Winnetka Golf Club cards Aug. 12 opening with expanded alcohol service — but not at 7 a.m.

A series of liquor license amendments teed up for the Winnetka Golf Club proved to be on par for village officials — with the exception of one request that trustees said was out of bounds.

Winnetka’s Village Council approved two of three proposed amendments to the club’s liquor license during its Tuesday, July 16 meeting, striking down a request to allow alcohol service to start at 7 a.m. 

Keri Kaup, Winnetka’s administrative services manager, walked trustees through the requests from the course that asked officials to make an amendment to its existing license to allow for beverage cart service, the consumption of alcoholic beverages throughout the Winnetka Golf Club property, and to update the hours of liquor sale and service. 

As previously reported by The Record, Winnetka Park District officials reached an agreement with KemperSports in 2022 to take over management of the Winnetka Golf Club’s golf course operations. As part of that agreement, KemperSports will also manage food and beverage services at the facility. 

Representatives from KemperSports announced earlier this month that the Winnetka Golf Club will reopen on Aug. 12 and in June Kemper released the facility’s new logo.

The more than 100-year-old golf club has been closed since 2022 due to the ongoing Winnetka Stormwater Project. During the closure, the golf club — which includes an 18-hole, par 71 track and a nine-hole, par 27 track – has been undergoing renovations, The Record previously reported. 

According to Kaup, the existing Class P liquor license authorizes the Winnetka Park District to sell and serve alcoholic beverages at the course’s halfway house and in the clubhouse. 

Additionally, alcoholic beverages sold at the clubhouse can only be consumed while in the clubhouse; although ones sold at the halfway house can be taken to other parts of the golf club, Kaup said at the meeting. 

In a village memo included in the board’s July 16 meeting materials, Kaup noted that representatives from KemperSports “would like patrons to be able to consume their beverages in the clubhouse, patio and on the golf course regardless of point of purchase.” 

Trustees gave little to no hesitation to KemperSports’ requests for beverage cart service and expanded alcohol consumption throughout the facility, but several board members did take issue with the proposed start time of alcohol service. 

Trustee Bob Dearborn called the proposed 7 a.m. start time “kind of ridiculous.”

Currently, alcohol may only be sold between 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at the club, officials said during the meeting. In addition to asking for earlier hours in the morning, part of Kempersports’ proposal also included extending service at night to 10 p.m. 

Tee times at the Winnetka Golf Club begin at 7 a.m. and pushing the start time up further “will allow patrons with early tee times to order an alcoholic beverage when they begin their round,” Kaup explained. 

Kaup also said that Kemper plans to host league dinners and banquets in the clubhouse after the course closes, which is why they requested the later hours on alcohol service.  

After brief discussion among the council, trustees opted to keep the beginning of service time at 9 a.m. but allow the extended hours. 

Winnetka officials encourage course representatives to revisit their request if all runs smoothly at the course with the new liquor license amendments once it reopens.  

“It sounds like a lot all at once and maybe we start with this, because 7 does seem a little early,” Trustee Bridget Orsic said. 

Officials also said they’ll monitor service operations at the course to make sure restrictions do not need to be imposed because of the changes. 

Vince Juarez, vice president of operations for KemperSports, told trustees that the management company will keep a close eye on proceedings.  

“We don’t want there to be any problems, and so if we notice problems and we see problems, we’re going to voluntarily reduce our hours,” he said. “We don’t see service at the golf course going until 10 p.m. very often quite frankly. It’s few and far between. … We want to be good partners and good neighbors.” 

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