Elgin National Watch Company
Elgin was founded in 1830s and became an important manufacturing town after the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad reached it in 1850. The Elgin National Watch Company and Gail Borden Condensed Milk factories dramatically increased the local population by providing jobs. Decreasing work hours at the turn of the century resulted in more recreational time for employees. The first golf course in Elgin was the nine-hole Elgin Country Club in 1901, a private course designed by Tom Bendelow west of the city. Bendelow designed over 600 golf courses in his career. He was a strong advocate for public golf courses, and taught course design at the college level.