By Mark Ambrogi
Steve Henke saw the land in Westfield and knew it was the perfect place for a new golf club community.
“I’ve been acquiring ground for this course starting seven or eight years ago,” said Henke, partner of Henke Development Group. “I found a parcel up there that had such interesting terrain, and when I looked at that, I thought if I could acquire some of these other parcels that have incredible terrain, also, we can put together a great layout for a championship golf course as well as a resort residential community to go with it. Over a three- to four-year period we were able to put together 800 acres.”
Henke has worked with famed golf course designer Pete Dye to develop Chatham Hills, a par 72, 7,215-yard course. Dye began developing the course approximately 18 months ago. All residents and members will have access to the executive 9-hole par 3 course.
Dye, 90, and his wife, Alice, will open the course Sept. 29 at Chatham Hills with ceremonial tee shots. The Club at Chatham Hills, 20298 Tomlinson Rd., is surrounded by an upscale housing development.
“When it’s complete I would estimate it’s (going to have) 750 to 800 homes,” Henke said. “There are already 75 to 80 homes under construction. There have been 170 lots sold. A number of families are already living there.”
Henke worked with Dye to develop The Bridgewater Club in Carmel. Dye designed his first of 179 courses in Greenwood in 1962.
“It’s all rolling terrain. It’s creeks, valleys, hills and lot of woods,” Henke said of Chatham Hills. “Pete worked with me in designing the residential lots, so they all have incredible views of the course. We began constructing those in November 2014.”
Henke, who lives at Bridgewater but plans to move to Chatham Hills, said he hopes the course will get perhaps six weeks of play this year before the weather turns too cold.
“We waited as long as we could to let the course grow in and let the members experience it this fall,” Henke said. “We can’t be happier with Pete’s work in this and how it all turned out.”
There is an 18-hole, par 72 course of 7,215 yards for members.
The private club will include a clubhouse with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a kiddie pool, a swim-up pool bar, tennis and pickleball courts, bowling center, golf simulator, a lounge and fitness center. There will be a banquet facility and a dog park.
For more, visit chathamhills.com.
