Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois

What Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois does

Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois is a championship-level 18-hole public golf facility in Urbana, Illinois, owned by the University of Illinois and the University of Illinois Foundation. Originally founded in 1999 by Clint Atkins as Stone Creek Golf Club and designed by architects Dick and Tim Nugent, the property — 300+ acres including the golf course valued at $15M — was gifted by the Atkins Family to the University of Illinois and UI Foundation in 2020 and renamed. The facility is operated under a management agreement with Troon Golf (a global hospitality management firm), with Jim Buyze serving as General Manager, while the University of Illinois Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has oversight of the asset.\n\nThe club serves multiple customer segments: public golfers, the University of Illinois community (faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the Fighting Illini Men's and Women's Golf Teams), corporate and private event clients, junior golfers, and tournament participants. Operational features include GPS-equipped golf carts, a dynamic pricing/revenue management system, WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility certification, and a course renovated by architect Drew Rogers. The facility serves as the home course for the 2023 Big Ten Champion Fighting Illini Men's and Women's Golf Teams and has hosted the 93rd Illinois State Amateur Championship.\n\nThe business model is asset-heavy and hospitality-driven. Revenue is generated through diversified streams including greens fees (with season passes), food and beverage via the on-site Oskee's Sports Pub, a golf pro shop, professional instruction, practice range usage, and event rentals across multiple venues (Skyview Room capacity ~150, Main Dining ~100, Champions Lounge ~50, Victory Room ~20). Pricing uses dynamic yield management. The offering also includes junior programs, golf leagues, and tournament hosting, providing multiple monetization paths and customer engagement layers.

Name

Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois

Legal name

Atkins Golf Club

Website

https://atkinsgolfclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois is a championship 18-hole golf facility in Urbana, IL, owned by the University of Illinois and managed by Troon Golf. It serves public golfers, the university community, and event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Golf Course & Country Club

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAEAD

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Venues & Facilities (Stadiums, Arenas, Tracks, Complexes)

SECONDARYCRAMAGAA

Golf Clubs & Club Fitting Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Golf Equipment & Apparel Retail

SECONDARYCRAMABAG

Golf Equipment, Apparel & Pro Shop Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Sporting Goods Generalist Retail

Keywords

• Public golf course
• Golf event venues
• Golf instruction services
• Golf merchandise retail
• Sports bar dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Urbana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Greens Fees and Cart Rentals: Core revenue from golf fees with dynamic pricing. Riding and walking options for 9 and 18 holes. Pricing varies by day of week and time.
2. Food and Beverage: Revenue from Oskee's Sports Pub restaurant and bar, catering orders, and on-course food and beverage service. Full bar and dining available.
3. Pro Shop Merchandise: Golf shop selling men's, women's, and junior golf gear including apparel from Holderness and Bourne, Peter Millar, Straight Down, and Callaway clubs and balls.
4. Golf Instruction: Private and group lessons offered by Associate Golf Professional. Private 30-minute lessons, series packages, and team building packages.
5. Event and Banquet Rentals: Venue rentals for corporate meetings, weddings, bridal/baby showers, holiday parties, graduation parties, and golf outings. Multiple spaces available including Victory Room, Champions Lounge, Skyview Room, and Main Dining Area.
6. Season Passes and Memberships: Atkins Players Card ($450) provides discounted rates anytime. Season Pass (2026) offers unlimited daily free greens fees - Single $2300, Couple $4100, plus reduced cart fees.
7. Practice Range: Practice range balls sold in small, medium, and large sizes. Practice Cards and Range Punch Cards available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois is a public-access, championship 18-hole golf course in Urbana, Illinois, owned by the University of Illinois and professionally managed by Troon Golf. The facility offers tee times, cart rentals, a fully stocked pro shop, on-site dining at Oskee's Sports Pub, banquet and event venues, professional golf instruction, and junior golf programming.

Product overview

Atkins Golf Club is a championship-level 18-hole golf course operated by Troon Golf at the University of Illinois. The facility offers a comprehensive golf experience including a professional golf shop with premium brands, Callaway club rentals, and a practice range with various ball package options. Dining is provided through Oskee's Sports Pub, featuring multiple distinct event spaces: the Skyview Room (up to 150 guests), Champions Lounge (up to 50), Main Dining Area (up to 100), and Victory Room (up to 20 with Dell touchscreen). Supporting programs include golf instruction (private and group lessons), junior golf clinics, and organized golf leagues. The club hosts tournaments and corporate events, serving as home to the Fighting Illini Men's and Women's Golf Teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oskee's Sports Pub: Sports bar and restaurant located at Atkins Golf Club in Urbana, IL, offering food, drinks, and Illini-themed atmosphere.

Products and services

• Championship Golf Rounds

Quantifiable outcome

• Home of 2023 Big 10 Champion men's and women's golf teams
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Illinois FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The Atkins Family made an incredible gift of over 300 acres of real estate valued at $15 million, including Stone Creek Golf Club, to the University of Illinois and University of Illinois Foundation in 2020. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics now manages the property.
• Drew RogerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect Drew Rogers worked with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics on the course renovation project, transforming Atkins into a championship venue.
• Troon GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTroon Golf manages operations of Atkins Golf Club, providing operational expertise and access to their global golf course network. Jim Buyze serves as General Manager.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Penn State Golf Courses: Two university-affiliated 18-hole courses operated by Penn State including the nationally ranked Blue Course. Comparable in scale, university ownership model, and integrated athletic program usage with similar F&B and event amenities.
• University of Michigan Golf Course: Championship golf course operated by the University of Michigan serving as home to the Wolverines men's and women's golf teams. Direct comparable in Big Ten conference university-affiliated golf venue positioning and customer base.
• Ohio State University Golf Club: Championship-level university-affiliated public golf course operated by the Ohio State University Department of Athletics with a similar multi-revenue model including golf, F&B, events, and instruction. Highly comparable in mission, customer segments, and Big Ten university-athletics tie-in.
• University of Texas Golf Club: University of Texas-affiliated championship golf course serving as home to Longhorns golf teams, with clubhouse, dining, and event offerings. Highly comparable university-affiliated championship venue with similar multi-revenue strategy and tournament hosting.

Broad incumbents

• Bellerive Country Club: Major championship golf club in the St. Louis area that has hosted U.S. Opens and PGA Championships. Comparable Midwest venue with championship status, large clubhouse event spaces, and tournament hosting track record, though private rather than public access.
• Troon North Golf Club: Flagship Troon-managed championship desert course in Scottsdale, Arizona. Operationally and structurally comparable to Atkins as it is managed under the same Troon platform with similar dynamic pricing, GPS cart technology, and tournament/event hosting strategy.

Regional players

• Cog Hill Golf & Country Club: Championship public-access golf facility in the Chicago suburbs with multiple courses, banquet facilities, and tournament hosting. Comparable Midwest regional championship venue with diversified event and F&B revenue streams and similar public-access pricing model.
• TPC Deere Run: Championship public-access course in Silvis, Illinois with strong tournament pedigree (John Deere Classic) and clubhouse/banquet facilities. Comparable Midwest championship venue with similar tournament-driven demand and event rental strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/oskeessportspub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atkins-golf-club-at-the-university-of-illinois

Compliance1 record

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 Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois