Conway Farms' extensive course renovations enhance viewing experience

Posted July 23, 2015 1:01 am

By Len Ziehm

Here's a view of the 13th hole at Conway Farms Golf Course, which has completed an extensive renovation since it held the BMW Championship in 2013. Photo courtesy of Conway Farms/Charles Cherney

Although the Western Golf Association's premier tournament, the BMW Championship, is still nearly two months away, the WGA showed off the improvements coming for the third tournament of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs

Tourney site Conway Farms.

The Lake Forest course that hosted the event in 2013, has undergone an extensive renovation since then, and the 130,000 spectators who will attend should have an improved experience.

Cart paths have been widened throughout the course to improve foot traffic, and seating has been improved dramatically for that big week when trophies (to say nothing of big prize money) is on the line.

The size of seating around the 18th green has been doubled and there's also expanded viewing at Holes No. 1, 2, 7, 9, 11 and 17. The Beer Garden, a popular attraction two years ago, will also be doubled in size.

More than anything, though, the work done on the course has opened up vistas for better spectator viewing.

Also improving the spectator experience is the establishment of an attendance limit. Vince Pellegrino, the WGA's senior vice president of tournaments, said attendance will be limited to 27,000 per day.

When the tourney was played at Conway Farms two years ago, the gallery topped 35,000 on Saturday.

The players will find a major change in the practice facility as well. It has been enhanced with a 10,000-square-foot putting green, a 2-acre practice range, and a new short game area. All 18 greens has new grass. Several new tees were constructed and others re-shaped. New back tees resulted in the lengthening of Nos. 4 and 17.

Strategically, No. 16 - my favorite hole on the course - has two sod-wall bunkers now instead of three and they've been moved to the right. This, you'll remember, was a key hole in 2013 because Jim Furyk made eagle there en route to shooting his record 59.

Those big bunkers at the 16th hole are eye-catchers.

The tournament dates, Sept. 14-20, are a week later than they were in 2013 with players getting a week off in between the first two playoff events and the last two. The purse has increased slightly, and now totals $8.25 million.

Shuttles from the nearby Metra stations are expected to relieve congestion around the course. The shuttles from the stations to the course are only two minutes. The new general parking area is in Waukegan (Waukegan and Belvidere roads), and shuttles from there will be in the 15-20 minute range.

Pellegrino announced a new event for tournament week. The Evans Scholars Cup will be contested on Monday. It'll feature teams from 28 clubs and their head professional.

Otherwise the schedule is the same as in the past except for the starting times for the first two rounds. Play will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

• For more golf news, visit lenziehmongolf.com. Len can be contacted by email at lenziehm@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter@ZiehmLen, and check out his posts at Facebook.com/lenziehmongolf.

Zach Johnson won the BMW Championship when it was held at Conway Farms in 2013. Johnson, who won the British Open, will see a much different course when the BMW returns in September. 2013 Photo courtesy of WGA/Charles Cherney

Many of the tee boxes and all 18 greens have been renovted at Conway Farms Golf Course, which will host the BMW Championship in September. Photo courtesy of Conway Farms/Charles Cherney

Vince Pellegrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments, said attendance at the BMW Championship will be limited to 27,000 per day, and fans will noticed the improved seating installed throughout the course. Photo courtesy of WGA/Charles Cherney

Here's a view of the 18th green at Conway Farms, which will host the BMW Championship in September after an extensive renovation. Photo courtesy of Conway Farms/Charles Cherney

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