience.

A major 2024 improvement project modernized both the bunkers and the practice facilities. New bunker drainage systems, Capillary Concrete liners and fresh sand significantly improved consistency following heavy rains. At the same time, the practice range received upgraded drainage, new bentgrass target greens, improved irrigation and autonomous mowing technology.

The enhancements demonstrated the club’s ongoing commitment to maintaining championship-quality conditions while embracing modern maintenance practices.

The Club at Wynstone

A New Era Begins in 2017

Perhaps the most significant chapter in Wynstone’s modern history occurred away from the golf course itself.

For many years, Wynstone operated as an equity club. By 2017, however, financial challenges led to an ownership transition unlike most private clubs.

Nine Wynstone resident families purchased the club, reportedly retiring approximately $6 million in debt while converting it into a privately owned club. The new ownership group immediately introduced several member-friendly changes, including equal membership privileges for spouses, elimination of initiation fees under the new model and a renewed emphasis on family participation.

The transformation proved successful.

Within weeks, dozens of new members had joined, and the club adopted its current name: The Club at Wynstone.

Today, the club continues to operate as one of the Chicago area’s most exclusive private clubs while emphasizing golf, family activities, dining and social events.

Championship Golf

Although Wynstone has not hosted a PGA Tour or USGA championship, it has established itself as an outstanding venue for elite amateur competition.

2016 CDGA Senior Amateur Championship

Home-club member Vance Antoniou captured the title on his own course, becoming one of the few golfers to win the prestigious event while representing the host club.

2017 CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship

John Ramsey and Chadd Slutzky won the title following four days of match-play competition featuring many of Illinois’ top amateur golfers.

2020 Illinois State Amateur

The club was scheduled to host the Illinois State Amateur before the championship was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2026 Illinois Open Championship

The Illinois PGA selected Wynstone to host the 77th Illinois Open, bringing many of the state’s finest professionals and amateurs to North Barrington. The selection further reinforces Wynstone’s standing among Illinois’ premier championship venues.

One of Chicago’s Finest Private Clubs

More than 35 years after opening, The Club at Wynstone remains one of the finest examples of late-1980s golf course architecture in Illinois.

Its enduring appeal comes not from dramatic redesigns or constant reinvention but from preserving Jack Nicklaus’ original vision while investing in modern infrastructure and exceptional conditioning. The rolling terrain, mature trees, expansive water features and strategic bunkering continue to provide a memorable test of golf for members and championship competitors alike.

Equally important, Wynstone represents the successful evolution of a private club. From its origins as part of W. Clement Stone’s country estate to its rebirth under local ownership in 2017, the club has continually adapted while maintaining the qualities that made it special from the beginning.

For Chicago-area golfers, Wynstone occupies a unique place among the region’s elite private clubs. It combines the prestige of a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design with one of the most picturesque settings in the northwest suburbs, creating a golfing experience that remains as compelling today as it was when the Golden Bear first unveiled his vision in 1989.