Sand Creek Country Club

In the late 1960s, Northwest Indiana was recognized as the most productive and efficient steel-making region in the country, given its proximity to the Great Lakes. Bethlehem Steel purchased lakefront property to build a steel mill as well as thousands of acres in the Chesterton area. In 1974 they designated about 600 acres to build Sand Creek Country Club including a clubhouse and tennis and pool facilities.

When the recession hit in 1982, the steel industry took a major hit and the club was eventually sold and then sold again to the Lake Erie Land Company. The residential side also took on a new focus as can be seen when you make your way around the golf courses. Many of these homes are spectacular!

Concert Golf Partners - experts at revitalizing underperforming private clubs and making them flourish – purchased Sand Creek in October 2014 and asked the members what they wanted. They ultimately decided on pool area upgrades and new informal dining areas, all of which you’ll see on a tour of the club. Still, you may be asking yourself, “Why would they purchase a private club in a small Indiana town, best known for standup comedian and actor, Jim Gaffigan?”

The folks of Concert Golf Partners look to the future and see potential. With 27 holes of award-winning golf, it’s like having three 18-hole courses at your disposal. The Creek, Lake, and Marsh courses never play the same way twice. Several holes are considered some of the most challenging golf holes in Indiana, not only for the challenge they offer but also for their beauty.

But perhaps a bigger reason is the potential that General Manager Mike Longyear sees. “There are a lot of private club members in the Chicagoland area who don’t want to pay a 6-figure initiation fee, so they will drive right past the Chesterton exit on I-94, go an extra 45 minutes, and join a private club just east of us. If they only knew we were here.”

Sand Creek Country Club is a world-class facility located in Chesterton, Indiana. The golf facility has been recognized as one of Golf Digest’s Top 10 courses in Indiana and the “Best in Golf” award from Links Magazine. Sand Creek was the first fully certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System in Indiana and has been the home course for the Valparaiso University men’s and women’s golf teams since the start of the 2017-18 season. It has been the home of the Northern Amateur – one of the biggest amateur golf tournaments in the country – since 1983 and attracts players from all over the world.

The Creek and Lake courses comprise the original 18 holes and were built by Chicago architects Killian and Nugent, who also designed Kemper Lakes and other well-known Chicago courses. Jerry Mobley and Charles Howard of Desert Springs Company designed the Marsh Course which opened for play in 1996. In 2000, Sand Creek received the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America’s National Environmental Steward Award for U.S. private golf courses.

Sand Creek Country Club offers golfers five sets of tees that can be played anywhere from 5,162 yards to over 7,000 yards, so finding an appropriate yardage is easy for any level of golfer. As you make your way around the course you’ll experience rolling terrain, extensive wetlands, and tremendous greens. During the course of the day, you’ll use every club in the bag – at least once.

I found the shorter holes to be some of the most challenging. Number 3 on the Creek Course is a 330-yard par 4 with a risk-reward proposition off the tee. You can play your tee shot out to the left in a traditional manner and leave an approach shot of 120 yards into the green or risk it and take the water on which will leave a much shorter approach. I advise only going over the water if you have a clear view of the landing area from the tee box. Anything over the boomerang-shaped green will leave a tough up and down.

The 7th on the Creek Course plays 150 yards from the White Tees. It’s not long by any stretch, but the four bunkers surrounding the green place a premium on accuracy. The green is two-tiered which places an emphasis on club selection.

Number 6 on The Lakes Course plays 158 yards from the White Tees, and brings water back into play. The green is surrounded by 3 bunkers and, while the back portion of the green is a lot easier to find than the front, be aware of the large mound that splits the green in half from back to front.

Inside the Golf Shop, you’ll find all kinds of logoed apparel from the top brands and the latest equipment. The pleasant and knowledgeable staff of golf professionals can have you looking good and help you get the most out of your game.

The clubhouse at Sand Creek is one of the most beautiful facilities in the country. This 50,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance-style clubhouse features a grand ballroom with separate meeting rooms. The formal dining room serves gourmet cuisine and the grill room is a great place to grab a quick bite before your round or share a drink and appetizers afterward as you tally up your winnings.

There’s also an executive dining room, a tennis and swimming complex, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a Trackman indoor golf practice studio. And, with their beautiful Outdoor Terrace, Sand Creek has become an ideal location for events of any size and can accommodate outdoor functions for up to 1,000 guests.

Although located in Northern Indiana in prime snow country, Sand Creek Country Club offers year-round golf entertainment. During the spring and summer months and into the fall, you can play three unique 9-hole championship layouts. When the weather turns cold and the white stuff starts to fly, move it indoors and play/practice at the Club’s Trackman indoor facility.

If you prefer the courts over the course, or you simply need a break from the links, Sand Creek has four USTA tennis courts and offers a variety of tennis programs for players of all calibers and ages. Their professional staff can help elevate your game and get you involved with other like-minded members. Their Health Club offers the latest in exercise equipment and spa services, and there are separate locker rooms and lounges for both men and women. Sand Creek’s free-form pool is the perfect place to swim some laps and the kids will love the diving board, water slide, splash pad, and kiddie pool.

If you’re looking to join a private club or are one of those Chicagoans who is driving to a private club in Michigan, Sand Creek offers a membership plan that will fit your needs and your budget. You can significantly cut down your drive time and spend more time with family and friends, enjoying their company and playing courses that are probably better conditioned and more challenging. Sand Creek Country Club offers an award-winning golf course, all of the amenities you’d expect, low initiation fees, and reasonable monthly dues.