Village of Woodridge Selects KemperSports to Manage Village Greens

The future of Village Greens of Woodridge is now clearer.

At its December 18, 2025 Village Board meeting, the Village of Woodridge formally approved a two-year professional services agreement with KemperSports Management, selecting the nationally recognized golf course operator to provide full day-to-day management of Village Greens on an interim basis.

This decision follows months of evaluation after the Woodridge Park District ended its management of the course on November 11, 2025, returning operational and financial responsibility to the Village.

What This Means for Village Greens

• The course will remain open, at least in the near term
• KemperSports will provide turn-key management and operational oversight
• The agreement is for two years, with potential one-year renewal options
• The Village will continue a broader two-year community study to determine the long-term future and “highest and best use” of the property

The Village Board’s consensus was that keeping Village Greens open under professional third-party management best serves the community while longer-term decisions are evaluated.

Why KemperSports Was Selected

Following the Park District’s departure, the Village pursued a two-step process:

1. An independent assessment of the course by golf course consultant JJKeegan+
2. A competitive RFP process to identify qualified golf management companies

Six firms were interviewed, including Troon, Oliphant, Golf Vision, Orion, TruStar (Seven Bridges), and KemperSports. After in-person interviews and proposal reviews, a Village selection committee determined that KemperSports submitted the most responsive and responsible proposal.

KemperSports, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, manages more than 140 golf facilities nationwide and brings extensive experience in municipal and public-private golf operations.

Contract Highlights

• Year 1 base management fee: $72,000
• Performance incentive: 15% of net operating income (based on profitability improvements)
• Kemper reduced its original proposal by $64,000 annually, including waiving home-office accounting fees
• The incentive structure aligns Kemper’s success with the financial performance of the course

The Village has budgeted for the contract and included additional funds for capital repairs and maintenance in its FY 2026 budget.

A Temporary Chapter, Not a Final Decision

Village officials emphasized that this agreement is not a permanent determination of the property’s future. Instead, it allows Village Greens to continue operating while the community evaluates long-term options for the site.

For golfers, this announcement provides welcome clarity: Village Greens is not closing at this time, and the course will move forward under experienced professional management.

A Brief History of Village Greens of Woodridge

Village Greens sits on land that was once open farmland as the Village of Woodridge rapidly expanded in the 1960s and 70s. As the community grew, the Woodridge Park District sought to create recreational amenities that would serve the new residents moving into the area. Golf, which was booming in the post-war era, became a priority.

The course was developed as part of this plan and officially opened in the late 1960s, offering Woodridge residents an affordable and accessible place to learn the game. It was designed with playability in mind—wide fairways, manageable distances, and greens that rewarded both high-handicap golfers and those looking to sharpen their scoring clubs.

By the 1980s and 1990s, Village Greens had firmly established itself as a community hub. It hosted countless leagues, junior programs, charity scrambles, high-school practices, corporate outings, and weekend regulars who considered it their home course. The Park District frequently updated irrigation, turf management practices, and clubhouse amenities to keep the facility modern and enjoyable.

One of the course’s defining features has always been its welcoming atmosphere. While many public courses in Chicagoland developed reputations for difficulty or congestion, Village Greens stood out for its balance—challenging enough for serious golfers, but forgiving enough for newcomers. That accessibility became its identity.

The Course Layout: Playable, Friendly, and Surprisingly Strategic

Village Greens of Woodridge

Village Greens is an 18-hole, par-72 course stretching just under 6,800 yards from the back tees. Though not considered long by modern standards, its design blends open landing areas with well-placed bunkers, water hazards, and mature tree lines that continue to influence shotmaking today.

Signature Features

• Generous fairways that encourage aggressive tee shots.
• Soft doglegs that create strategic angles rather than punishing mis-hits.
• Large greens, many slightly elevated, offering receptive but nuanced putting surfaces.
• Water hazards on a number of holes—especially the back nine—that quietly influence decision-making.
• Mature trees that frame holes beautifully and require accuracy when playing approaches.

The front nine typically introduces golfers to the rhythm of the course: straightforward, open, and ideal for building confidence. The back nine, long considered the stronger and more scenic half, incorporates more water and tighter landing areas, finishing with holes that require both precision and nerve.

Whether you are a weekend golfer or a league veteran, Village Greens always provides enough variety to keep your rounds interesting.

A Community Asset With a Passionate Following

What’s made Village Greens special isn’t just the layout—it is the culture. Many golfers who learned the game here as children returned as adults, bringing friends, spouses, and eventually their own kids. The course has been known for:

• Affordable rates compared to other suburban options
• Friendly staff, many of whom worked at the club for years
• Strong junior golf programs
• Accessible tee times without excessive wait times or crowding
• Popular leagues and outings that brought the community together

Village Greens of Woodridge

Why the Park District Stepped Away — And What It Means

On November 11, 2025, the Park District officially ended its operational management of Village Greens. The decision stemmed from long-term financial considerations, rising maintenance costs, environmental pressures, and the shifting economics of public golf course management.

Given the resurgence of golf in the Chicago area over the past decade—especially with the explosion of indoor simulator facilities and the major uptick in participation post-2020—many golfers hope Village Greens can be modernized or re-positioned to meet today’s demand.

A Course Worth Preserving

Village Greens of Woodridge isn’t just 18 holes—it’s a community memory bank. It’s where thousands learned to hit their first drive, made their first birdie, or played their first league. It’s where retirees gathered on weekday mornings and where local kids found their love for the game.

In a golf landscape where many older municipal courses are disappearing, preserving a place like Village Greens matters—not just for Woodridge, but for the entire Chicago golf community.