Southland Golf: Coghill Family Driving Force Behind Silver Lake Country Club

In 1927, a private golf club was founded in Orland Park. At the time, it was known as Euclid Hills Country Club, and it had 18-hole course. Just two years later and right next door, Johnson Farm was developed as an 18-hole course called Silver Lake.

By the onset of WWII in 1939, Bert Coghill  had purchased both courses and Silver Lake Country Club was established just a year later. In the 1982, Bert Coghill's grandson, also named Bert, took over ownership of the course with his brothers. Bert serves as course captain and director of golf.

"We're a family-owned business," he said. "There are a lot of people who have been here for 30 or 35 years. Our staff doesn't change much over time."

Coghill has worked as a part of the course staff since 1972. He started as a cart mechanic.

The course features 45 holes in all, spread over nearly 300 acres. In addition to the pro shop, the club house has a dining room, a bar and a restaurant. And there are racquetball courts on the premises, too.

There are two 18-hole courses (North and South--formerly Euclid Hills and Silver Lake) and accessible nine-hole course (Rolling Hills) and a putting green.

In 1997, the course was honored as the 97th course to be certified by the Audobon Society. In order to maintain this status, the course must meet strict guidelines.

"Our course superintendents have to be certified every two to three years to make sure they are being responsible with fertilizer, mowing and watering," Coghill said.

On a walk or cart ride around the course, patrons may notice several bat and bird houses. The course also has a marsh near the eighth hole of the South Course.

Recently, Coghill and the club completed a large project. They replaced the bunkers on the South Course.

"We took out all the old sand and put in new sand," he said. "We also made (the bunkers) flatter and more player-friendly. Some had very steep slopes and would flood. We had eight inches of rain last Thursday and only had to drain two bunkers as opposed to all of them."

On Wednesday, the club was hosting one of its weekday "shotgun" tournaments. The club hosts several tournaments throughout the golf season. Afterwards, the course is open to the public.  

Coghill is passionate about expanding the game to young people.

"We give the younger kids a break on cost," he said. "If our tees are open, I will often charge our twilight rate. The course is safe. There are a lot of people around to watch the kids."

Silver Lake Country Club has 320 golfers enrolled in a junior league. The children range in age from 8 to 15.

"We've had the junior league for 30 years," Coghill said. "The 8-13 year-olds play Rolling Hills. The 14-15 year-olds play a longer, nine-hole round on Mondays.

Area golf coaches or the course pro may recommend high school students for an open tee pass. The candidate also has to write a letter to Coghill stating his intentions.

"There are around 45 kids currently in this program," he said. "It exists because a golf coach may have a student with financial constraints. This allows them to play when the course is not busy."

The course currently serves as the home of high school golf teams from Sandburg, Andrew, Chicago Christian, and Stagg (girls only). For more information on rates and tee times, check out Silver Lake Country Club online.

On Friday, June 17: Come back at 6 a.m. to view a video demonstration of how to play the toughest hole at Silver Lake Country Club.