ARLINGTON HEIGHTS TO RENOVATE NICKOL KNOLL-PAR 3 COURSE

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THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn or Facebook. On Payton’s Hill at Nickol Knoll Park in Arlington Hts. (Photo by Mike Benkusky)

THE ARLINGTON HEIGHTS PARK DISTRICT has given architect Mike Benkusky the green light, to start the master planning for a renovation of the Nickol Knoll Park par-3 golf course.

Because the late great NFL Hall of Famer and Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton would train there when he was a resident of Arlington Heights, the park is often referred to as Payton’s Hill.

While there have been changes to the park over the years, the area Payton used to run-in, is partially still intact. But another part of the area, is now the golf course. The Arlington Heights Park District has put a few plaques and markers up to honor Payton, and his time spent running on the hill.

Architect Mike Benkusky gets the call from the Arlington Heights Park District to work on the northside of town this time, at Payton’s Hill.

While the golf course is fun and golfers can play it quickly, it has started to show it’s age.

So it’s time for golf course be improved, and the park to be reconnected with the Payton name.

But with Arlington Heights now a possible future home for the Chicago Bears. The time is right to renovate the golf course and promote it’s history with Payton.

Benkusky a golf course architect architect for 25 years, is based in Lake in the Hills. He did the popular renovation of the Arlington Lakes Golf Club. Benkusky just finished work on the Champions Course at the Palm Aire Country Club in Sarasota. Additionally he is currently working with long time Western Amateur home, Point O’Woods Golf Club in Benton Harbor Michigan.

The par 3 third hole, could have some length and elevation added from the back tee boxes.

Current Daily Herald golf columnist and former Nickol Knoll neighbor Len Ziehm offered these thoughts on the renovation project.

“I’m delighted to learn that Mike Benkusky will be doing a renovation of the Nickol Knoll golf course in Arlington Heights. Nickol Knoll was one of my favorite places to golf, when I lived on Happfield Drive. Located across the street from the golf course for 16 years. By coincidence, Mike has just finished a well-received renovation at the Palm Aire Country Club in Sarasota where I now have a membership. I’m sure he will do a similarly fine job in updating Nickol Knoll.”

CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with architect Mike Benkusky. Benkusky will create the masterplan and oversee the upcoming renovation, at Nickol Knoll Park.

Golfers on Golf will continue to follow the renovation story for the Nickol Knoll as it develops. RS.

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About Rory Spears

Rory spent over 8 years growing up working at Rob Roy Golf Club in Prospect Hts.IL, then two years at Chevy Chase in Wheeling. He has covered golf in Chicago since 1986. Rory was one of the initial members of WSCR all-sports radio Chicago and covered golf there for 5 seasons, before moving on to work for ESPN/Sportsticker and ESPN Radio. In addition to hosting Golfers on Golf Radio on WCPT AM820 Chicago, he writes for both the Chicago District (CDGA) Magazine, and formerly Chicagoland Golf. Rory has played over 525 courses in 39 states, and rates golf courses. He does golf course management and communications consulting, within the golf industry.