Chicago has several nicknames but it was the ‘city of broad shoulders’ as the DRS folks were welcomed by many. Those broad shoulders included Rick Holland from Beverly CC, and architects Ron Prichard and Dave Esler.
While a large contingent played at Ravisloe and Beverly, smaller groups played at other Ross courses at Skokie and Exmoor and some visited Lake Shore and Olympia Fields. Through our gracious hosts, some golfers even dared to visit newer acclaimed modern venues like Black Sheep, designed by Dave Esler, and The Dunes, a marvelous 9 hole course. Still others attended a Cubbies or White Sox game, played at Ravisloe and Beverly, and played the other courses.
Sunday, the first official day of the event, was an all day affair at Ravisloe for everyone. We enjoyed the recently restored course and then David Esler entertained everyone at dinner with a presentation about his work. Dave is also currently working on another Ross course, Evanston CC, in the Chicago area.
A special treat before dinner was provided by Chuck Loos who fondly recalled his father’s life in golf. His father was the famous golfer and golf instructor, Eddie Loos. Eddie was the golf professional at Beverly and Ravisloe for a few years in the 1920s and was the golf professional for many years at Lake Shore, 1924-1941. We enjoyed hearing of Mr. Loos’ contribution to golf instruction, and golf in the Chicago area.
Sunday’s wonderful afternoon was followed by tremendous overnight rains on the south side, but Beverly CC was in excellent shape for Monday play. When carts were not allowed on the course, host Rick Holland scrambled for caddies and pull carts and accommodated everyone. Having played Beverly before the recent work, the course is much improved, in all aspects, with renovated bunkers, greens expanded back to original form, and some marvelous vistas opened upon extensive tree removal.
Architect Ron Prichard’s restoration work
at Beverly brought the course into the top 100 Golfweek classical
courses, and into the
national limelight, as it will soon host the 2008 U.S. Senior Amateur.
Ron has also worked extensively on restorations at Skokie, Exmoor,
and Lake Shore. 
Everyone also learned at his dinner presentation that Ron has a serious love affair with classical music. Ron was showing a video of an orchestra, playing a lengthy classical movement, demonstrating how a conductor works together with the musicians, to create wonderful art. Meaning to show how an architect might work with others in a similar fashion, the musical piece was perhaps interrupted before its natural conclusion by his still good friend, Rick Holland, who asked, “Ron, is there a golf presentation tonight ?”
Beverly 14th Hole
We also enjoyed a brief presentation by Dave Berkowitz, an avid golf collector and member of the Golf Collectors Society. The discussion about finding historical golf items and methods of obtaining memorabilia about golf courses, tournaments, and golfers was interesting to all. Beverly Country Club members certainly appreciate their history as they have a very nice display of photographs of the course, historical tournaments, and clubs about the clubhouse. Beverly CC historian and DRS member Paul Richards supported by board member Rick Holland and the membership have done a wonderful job of displaying their rich golfing history.
It was a great event in Chicago, enjoyed by all, thanks to Rick, Dave Esler, and Ron Prichard. Thanks to Jeff Goldman for hosting at Olympia Fields and special thanks also to the staff at Beverly and Ravisloe who served a large contingent of the DRS.