Sunset Valley Golf Club

What Sunset Valley Golf Club does

Sunset Valley Golf Club is an 18-hole public golf facility located in Highland Park, Illinois, owned and operated by the Park District of Highland Park, a municipal government entity. The club's core product is the course itself, which underwent an extensive $7 million renovation implementing a British Heathland design with strategic landforms, native grasses, and tree groves that evoke the property's original 1920s-era architecture. The facility is complemented by a newly remodeled clubhouse housing an expanded pro shop, a restaurant and bar, a fireplace lounge, and practice facilities. Awards include the American Society of Golf Course Architects' 2018 Design Excellence recognition and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's 2019 Outstanding Facility of the Year honor.

The club generates revenue across six streams: green fees and tee time bookings, pro shop retail, clubhouse food and beverage, private and group golf instruction, leagues and tournaments, and corporate sponsorships and donations. Pricing is unit-based, with seasonal and time-of-play variation; notable programs include the Sapphire Loyalty Club, Permanent Tee Times, gift cards, and tiered youth camps priced at $435-$895 per week. Tee times are booked via ForeUp software and the Gallus Golf mobile app, while tournaments are administered through BlueGolf and IJGA platforms. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, with no intermediaries, serving a regionally dispersed recreational golfer base in northern Illinois.

The business model is asset-heavy and community-anchored rather than venture-scalable. The facility operates as a public recreational asset under the Park District of Highland Park, with no private equity, venture capital, or external ownership structure. Customer segments include general golf enthusiasts, junior and youth golfers (ages 5-15) developed through The Golf Practice partnership, women's leagues, and corporate/group event hosts. Tournament hosting (North Shore Amateur, Illinois Open Qualifier, IJGA junior events, CDGA events) and community engagement through leagues and outings serve as the primary customer acquisition and retention channels.

Name

Sunset Valley Golf Club

Legal name

Park District of Highland Park

Website

https://sunsetvalleygolfclub.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sunset Valley Golf Club is an 18-hole public golf course in Highland Park, Illinois, operated by the Park District of Highland Park. It serves recreational golfers, youth development participants, league members, and event hosts across northern Illinois through green fees, F&B, instruction, and tournament hosting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Golf Course Operations

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Golf Clubs & Tournament-Host Clubs (Professional/Elite Golf Clubs) (MPAKABAE)

Keywords

• Public golf course
• Golf instruction
• Golf league play
• Tournament hosting
• Clubhouse dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Highland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Golf Course Operations: Revenue from green fees, tee time bookings, and golf course usage
2. Pro Shop Sales: Retail sales of golf equipment, apparel, and accessories
3. Food and Beverage: Restaurant and bar services within the clubhouse
4. Golf Instruction: Private and group lessons, youth golf camps, and development programs
5. Leagues and Events: League fees, tournament entry fees, and event hosting
6. Sponsorships and Donations: Corporate sponsorships and charitable donations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sunset Valley Golf Club is an 18-hole public golf course in Highland Park, Illinois, operated by the Park District of Highland Park. The club sells green fee access, private and group golf instruction, youth development camps, league play, tournament hosting, on-site pro shop retail, and clubhouse restaurant and bar services. The course features a British Heathland design following a $7 million renovation that preserved elements of its original 1920s-era architecture.

Product overview

Sunset Valley Golf Club is a traditional 18-hole public golf course in Highland Park, IL, offering a comprehensive range of golf and hospitality services. The core offering is the course itself, complemented by a Youth Golf Development Center, Pro Shop, Clubhouse Restaurant and Bar, instructional programs (private and group lessons), and various leagues. The club also hosts tournaments including the annual North Shore Amateur Golf Tournament. Additional services include a Sapphire Loyalty Club, gift cards, permanent tee times, and event hosting. The $7 million renovation brought a British Heathland design aesthetic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 18-Hole Golf Course

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• The Golf PracticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunset Valley Golf Club partners with The Golf Practice to deliver comprehensive golf training programs including summer camps for ages 5-15. Programs include Half Day Golf Camp, Travel Golf Camp, and High School Prep Golf Camp. Sessions run at Highland Park Golf Learning Center and Sunset Valley Golf Club, with transportation provided.
• Park District of Highland ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunset Valley Golf Club is operated by the Park District of Highland Park. The privacy policy is governed by the Park District of Highland Park's website privacy policy. The facility serves as a community asset under the Park District.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Topgolf: National golf-entertainment operator competing for the same discretionary leisure dollars, especially among younger and casual players. Not a direct course competitor but represents a structural threat to traditional course participation in the broader Chicago market.

Regional players

• White Pines Golf Club: Oregon, IL public course in a state-park setting, serving the broader Illinois market. Comparable public-course business model with F&B and instruction, though in a different sub-region.

Direct peers

• Cog Hill Golf & Country Club: Multi-course public facility in Lemont, IL hosting PGA Tour-affiliated events. Comparable Chicago-area public operation with strong tournament-hosting credentials and broad lesson/league programming.
• Evanston Golf Club: 18-hole course operated by the City of Evanston, serving a similar North Shore / Chicago suburb demographic. Comparable municipal ownership structure, public-fee model, and league/tournament programming.
• Glencoe Golf Club: Municipal 18-hole course located in Glencoe, IL, immediately adjacent to Highland Park on Chicago's North Shore. Comparable public-course model, similar affluent-suburban demographic, and overlapping league/event programming make it the closest direct competitor.
• Schaumburg Golf Club: Park District-operated 27-hole public facility in Schaumburg, IL with clubhouse, banquet, and instructional programming. Closely comparable municipal operating model and revenue mix to Sunset Valley.
• Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course: Chicago Park District 9-hole lakefront course. Same municipal-public ownership type and similar urban-suburban programming model, though smaller scale.
• Billy Caldwell Golf Course: Chicago Park District-operated public 18-hole course. Direct municipal-public peer in the Chicago market with similar fee structure, league offerings, and youth programming partnerships.
• Deerpath Golf Course: Lake Forest, IL municipal 18-hole course within ~5 miles of Sunset Valley. Direct North Shore peer with overlapping customer base and similar municipal operating model.
• Arlington Lakes Golf Club: Park District-operated public golf facility in Arlington Heights, IL. Direct municipal-course peer with similar league, lesson, and tournament offerings for the Chicago northwest suburbs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ParkDistrict_HP
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunsetvalleygolfclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunset-valley-golf-course

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sunset Valley Golf Club