Honor Their Sacrifice
Educate Their Legacy
Join The Mission
Join The Mission
After winning back-to-back U.S. Opens in 1988 and 1989, Curtis Strange was at the pinnacle of his golf career, but he also had a knack for golf course consulting and when the opportunity presented itself to get his input on the design of Odyssey, the Halikias family couldn’t pass it up. Mike Halikias, along with the help of his three brothers, founded Odyssey and their dream was to bring a country club atmosphere to the public golfer of the south suburbs. Construction on Odyssey started in 1989 and by 1991 the course was transformed from corn and bean fields.
The Halikias family wanted to provide amenities to match the experience you would expect to receive at an upscale golf destination. In 1994, Odyssey Country Club became the place to enjoy not only a four hour journey of golf, but also some of life’s journeys, as it features one of the largest banquet facilities in the Chicagoland area.
Staying consistent with their family oriented beliefs, the Halikias family decided to open the Odyssey Fun World which is situated on the northwest side of the golf course complex in 1995. The Fun World is designed to provide a place for kids to stay active all year long. During the spring and summer months the batting cages, go-karts, and two mini-golf courses attract the local families, while in the winter time the arcade, X-box online games, and laser tag are the most popular with the kids.
In 2013, the Halikias family was looking to do more for their community using golf as that vessel. The Odyssey Golf Foundation was formed to focus on providing veterans with an opportunity to enjoy the game of golf at special rates. In addition, any profit generated by the golf course would go to help veteran oriented charities.
Recently, several executives associated with the Halikias family heard about a course in Grand Haven, Michigan, called American Dunes Golf Club. Before their visit, they learned that American Dunes mission was similar to what the Halikias family aspired for the Odyssey property. Upon their visit, they were incredibly impressed with the experience at American Dunes and their mission.
After some investigation from the Halikias family group, they discovered that American Dunes Golf Club was created by the Lt Col Dan Rooney, who is also the founder of the Folds of Honor. The Folds of Honor mission is to provide scholarships to injured or killed veterans/first responder families children. Honor Their Sacrifice, Educate Their Legacy. The American Dunes mission mirrors that of the Folds of Honor and is responsible for impacting the Folds of Honor Scholarship program by $3,500,000 through the end of 2023. That is over $1,000,000 per year since American Dunes opened in 2021.
The American Dunes experience is what the Halikias family dreamed for the Odyssey project. This summer, another executive representing the Halikias family contacted the Folds of Honor to discuss the Odyssey project. In September, that executive was invited to the Folds of Honor Collegiate, a nationally televised college event at American Dunes, to see the property and meet Lt Col Dan Rooney.
The discussion on that day, the Odyssey executive communicated their aspirations to support the Folds of Honor and their desire to create a place that would parallel American Dunes in an experience and impact families in the Chicagoland area, Illinois, and nationally.
As we begin another chapter of this story, we look to inspire heroic rounds of golf and honor the sacrifice of many military/first responder families.
We invite you to join the mission and be a part of this legacy.
Holes: 18
Type: Public
Year Opened: 1991
Architect: Curtis Strange/Harry Bowers
Acres: 187
Yardage: 6959 – 5359
Par/Slope: 72 / 73.4 – 67.3
See the property in 3D on Google Earth.
After the golf course was established, Lisa Halikias, executive director of the Odyssey Golf Foundation, and her husband, Aristotle, were looking for more ways to give back to the community through the golf course. They decided to focus on veterans.
“If you look through history, golf was used to help soldiers adjust after coming back from World Wars,” Halikias said.
In 2013, the foundation was formed, with the golf portion of Odyssey Country Club being turned into a 501(c)(3) non-profit facility. That means all the proceeds from golf rounds, after expenses, go to charity.
Capable of hosting multiple events such as wedding receptions, baby showers, and parties, the 48,000 square foot clubhouse was completed in 1994, and it includes four separate banquet rooms that can hold a combined 1,000 guests. Each banquet room has a cathedral ceiling, tile dance floor, and boat shaped chandeliers made out of crystal, that provide a unique ambiance. During the event, step outside onto the terrace and enjoy a beautiful view of the two finishing holes and the lake that separates them. Within view of the clubhouse, a fountain and vibrant flowers provide a romantic backdrop for the wrought iron gazebo that makes Odyssey a perfect place to hold the wedding of your dreams.
Driving Range
Sports Bar
Folds of Honor is going to build on the success of American Dunes to create an unforgettable golf experience in the Chicago area.
The course and facility will be a major source of funding for the Folds of Honor Foundation and a nexus of activity for golf, banquets, events, and concerts. A campaign is underway to fund the renovation of the course and clubhouse to create an asset for Folds of Honor that will have an impact for generations to come. Your involvement is an opportunity to be a part of a process that will surely be life altering.
We invite you to join the mission.
A letter of intent has been signed by the Odyssey Charities, which charitable mission closely aligns with the Folds of Honor, to contribute a fully operational banquet facility and land, building, and associated operations that are physically adjacent to the Odyssey Golf Course to the Folds of Honor or a subsidiary of the Folds of Honor.
Meeting Sacrifice With Hope.
It began with Lt Col Dan Rooney’s flight home from his second tour of duty in Iraq. An F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, he became painfully aware of the realities families face when a loved one in uniform is fallen or disabled. As his flight landed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the pilot announced they carried the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board. Lt Col Rooney watched as Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother walked somberly alongside the flag-covered casket to meet his family on the tarmac. Among them was the deceased Corporal’s young son, Jacob.
Since that night, Lt Col Rooney has committed his life to rallying patriotic Americans and meeting sacrifice with hope through the Folds of Honor. Since 2007, we’ve provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. And now, our mission expands to the families of America’s first responders. On our watch, those who protect our freedoms and our families will know they are not forgotten.
Every donation provides life-changing scholarships to families of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders. Watch to learn more: FOH.ORG/FoldsAnthem
Since 2007, Folds of Honor has Awarded over 62,000 Educational Scholarships
$290,000,000 in Educational impact for those 62,000 educational scholarship
45% OF ALL SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED REPRESENT MINORITY RECIPIENTS
Folds of honor is proud to have a cumulative average ratio of 91%of every dollar raised going to our scholarship program.
Folds of Honor is proud to be rated 4 out of 4 stars by charity Navigator.
In 2006, the Grand Haven Golf Club, located in Grand Haven, Michigan, hosted a small golf tournament that would inspire the formation of Folds of Honor. In 2007, Lt Col Dan Rooney, a fighter pilot in the USAFR and PGA Professional founded Folds of Honor and began the mission of Honoring Their Sacrifice – Educating Their Legacy.
As the Grand Haven Golf Club went through the same challenges as all golf operations experienced through 2017, Lt Col Rooney had an idea to create a golf experience like no other in the world. Help was needed. One of the first calls to discuss the concept was to Mr. Jack Nicklaus, who was serving the Folds of Honor in many ways already. In their initial meeting, Mr. Nicklaus expressed the same enthusiasm as Lt Col Rooney and the mission began.
The Grand Haven Golf Club closed in 2018 and a small group of patriots joined together with Jack Nicklaus to create American Dunes. The mission of American Dunes is unwavering. We are honored to raise awareness and funds for the families of our fallen and disabled veterans. Jack Nicklaus led the project by donating his design fee, a group of eighteen individuals sponsored a hole and five private investors joined together to preserve the birthplace of Folds of Honor.
A significant legacy such as this is born out of the effort of selfless individuals and companies who have donated their time and resources. And now, because of many other like-minded patriots that know that Freedom Is Not Free, American Dunes Golf Club is experiencing incredible success and is able to directly benefit the Folds of Honor mission.
American Dunes represents a collaboration of countless likeminded patriots, who want this golf course to forever stand as a tribute to the birthplace of Folds of Honor, a safe haven for veterans who find rehabilitation through the recreation of the game, and a backdrop to celebrate our country and those who fought for its freedom.
Everyone that plays a round of golf at American Dunes understands that it will be their Most Heroic Round of Golf they will ever play.
Why? Because it will be for someone else.
Jack Nicklaus and Lt Col Dan Rooney discussing American Dunes Golf Club features during construction.
American Dunes Golf Club during renovation.
Jack and Barbara Nicklaus in the Folds of Honor Memorial Wall on opening day at American Dunes Golf Club.
Lt Col Dan Rooney, Nancy Lopez (Folds of Honor Board Member), and Jack Nicklaus on opening day at American Dunes.
American Dunes CAVU Fighter Pilot Bar where Pardo’s Push story is legend (represented by jets) and features the one of a kind Aim-9 missile beer tap.
American Dunes donor wall at the entrance to American Dunes and the Folds of Honor Memorial Wall. All major donors have their name on the bubble canopy of the respective jets.
American Dunes Wall of Honor where you can honor your hero, past or present.
American Dunes Hole Sponsorships on behalf of donor honoring a veteran/first responder and one of Jack Nicklaus’s eighteen majors.
American Dunes experienced so many professionals wanting to be involved in the project. Skill trade professionals, artists, performers, industry suppliers, finance professionals, etc. wanted to know how they could be a part of the special project. These professionals whether is was generous monetary donations or time/material donations saved the project valuable dollars and became part of the legacy.
Even with the presumed assistance of many people, it is estimated that it will cost approximately $20 million to renovate the course and infrastructure to provide a similar American Dunes experience. That donor commitment is needed in order for the process to begin of creating a legacy inspirational golf experience. We are counting on you to expand your legacy.
The team that created the American Dunes experience is poised and ready to create an incredible golf experience to the Chicago area. Depending on your level of stewardship, you will be included in the process. From site visits to planed concept experiences, you will be included and participate in the journey. The process will require site plans/concepts/features, permitting, engineering, and environmental to get a clear concept.
Depending on funding, site design, weather, and permitting, the rebuild could take up to two years with an opening date of late 2026 or early 2027.
It will be a celebration! Everyone that contributed will be invited. Hopefully sports and entertainment celebrities included as we experienced with the American Dunes project. A time for celebration and reflection of the process that created the Tinely Park legacy project.
By special invite and as soon as possible, qualified donors will attend a special meeting with the management team coordinating the Tinley Park legacy project.
A deeper dive into the vision for the Tinley Park property will be discussed. The Folds of Honor and the American Dunes stories will be shared in greater depth and how we will use this dynamic to move forward in creating the experience at Tinley Park.
We invite you to be a part of this life enhancing mission.
You can be a part of something special, contact us to discuss.
Phil Ordway, EVP CFO
Republic Bancorp Co.
pordway@icred.com
(630) 560-8029
Thursday, January 9th, 2025
13:00 Central Time
Odyssey Golf Club
THE JOURNEY BEGINS