Good signs indeed for Chicago golf scene
There are some good indications that golf in Chicago has withstood some tough economic times.
Two well-established park district courses that had undergone costly renovations reopened on consecutive days last week.
Glenview Park's course renovation was a $5.3 million project and another $1.2 million was spent to upgrade the clubhouse. Construction on Mount Prospect's course renovation was reported at $7.1 million.
Glenview Park's course dates to 1920, and the Glenview Park District has operated it since 1955. Mount Prospect's layout also started as a private facility in 1926, and the Mount Prospect Park District has operated the course since 1961.
Plus, the Arlington Heights Park District is renovating its Arlington Lakes course - a $2.4 million project that is projected to be completed in July 2016. That course was closed in June. So was Oak Meadows, owned by the DuPage County Forest Preserve District.
This project likely will prove more costly than any of the others, as Aurora architect Greg Martin must deal with flooding issues in addition to renovating the course. He expects only four of the current holes to remain and 1,500 trees to come down before the project is completed in the spring of 2017.
As for Glenview Park and Mount Prospect, both were in need of upgrades. Libertyville architect Rick Jacobson supervised the Glenview project and St. Charles architect David Esler directed the work at Mount Prospect. Both courses were landlocked, so lengthening of either wasn't possible.
Mount Prospect will look more different to returning golfers. Esler's work included a redesign of the back nine - which now has five new holes - to create a much-expanded learning center. The old range had but six hitting stations. The new, double-ended range has 25, and there's also a 15,000 square foot short-game area and an 18-hole putting course that is spread over 17,000 square feet.
Glenview Park improved its clubhouse while the course renovation was in progress. Jacobson, who grew up within a mile of the course, created more movement in the fairways to improve stormwater management for both the course and the surrounding area. He also reconstructed the greens, tees and bunkers.
Both courses are instituting the cart-path-only policy for players wishing to ride during their rounds in an effort to facilitate the grow-in periods needed to complete the renovations. Both courses, however, are ideal for walkers.
Cut day at Western Am:
The 156-man starting field for the 113th Western Amateur championship at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove will be cut drastically Wednesday.
Only the low 44 and ties will continue in the grueling championship that concludes Saturday. University of Texas junior Beau Hossler is the defending champion but he has a long road ahead if he's to become the first repeat winner since Justin Leonard in 1992-93.
The Western Am requires 72 holes of match play followed by four matches before a champion is crowned. Stroke play ends with a 36-hole session Thursday. The top 16 advance to the match-play portion of the event, with two rounds of matches scheduled for Friday with the semifinals and final on Saturday. Admission and parking are free.
Here and there:
• The PGA Tour has given the John Deere Classic potentially difficult dates for 2016. The JDC will be played Aug. 8-14, opposite the Olympic Games in Brazil. Golf will be contested in the Olympics for the first time since 1904. The JDC has been played in July, the week before the British Open, in recent years.
• Tim Streng, representing the Wildcat Golf Academy, was a 5-shot winner in the Illinois PGA Assistants Championship on Monday at Royal Fox in St. Charles. He posted a 4-under-par 138 total over 36 holes to edge Andy Mickelson, of Mistwood in Romeoville, for the title.
• Dave Ryan, of Taylorville, successfully defended his title in last week's Chicago District Golf Association Senior Amateur at Merit Club in Libertyville. Ryan defended Lake Forest's Craig Sopko 3 and 2 in the championship match.
• The Illinois PGA Senior Championship will be played Monday and Tuesday at Whisper Creek in Huntley.
• 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.