The Tinley Park Golf Expo tee’s off today with the doors opening at Noon, admission today is only $5 and parking is Free. Head down to the Tinley Park Convention Center by Rt.80 and Harlem Avenue. Tomorrow Saturday the Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Center will hold it’s Customer Appreciation Day from 11 AM to 2 PM. Come meet Steve Kashul of the TV Show the Golf Scene who MC the event. The equipment reps will be on hand, there are contests, raffles, free food and more. (847)-459-2321. Bgaprks.org.
BY: RORY SPEARS, EDITOR & DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AND CREATION. FOLLOW RORY ON TWITTER @GOGBLOGGUY
Architect Mike Benkusky will oversee the 2.4 Million dollar renovation of the Arlington Lakes Golf Course.
Good news golfers, the renovation trend for local park district courses continues with the approval by the Arlington Hts. Park District board to renovate the Arlington Lake Golf Course.
The park board voted to approve the plan submitted by Lake in the Hills based architect Mike Benkusky, that will see the nine’s get flipped, some greens rebuilt and a number of bunkers removed.
Benkusky’s plan caters to the the majority of golfers who play Arlington Lakes, who are either juniors, seniors, or new to the game. Arlington Lakes that isn’t a long course to begin with, will lose a few more yards with the plan Benkusky submitted.
Arlington Lakes might not be the home for the long bombers, but the idea is to make the course one that golfers can get around without too many obstacles. Benkusky feels the streamlined course will help speed up play, something that golfers who play every course are looking for.
“If we can get golfers up to the green in 2 or 3 shots as opposed to 6 or 7 we can speed up the round,” said Benkusky. ” Golfers don’t have all the time they used to play, some of the new routing will allow golfers to play rounds of less than 9 or 18 holes.”
There are some trees that will be taken out in the renovation plan, here is one tree that will definitely be removed so golfers won’t need that power slice shot anymore.
The putting green that is currently undersized will be redone. The greens that will be redone, will be reshaped in a way that golfers can putt across them in a way where the holes are more accessible.
Benkusky has suggested to the park district that they close the course for the season to start renovation work right after Memorial Day, or about June 1st.
The neighboring Mt. Prospect golf club started in Mid-June of 2014 on it’s course renovation project. While their project was more extensive than the Arlington Lakes one will be, they barely beat the November cold in getting all the holes seeded. Benkusky is hoping if the work permits are in place, that work can start sooner, and all the holes can be seeded in time for a good fall growth period.
The Arlington Hts. Park District and the golf course will keep residents and golfers informed about when the actual closing date will be.
Mike Benkusky’s proposed plan for the renovation of the Arlington Lakes golf course.
Benkusky is hopeful that if enough work can be done this fall, that the golfers won’t lose a majority of the summer of 2016 before the course grows back in for play.
The Arlington Heights Park District operates a 9-hole par 3 course on the North side of Arlington Hts. called Nickel Knoll Park. Located on top of a hill used by Bears great Walter Payton to train on. Which is why Nickel Knoll is often referred to as “Payton’s Hill.”
Golfers have been suggesting for a while that Nickel Knoll could use some upgrades as well. During an interview with Benkusky by Golfers on Golf, Benkusky was asked if he would be renovating Nickel Knoll at some point, but he says he has not been on the property yet or had discussions with the park district about working there yet. It seems it’s one project at a time for now.
Links & Tee’s indoor heated golf dome on Lake Street in Addison. (630)-233-7275 Ext. 4
What will be interesting for golfers of the northwest suburbs this summer is, where will they play golf for the bulk of summer in 2015.
With Arlington Lakes expected to close in early June, and Mt. Prospect now not expected to reopen until maybe as late as August 1st, and the Glenview Park District course that underwent renovation last summer not opening until late June or July. It will be interesting to see which courses reap the benefits of extra play. Stay tuned.
Click here to hear Rory’s interview with Mike Benkusky on the renovation of Arlington Lakes golf course.
The Gog Blog returns this weekend, stay clicked in. RS