Sunset Ridge - Illinois - USA

Many country clubs had existed for decades before deciding to add a golf course but the founding members at Sunset Ridge would not be delayed. They allegedly took ownership of the property on May 1, 1923 and William Diddel’s boots were on the ground less than a week later.

A few years after the course enjoyed its diamond anniversary, Rick Jacobson was brought in to restore that architect’s original intent; although PGA players at the 1972 Western Open were challenged to find the tight fairways, some trees have since been removed and — more importantly — Diddel’s bunkers restored to proper scope. The effect of this restoration is most evident at the course’s four par threes, each of which display a different combination of sand and angles (and, in the case of No. 15, water) to challenge players from the tee.

The core of Diddel’s life work gravitates around his hometown of Indianapolis, and therefore Chicago has several designs from the architect. Sunset Ridge is generally the best of his original designs in the region.