Rich Harvest Farms

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Home of the 2009 Solheim Cup

Rich Harvest Farms is a private, 18-hole, 1,800-acre golf course and country club near Sugar Grove, Illinois with 49 members built in 1989.^[1] Owned by Jerry Rich, a self-made millionaire from inventing a method to incorporate five separate stock exchange software programs into one and graduate of Northern Illinois University. Rich Harvest Farms hosted the 2007 NCAA Central Regional Men's Golf Championships and will be the site of the Solheim Cup USA v. Europe matches in 2009. In 1999, it was named the fifth-best new private course in the U.S. by Golf Digest. In 2003, the course made its debut on that magazine’s list of Top 100 American Golf Courses. It is currently ranked number 45.^[1]

In addition to a golf course and several private residences, the 2,200-acre rural site houses several antique stage coaches and a collection of vintage and modern vehicles, including Al Unser's 1992 Indy car. A portion of Rich's massive automobile collection occupies the first floor of a building with a 50,000-sq. ft. footprint.

The golf course is an extreme test of a golfer's skill.^[who?] Measuring well over 7700 yards from the professional tees, the course requires precision with every shot. A famous hole, Devil's Elbow, has one of the most intimidating tree-lined tee boxes and fairways of any golf course.

The site has a unique history. Rich himself designed the present 18-hole course as an expansion from his original "18-hole" course, which began with only six greens -- each approached from three different angles from three different tees and fairways.^[1]