Scherwood Golf

History:

Scherwood Golf Course, founded by Bill Christenson, was built in 1966 and opened September 4th, 1967. The inaugural round was played by Gene Pettit (partner), Malcolm Benjamin (employee), John Whitaker (Hammond Times sportswriter), and Marvin Hanson (course superintendent).

Scherwood Golf was an extension of “the Scherwood Club”, a private club encompassing a large outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool and a clubhouse for private parties and member activities (also founded by Bill Christenson, in the late fifties). Original plans had only outlined a Par-3 course, but additional land was purchased and plans modified to accommodate an 18-hole regulation course. Ted Locke, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was retained for the design. An additional 9-hole par 3 course was later built on 20 acres that initially had comprised an archery field and playground.

In 1979, the golf property was sold to Marvin and Eileen Hanson, who still own and operate the business. In the early 1980’s, another 24 acres was purchased on the East side of the complex to add an additional 9-hole executive course, resulting in a 36-hole facility. In 1995, nine holes of the 18-hole executive course were removed to make room for the Greens of Scherwood Townhomes. In 1998, another 20 acres on the southwest end of the property was acquired to build two new holes, in order to allow room for a new practice facility near the clubhouse including two putting greens, a sand bunker area, and an all-grass lighted driving range. In 2004, a new clubhouse addition and renovation was completed, making Scherwood the complete golfing facility it is today.

Scherwood has been and continues to be a popular site for regional events, tournaments, and golf outings.

The original Scherwood ‘Club’ property, set on 9 acres, was sold to the Town of Schererville in 2004. The banquet building was razed in 2005 to make room for a future parks and recreation center. The property, known locally as Scherwood Park, now boasts a 1/2 mile paved walking track and is the new home of the town’s Historic Log Cabin from 1847.