Page 63 - 2018 Western Amateur Commemerative Program—Skokie Ridge Country Club

WGA_Program_2018_V5__ 6/28/2018 3:43 PM Page 61

HISTORY OF SUNSET RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB

HALL OF FAME EMPLOYEES along with his trademark smile
DOMENIC GROTTI and friendly demeanor. Upon his

In 1940 a young greenskeeper, Domenic retirement in 1978, he was inducted
into the Golf Course Superintendent
Grotti (SRCC Employee 1932–1978), Association of America’s Hall of Fame.
was promoted from the grounds crew
to head golf course superintendent. ROBERT HARRIS
Grotti had come to the club in 1932 In 1958, head professional Joe Paletti
at the depth of the Depression as a resigned to become the head
day laborer for 40 cents an hour. professional at Ozaukee Country
He worked for J.B. Boyd (SRCC Club in Mequon, Wisconsin. The
employee 1923–1932), the club’s first Board quickly promoted his top
superintendent, and then became a assistant pro Bob Harris to be Sunset
trusted protégé of superintendent Ridge’s fourth PGA professional.
Harold Clements (SRCC employee
1933–1940). Harris was gifted teacher and brilliant
player who competed and represented
In the mid-1940s Grotti changed all of Sunset Ridge in two Masters (1956,
the greens from Poa annua to bent and 1961), seven U.S. Opens (1949, 1955,
the tees from bluegrass to bent. He also 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968) and three
personally installed the course’s first PGA Championships (1959, 1960,
underground watering system. 1961). Harris was also a star locally,
winning the Illinois PGA Match Play
In 1968, to honor his 35th anniversary, HOF plaque of former SRCC Head Pro Bob Harris. He
Championship a record six consecutive was inducted into the Illinois PGA Hall of Fame in 2013.
the club named the newly expanded
times from 1958–1963 and twice
pond off the 12th tee “Lake Domenic.” Lind’s victory over Venturi earned him
capturing the Illinois Open (1955, 1956)
For 46 years, Domenic Grotti served a golf scholarship to the University
along with Illinois PGA (1959, 1961).
Sunset Ridge with dedication, of Michigan, where he was a key
professionalism and loyalty to go In October 2013, Harris was voted contributor to the Wolverines winning
into the Illinois PGA Hall of Fame two Big Ten Golf Championships. He
for “setting the standards for club won the Illinois PGA in 1973 and in
professionals” on and off the golf 1975, at age 45, he qualified for the U.S.
course during his 17-year career as Open at Medinah Country Club. Dean
head professional at Sunset Ridge. Lind left Sunset Ridge in 1980 to play
on the emerging U.S. Senior Tour and
DEAN LIND
he would qualify for four U.S. Senior
In 1975, Dean Lind replaced Bob Harris
Opens where he was frequently paired
as Sunset Ridge’s fifth head PGA
with Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Gary
professional when Harris relocated to
Player and other legends of the game.
his native California.
In 2006, Lind was named to the greater
A Rockford native, Lind was a former Rockford Hall of Fame. His name is
PGA TOUR player and he also
featured on the “Wall of Fame” at the
competed on the Asian Tour. As a
USGA Museum in Fair Hills, N.J. as the
young player, Lind defeated future
1948 Junior Champion listed just below
U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi
1948 U.S. Open Champion Ben Hogan
to win the inaugural U.S. Junior
and U.S. Women’s Champ Babe
Amateur Championship in 1948.
Didrikson Zaharias.
In 1949 and 1950 he won back-to-
SRCC's Domenic Grotti (SRCC
superintendent for 46 years) stands in front back Western Junior Amateur Lind retired to the San Diego area and
of the lake named in his honor in 1968. Championships. passed away in 2010.

2018 WESTERN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP History of Sunset Ridge Country Club 61