MISTWOOD DIRECTOR OF GOLF ANDY MICKELSON-(M) has surrounded himself with two of the best club fitters in the area. Matt Carter (L) and Eric Russell (R). But better news is that both Carter and Russell can be found all-winter long in the Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. The dome is home to Toptracer Golf and to the McWethy’s Sports Bar, where you can find great wings-burgers and beer. So book your bay today at Mistwoodgolfdome.com or you can call the dome at (630)-739-7600.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram
Tom Grey is the General Manager at Canal Shores in Evanston and Wilmette. Canal Shores is expected to reopen for play in August of 2024.
TEAM WORK…
THE CANAL SHORES PROJECT is well underway, and the 104 year old golf course is getting a much-needed overhaul.
But it’s a project that needed some help to get launched, a lot of help. So what Canal Shores has become, is the little course that could.
Because many of the big brothers and sisters of golf in the Chicagoland area have stepped up to make this preservation of golf happen. Canal Shores is not like most other 100+ year old golf courses, that get big dollar renovations from some big name architect. Because those projects get paid for by a membership with deep pockets.
So what has happened is that Chicago’s golf organizations have teamed up. They are working together to give Canal Shores a new presence and a new look on the golf scene in the Windy City.
The famed Baha`i Temple behind the new 6th green-that will be the 65 yard putting hole. Maybe the toughest par on the course.
The project started with Canal Shores managing partner KemperSports, who soon enlisted help and or funding from the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation, the Chicago District Golf Association, Wadsworth Construction, The First Tee of Greater Chicago, Quitno Golf Design and others have stepped up with private donations.
But the estimated cost for the project runs $5.9 million, and fundraising is almost there, reaching $5.5 million. So a few more dollars are needed. So if you can-please do donate to this great cause. Because Canal Shores is more than just a golf course. It will be home to a WGAESF caddie training program and the First Tee once it’s completed and reopened hopefully in August of next year.
But according to the Canal Shores history books, the first tee shot at the course was hit on September 19th, of 1919. So could a new chapter of history for Canal Shores be written on September 19th of 2024.
Perhaps the next wave of Evans Scholars might get their training at Canal Shores. It would only seem fitting, if a few of them went on to study at nearby Northwestern University.
The big new 30,000 square foot putting green outside the clubhouse at Canal Shores.
Chris Charnas of Links Capital Advisors has been providing updates throughout the construction process.
The updates are found on the Canal Shores website, under the news section.
So do check them out, because they are interesting to read and very informative on each phase of the renovation process.
The par-3 16th hole-with a bowl. When the pin finds it’s way into the bowl area on the front of green, a hole-in-one could be in the cards.
Canal Shores receives no public funds or tax payer dollars. The course survives on it’s golf revenue, donations and the hard work of local volunteers.
Canal Shores is a 501 (c)(3) not for profit organization. So your donation is tax deductible.
The renovation of Canal Shores, forced architect Todd Quitno to be creative, in getting the golf course back to 18 holes.
A few years back-a political decision forced the course to lose the land of one of it’s holes. So Canal Shores became a 17 hole golf course. But then with the plan to introduce a new area for junior golf instruction and play, the first hole at times will be closed. So what does one do, when golfers want to play a full 18 holes. You build two new holes.
The 65 yard sixth hole, now called the “putting hole”, should be a treat to play. General Manager Tom Grey believes it will be the most photographed hole in the North Shore area. Teeing off, golfers have a nice new view of the historic Baha`i Temple in the background. Quitno then slipped in another new 70 yard par-3. So whether junior golf classes are active or not-golfers will play 18 holes. Canal Shores has 12 par-3 holes, and 6-par four holes. So par for the course is 60, and yes shooting a 59 here is still a good score.
The Par-3 tenth hole-that sits next to the hot dog stand at the turn.
Grey says the Evanston Open will return at some point, if not 2024 then 2025. The Evanston Open is just part of Canal Shores century long history. Former PGA Tour player Tim “Lumpy” Herron is among the past champions.
Did you know that Canal Shores is known as Bill Murray’s childhood golf course. Evanston native the late Gary Planos, who went on to be an Evans Scholar at the University of Illinois and Executive Vice President at Kapalua Maui-learned the game at Canal Shores. Planos was later the Tournament Chairman for the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.
CANAL SHORES is a community golf course if there ever was one. Because it’s 19 holes run through both the communities of Evanston and Wilmette. But the golf course serves other purposes for area residents as well. Headed out for a bike ride- a jog-walking the dog, taking a short cut to school. Yes Canal Shores is place you will find all of the above.
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Canal Shores GM Tom Grey.
Donations for Canal Shores are still needed. So to donate you can do so online at Canalshores.org/donate or mail a check to Canal Shores Golf Course 1030 Central Street, Evanston IL. 60201 or through your phone on Canal Shores QR code.
Learn more about Canal Shore and the Canal Shore project at CanalShores.org.