Paul Makray purchased Thunderbird in 1962 and improved it each year, providing a sporty course at reasonable rates to hundreds of thousands of golfers. When Paul Makray passed away in 1999, his family made the decision to completely redesign and rebuild the course and facilities and change the name to Makray Memorial Golf Club in honor of Paul Makray.

Makray Memorial Golf Club is a premier 18-hole championship caliber courses in Illinois, 7,000 yards with four sets of tees; lots of water, strategic bunkers, bent grass tees, fairways and greens, blue grass roughs and spectacular views.The course re-opened for play June 8, 2004.