Swanhills Golf Course in Belvidere celebrates 30 years with new era under local ownership

May 28, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Business, Top Stories, Sports, Belvidere, Things to Do, Rock River Current, 815 News

Cuinn Donnellan takes a practice swing on Friday, May 23, 2025, before teeing off at Swanhills Golf Course in Belvidere. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — Swanhills Golf Course is entering its 30th year in business with a new era under local ownership.

The 18-hole course, 2600 Gustafson Road, was sold last year by the East Dubuque company that built it to the families of Nick Wallace and Steve Schmeling, who is the CEO of Rockford-based Schmeling Construction.

The families will celebrate the grand reopening of the course on Friday with an event meant to reintroduce the course to the community and showcase recent improvements.

“It’s kind of a forgotten about, lost gem,” Schmeling said. “I don’t think the community respects the quality of Swanhills golf. The condition of the greens and the fairways and the course in general is as good as any other course in this area. … We’re trying to help it get the respect it once had and it deserves.”

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Swanhills had more than 38,000 rounds of golf played last year. It has league play five nights a week and a bar and clubhouse that stays active for social gatherings and sports events during the off-season. Schmeling said the goal is to surpass 40,000 rounds of golf this year and continue to grow the course’s reputation.

“The Schmeling family has lived in this community for generations. After playing several rounds at Swanhills and meeting the incredible staff and regular patrons, it became clear this was a special place,” he said. “We knew we wanted to preserve the welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere while also committing to improvements that would elevate the experience for all players.”

Swanhills has upgraded its golf carts and purchased newer mowing equipment for its greens and roughs, as well as made clubhouse infrastructure improvements, Schmeling said.

The course continues to be managed by superintendent Sue Spahr, who has been with Swanhills since it was still being grown in.

“She was there from Day 1,” Schmeling said. “She actually helped plant the greens and the tees 30 years ago and she’s still there.”

Kasey Hughes tees off on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Swanhills Golf Course in Belvidere. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The families purchased the course and the business in August from Midwest Irrigation of East Dubuque, which had built the course three decades ago.

Schmeling described it as a challenging and forgiving course, and he said that after he and Wallace met the team and regular players they fell in love with what Swanhills has to offer.

“When we first visited Swanhills, we were struck by how much care goes into the course and clubhouse operations. The staff clearly take pride in their work,” Wallace said. “We’re excited to build on that strong foundation and continue making Swanhills a place where both longtime players and newcomers feel right at home.”