The Village Links of Glen Ellyn has served Chicagoland golfers for decades – hosting competitive events, welcoming everyday players, and continually investing in the property and guest experience.
Origins: A course built with purpose (1960s)
In the early 1960s, the Village of Glen Ellyn set out to build a combination public golf course and stormwater detention system on 170 acres in the southern part of town. With encouragement from Village Administrator Bill Galligan and former Trustee George Winchell, the Village hired golf course architect David Gill of St. Charles, Illinois to design a public course that was ahead of its time.
Unlike many public courses of the era, the Village Links featured large, fast greens (for the 1960s), three sets of bentgrass tees, irrigated bluegrass fairways, and a substantial mix of bunkers and water hazards. The greens were planted with Toronto C-15 bentgrass following a recommendation from Glen Oak Country Club Superintendent Ray Gerber.
The original 6,835-yard, par-72 layout opened on July 16, 1967, and quickly exceeded expectations.
Expansion and early leaders (1970s – 1980s)
A third nine holes – dubbed the Link-Up Nine – was designed by David Gill and opened for play on July 15, 1975. The Link-Up Nine initially operated as a standalone 9-hole course with an entrance on Lambert Road. In 1977, the Link-Up Nine was combined with the original back nine to create a new Village Links 18-hole course, a par-71, 6,933-yard layout. The original front nine became today’s 9-hole course.
Ted Sokolis became the Village Links’ first Golf Course Superintendent in 1965 while the course was being built and established the high maintenance standards that remain a hallmark of the facility. He later became the Links’ first General Manager in 1972 and served in that role until 1984.
Ed Posh joined the Village Links in 1967 as its first Head Golf Professional. He built a lesson and tournament program that became a defining feature of the operation and remained a fixture at the Links until his retirement at the end of the 1995 season. In 1996, appreciative golfers established the Ed Posh Scholarship Fund in his honor, supporting hundreds of students over the years.
Competitive golf and a reputation for pace (1970s – 2000s)
In 1972, the Village Links hosted the first of what would become a long list of prominent area events – beginning with NIMAGA’s Illinois State Match Play Championship, which returned eight times over the next ten years. The Links also hosted the Metro Amateur (beginning in 1976) and welcomed future PGA Tour players including Gary Halberg, Gary Pinns, and David Orgin.
In 1980, the Village Links hosted Western Open Qualifying for the first time. The event became a fixture at the Links through 2006, with exceptions in 1986 (Illinois Open) and 2003 (when the 18-hole course was closed for renovation). The Links also hosted qualifying events for other major tournaments, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, Illinois Amateur, Western Amateur, and Chicago Open.
In 1979, the Village Links launched KEEP PACE, a program encouraging golfers to keep up with the group ahead. Under General Manager Matt Pekarek, golfers embraced the effort and the Village Links became known as one of the fastest-playing courses in the United States. KEEP PACE went on to influence pace-of-play programs at golf courses nationwide.
Environmental leadership and a changing landscape (1990s)
When the course opened in 1967, the property had few trees. Over time, tree plantings and landscape improvements significantly changed the look and feel of the course.
In the early 1990s, growing interest in conservation led the Village Links to join Audubon International’s Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. The Village Links became the first public course in the world – and the seventh golf course overall – to become fully certified as a Wildlife Sanctuary. The program helped diversify landscaping and management practices, and the Links received national and regional recognition for environmental excellence under Golf Course Superintendent Tim Kelly and his staff.
Renovations and major milestones (2000s – 2010s)
In 2003, the 18-hole course underwent a significant renovation designed by Garrett Gill, son of the original architect. The project included reconstructed greens and a minor renumbering of holes, resulting in a 7,208-yard, par-72 layout.
In 2006, several long-time employees retired, including Pat Sokolis (Secretary since 1971), Pat Kelly (employee since 1972, retiring as Equipment & Building Maintenance Supervisor), and Tim Kelly (employee since 1968, retiring as the Links' third Golf Course Superintendent). That year also marked the final Western Open Qualifying at the Links. In 2007, the Western Open became the BMW Championship and no longer held an open qualifying. The Village Links continues to host major qualifying events and has hosted dozens of USGA and PGA Tour qualifiers over the years.
In 2013, the Village Links completed a major clubhouse renovation. The project enlarged the restaurant and added a bar, banquet room, and conference room – transforming the Village Links Grill into Reserve 22 Restaurant, Bar, and Banquets and strengthening the facility’s reputation as a destination for golf outings and events.
In 2014, General Manager Matt Pekarek retired after 47 years of service. Under his leadership, the Village Links gained national recognition and set a standard for public golf.
A resurgence and a new chapter (2020s)
In 2020, Golf Course Superintendent Chris Pekarek retired after 52 years of dedicated service. As the Village Links’ fourth superintendent, he played a key role in numerous course projects and long-range improvements. Together, the Pekarek brothers made a lasting impact on the operation and culture of the Village Links.
That same year, golf experienced an unexpected resurgence. After years of industry headwinds, the outdoor and naturally distanced nature of the game made golf one of the few activities widely seen as relatively safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand surged, tee sheets filled, and many new and returning golfers stayed with the game even as the pandemic waned.
In 2024, General Manager Jeff Vesevick – originally hired in 1995 as Director of Golf – led another clubhouse renovation to address needs on the south side of the building. The project expanded Reserve 22’s kitchen, added two new offices, and delivered upgrades to the original pro shop and locker rooms. Jeff retired in early 2025 after nearly 30 years of service, leaving a legacy of excellence and innovation.
Today, the Village Links is led by General Manager Noel Allen, who has been part of the team since 1987 and advanced from outside services and cashier roles to PGA membership, Head Golf Professional, and Director of Golf. He is supported by Director of Golf Mike Campbell (an employee since 1993) and Golf Course Superintendent Andrew Cross, who joined the Links in 2020 with a focus on improving course conditions and playability. Together, they lead a dedicated team committed to keeping the Village Links a first-class destination for golfers of all ages and abilities.
