The new Pinecrest Golf Course clubhouse continues to impress golfers and diners.

 “We’ve certainly made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,” said Thom Palmer, executive director of the Huntley Park District, which purchased the more than 30-year-old Pinecrest Golf Course in 2003.

 District officials knew renovations or rebuilding would be required for the ageing 2,000-square-foot clubhouse, a small, flat-topped bar-restaurant, connected by breezeway to a separate pro shop with no running water.

 They opted for a brand-new clubhouse, which opened to rave reviews last spring. The new 16,200-square-foot lodge-style building was designed by PHN Architects and boasts a rustic, casual elegance that’s perfect for everything from after-golf drinks to dining to gatherings such as showers, parties and weddings. 

 The main floor houses food and beverage operations, restrooms, pro shop, offices, even a bride’s room, in addition to the large outdoor terrace overlooking the 18th hole and 10th tee. 

 The bar/grill area was designed with flexibility in mind. The main dining room can hold 90 people; the grill room, 72 people; and the small dining room, up to 36 people. The three spaces can be combined, meaning groups of all sizes can be comfortable.

 The clubhouse has two sliding wall tracks, and one wall, permitting officials to reconfigure space, depending on the need.  

 Palmer said a big change has been that golfers now frequently finish a round, go home to get spouses and then return for dinner. “That NEVER happened before, and it’s been great to see,” he said. The clubhouse also has hosted a number of private parties, including weddings. “It’s been very well-received,” said Palmer.

 The 80-seat outdoor terrace, offering great views, has been popular as well. 

 Despite any shortcomings, the older clubhouse was a popular gathering spot in the community. Huntley wanted to be able to allow more people to participate, and to attract both more non-golfers and more golf events. They couldn’t accommodate those outings previously, because of size constraints. 

 The building was repositioned and raised to permit spectacular views of the course. “We were able to create views that have always been there, but which people couldn’t necessarily see before,” Nicholas said. The elevation also means patrons now can walk into the building at both levels.

 The lower-level turn stand also was renovated and expanded. Golfers now walk directly into the deli-style restaurant, get their food and then get right back on the course. Golfers previously contended with an awkward, multi-level turn stand that required them to exit the course, climb up a rickety set of stairs and order their food via a pass-through window behind the bar.

 “It’s really helped with pace of play,” Palmer said. The expanded space permits more items to be made in advance and on display, which in turn means quick, efficient service.

 The parking lot was redeveloped and reorganized as well.

 Huntley took advantage of unique topography of the site to add space at a reasonable cost. The original design called for a small turn stand, restrooms and mechanical space on the lower level, which would have comprised just 25 percent of the building footprint.

 The plan was to build two-thirds of that space on slab. “Well into the process we decided on a basement,” Palmer said.

 The decision garnered an additional 6,000 square feet for less than $300,000. It’s currently used for storage, work space for gripping and club repair, even for cold-weather hitting of golf balls, but could fulfill different functions as needs change down the road.
 

 With an eye toward the future, Huntley officials and PHN set aside land around the clubhouse to permit kitchen expansion down the road.
 “Overall, it’s quite incredible,” said a pleased Palmer. “It’s going to serve our needs for a long time to come.”

 Lamp Inc. of Elgin was construction manager for the project.