Warmth prompts record crowds at suburban golf courses
After battling mall crowds while holiday shopping this weekend, you may want to pull the clubs out and hit the golf course, as many are still open due to near record-breaking temperatures.
Suburban golf courses have been bustling all week and are setting records for being open so late in the season.
"We have been booked solid Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. More than 120 golfers are out here every day," said Joe Lofsness, golf operations manager at Chevy Chase Golf Club in Wheeling.
Golfing this late in the season is very unusual, said Shawn Hannigan, assistant golf professional at Bolingbrook Golf Club.
"It's a nice little gift for us," Hannigan said.
It's not unusual to get a nice day here and there, but the consistency of the nice temperature is unusual, he said. He added that the course is open only for walking as the carts have been put away for the season.
Jim Flynn of Elgin took advantage of the unseasonably high temperatures to get in a round of golf at The Highlands of Elgin Friday. "Golf in December, you'll never do better than this," he said. "Love it, can't beat it."
The suburbs saw near-record warmth Thursday, with temperatures reaching 57 degrees at O'Hare Airport - that's only 5 degrees below the record set in 1879. Temperatures are expected to continue to climb throughout the weekend, reaching 62 degrees Sunday.
Kemper Lakes Golf Club a private course in Kildeer also saw many golfers enjoying the weather Friday. "It was a bonus day," said Kemper General Manager John Hosteland. He said a few members told him that they took the day off, dusted off their clubs and spent the day golfing. "How often do you get to golf on December 11?" Hosteland asked.
The high temperatures also seen in November have set records at area golf courses.
Kemper experienced a jump in revenue in November of nearly 330 percent because of the unseasonably warm weather, according to Green Golf Partners, an Indianapolis firm that manages 17 golf courses in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and the southeast.
In November 627 rounds of golf were played at Kemper compared to 146 rounds last year. And during the first 10 days of December, 62 rounds were played at the course compared with zero last year.
"The continued stretch of blue skies and warmer temperatures have created additional 'bonus' revenue that goes directly to our golf properties' bottom line," said Matt McIntee, CEO of Green Golf partners.
"General managers at our courses from Indianapolis to Chicago are working overtime to meet the unprecedented demand for serious and casual golfers who want to play before snow blankets the courses."
• Staff photographer Rick West contributed to this story.