Sugar Creek Golf Course in Villa Park holds its annual Chili Open on the first Saturday of January. In past years, participants have braved subzero temperatures and several inches of snow on the ground. Saturday’s 2019 Chili Open, however, featured blue skies and temperatures around 50 degrees. Cory Ferrell, the head golf professional at Sugar Creek since 2013, said this year’s event attracted about 90 golfers, the most he’s ever seen in his time at the course. The Chili Open competitors included Tom Allie (middle left) of Elmhurst. Ferrell said that in addition to the Chili Open contestants, 30 to 40 other walk-on players came to the course on Saturday afternoon to play nine holes. Those players included Mick Deely (lower left) of Elmhurst, who played in short sleeves along with David Mulholland (lower right) of Villa Park. Other players on Saturday afternoon included brothers Bennett (upper left) and Calvin (upper right) Fleming of Villa Park. Bennett, pictured hitting a greenside shot, is a freshman at Willowbrook High School, and a member of the school’s golf team. Calvin, a junior at Willowbrook and a member of the wrestling team, is pictured surveying a putt. Sugar Creek Golf Course is open year-round, weather permitting. Call 630-834-3325 for information about course conditions.
