Concert Golf Partners - experts at revitalizing underperforming private clubs and making them flourish – purchased Sand Creek in October 2014 and asked the members what they wanted. They ultimately decided on pool area upgrades and new informal dining areas, all of which you’ll see on a tour of the club. Still, you may be asking yourself, “Why would they purchase a private club in a small Indiana town, best known for standup comedian and actor, Jim Gaffigan?”
The folks of Concert Golf Partners look to the future and see potential. With 27 holes of award-winning golf, it’s like having three 18-hole courses at your disposal. The Creek, Lake, and Marsh courses never play the same way twice. Several holes are considered some of the most challenging golf holes in Indiana, not only for the challenge they offer but also for their beauty.
But perhaps a bigger reason is the potential that General Manager Mike Longyear sees. “There are a lot of private club members in the Chicagoland area who don’t want to pay a 6-figure initiation fee, so they will drive right past the Chesterton exit on I-94, go an extra 45 minutes, and join a private club just east of us. If they only knew we were here.”
Sand Creek Country Club is a world-class facility located in Chesterton, Indiana. The golf facility has been recognized as one of Golf Digest’s Top 10 courses in Indiana and the “Best in Golf” award from Links Magazine. Sand Creek was the first fully certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System in Indiana and has been the home course for the Valparaiso University men’s and women’s golf teams since the start of the 2017-18 season. It has been the home of the Northern Amateur – one of the biggest amateur golf tournaments in the country – since 1983 and attracts players from all over the world.
The Creek and Lake courses comprise the original 18 holes and were built by Chicago architects Killian and Nugent, who also designed Kemper Lakes. Sand Creek received the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America’s National Environmental Steward Award for U.S. private golf courses.
Sand Creek Country Club offers golfers five sets of tees that can be played anywhere from 5,162 yards to over 7,000 yards, so finding an appropriate yardage is easy for any level of golfer. As you make your way around the course you’ll experience rolling terrain, extensive wetlands, and tremendous greens. During the course of the day, you’ll use every club in the bag – at least once.
Although located in Northern Indiana in prime snow country, Sand Creek Country Club offers year-round golf entertainment. During the spring and summer months and into the fall, you can play three unique 9-hole championship layouts. When the weather turns cold and the white stuff starts to fly, move it indoors and play/practice at the Club’s Trackman indoor facility.
The clubhouse at Sand Creek is one of the most beautiful facilities in the country. This 50,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance-style clubhouse features a grand ballroom with separate meeting rooms. The formal dining room serves gourmet cuisine and the grill room is a great place to grab a quick bite before your round or share a drink and appetizers afterward as you tally up your winnings.
There’s also an executive dining room, a tennis and swimming complex, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a Trackman indoor golf practice studio.
If you’re looking to join a private club or are one of those Chicagoans who is driving to a private club in Michigan, Sand Creek offers a membership plan that will fit your needs and your budget. You can significantly cut down your drive time and spend more time with family and friends, enjoying their company and playing courses that are probably better conditioned and more challenging. Sand Creek Country Club offers an award-winning golf course, all of the amenities you’d expect, low initiation fees, and reasonable monthly dues.