Rich Harvest Farms

Rich Harvest Farms

Location in the United States

Rich Harvest Farms is a private golf course and country club near Sugar Grove, Illinois, about 50 miles (80 km) west of downtown Chicago. Built in 1989 and expanded in 1999, the 18-hole championship golf course is on an expansive 1,800 acres (7.3 km²).^[2]

Owner

Jerome "Jerry" Rich, the estate's owner and president, is a self-made businessman and alumnus of Northern Illinois University. Rich's father, Anthony "AJ" Rich started his own company – Rich Inc – where Jerry went to work after graduation. Not long after he started working for his father's company, he invented a method to incorporate many separate stock exchange software programs into one, putting Rich Inc. on the map.^[3] Contrary to popular belief, Rich did not invent the bar code.

Course accolades

In 1999, Rich Harvest Links was named the fifth-best new private course in the U.S. by Golf Digest. The course made its debut on Golf Digest's list of "America's Top 100 Golf Courses" in 2003, where it still remains today.^[2] Measuring over 7,700 yards (7,000 m) from the professional tees, the course requires precision with every shot. The famous fourth hole, Devil's Elbow, has one of the most intimidating tree-lined tee boxes and fairways of any golf course. Rich Harvest Farms is also the home course of the Northern Illinois University Huskies men's and women's golf teams of Northern Illinois University in nearby DeKalb.^[4] In addition to a golf course and several private residences, the 2,200-acre (8.9 km²) rural site houses several antique stage coaches and a collection of vintage and modern vehicles.

Public events

Rich Harvest Farms hosted the NCAA Regional Men's Golf Championships in 2007 and 2014, as well as the Solheim Cup in 2009. The course was used for the Ryder Cup Captain's Challenge in 2012. The primary competition was held at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois.

Upcoming Events

• 2017 NCAA Men's & Women's Championships – May 18–31, 2017
• 2019 Western Junior

Past events

• 2003 Mid-American Conference Championship
• 2007 NCAA Regional
• 2011-present Northern Intercollegiate
• 2012 Mid-American Conference Championship
• 2013 Chip Beck #59 Charity Pro-Am
• 2014 NCAA Regional
• 2015 Palmer Cup
• 2015 Western Amateur

Kids Golf Foundation

Mission: The Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois is dedicated to bringing the sport of golf into the lives of children and providing them with opportunities for personal growth and career enhancement.

The Kids Golf Foundation was established in 1998 by entrepreneurs and golf enthusiasts, Jerry Rich and the late Don Springer. It maintains its administrative headquarters at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The Foundation is a statewide junior golf association that offers and supports several golf programs and events designed to introduce children between the ages of 5 and 17 to the sport of golf, its fundamentals, rules, history, etiquette, life lessons, and more.

Grants and funding

The Foundation offers a Program Grant for organizations who wish to adopt our programs, which is designed to support material and equipment fees that are associated with the various program elements or levels.

Impact

The success of the Foundation is evident in the number of diverse organizations that participate in our programs and events. Since 1998, over 200 organizations have been involved statewide; some of which include:

• Park and recreation departments
• YMCAs
• Boys & Girls Clubs
• Boy and Girl Scouts
• Schools
• Ministry groups^[5]

Gallery

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  Schoolhouse display

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  Entrance to golf course

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  East side of golf course

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  East side of golf course

References

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 41°45′14″N 88°29′13″W / 41.754°N 88.487°W / 41.754; -88.487