Most Sun Citians probably perceive Whisper Creek Golf Course as a Sun City facility, used mostly by Sun City residents and the community’s golf club, with a few opportunities for the general public available for extra income.
The truth, however, is far different.
Actually, the course is primarily a public one, owned and operated by a national golf course management firm, and it happens to be located in Sun City. In an average year, about 30 percent of the rounds are played by Sun City residents and the golf club leagues, and 70 percent are played by outside organizations and individuals. The Sun Day got the course’s big picture last week from general manager Chris Strand, who has been head man at the course since early 2004.
“The course was designed in 1999-2000 for two purposes: to serve the golfing interests for Sun City residents and organizations and as a revenue-producing public course,” Strand said. “As it has evolved, it has become primarily a public course that is also used by Sun City residents. Whisper Creek is a championship-level course that has been home to several regional and national junior and senior amateur tournaments and qualifying events, high school and collegiate meets, and many tournaments and outings staged by charities, non-profits, and companies throughout the Chicago area and Illinois.”
At the height of the summer season, the ratio of resident to public use surges up to about 40 percent to 60 percent, Strand said. This doesn’t mean that the course’s location doesn’t provide local golfers and leagues with some perks.
“We accept reservations from the public 14 days in advance of the event, and we allow Sun City golfers 15 days to do that,” he said. “Sun Citians also get discounts of up to 25 percent on greens’ fees.”
The course was initially owned and operated by home builders Del Webb and Pulte Homes, Strand said. It was designed by former pro golf star Billy Casper in 1999-2000. It was purchased from Pulte in 2005 by Billy Casper Golf, a golf course management company that Casper helped form in the ’90s. Casper himself has never been actively involved with the company or Whisper Creek. He did provide a highlight when the course opened, when he made a personal appearance in Sun City.
The company contracts with Pulte for use of the pro shop space in the lodge.
“We don’t rent the space from Pulte; we just help pay some of the bills here in exchange for exclusive use of one end of the lodge building,” Strand said. “We also do not have any affiliation with the pub next to our shop–that is part of Jameson’s. We rent the pub for many of our events, the same as Sun City clubs do.”
Whisper Creek is one of 140 courses around the nation owned, managed, or leased by Billy Casper Golf.
“We are one of only 17 courses that is owned outright by the company,” Strand said.
The course includes a large practice putting green, a driving range, and a satellite building used by golfing groups and organizations for social activities and food functions. Its many water hazards and berm-lined fairways provide an attractive golf setting.
“Our golfers generally agree that the course is fair but challenging for golfers of varying skills,” he said. “To some, it might appear to be deceptively easy at first sight, but it gets more challenging when you actually tee it up. The course is not so difficult, however, that it doesn’t give up some of its challenges to skilled or lucky players.
“We average about eight to 10 holes-in-one each summer season, but this year we have had only 6, somewhat surprising because we had many nice days in the summer with a lot of rounds played,” Strand said.
The course is “theoretically” open year-round, Strand said.
“That means we are closed only when there is snow on the ground. This past year, we had a mild winter, and we were open throughout most of the winter months,” he said. “Golfers used the course regularly, though not as often as in the summer.”
The course has been home to several Illinois junior amateur tournaments and was used this year by the U.S. Amateur Golf Association for its regional qualifying tournaments for the junior amateur nationals.
“Next year, we will have the section senior amateur qualifying event here, and we hope to host the senior PGA section championship here soon,” Strand said. “Revelation Golf, which works with handicapped golfers, including several Sun City residents, also has used Whisper Creek for clinics.
“The course is profitable because we have competitive greens’ fees rates, and we have a broad customer base from the public and Sun City residents,” he said.
Strand oversees a mostly seasonal staff of more than 40 maintenance and administrative employees.
