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Tiger Woods’ Chicago golf course could be incredible

Published

8 years ago

on

While public meetings for the proposed Tiger Woods golf course at Jackson Park have seen community blowback, and there are other issues well-wired Chicagoans would be better equipped to enumerate that could keep this course from being built, it’s a heckuva course.

At least, it looks like it could be a heckuva course on paper.

Tiger Woods and team revealed plans for combining the existing Jackson Park Golf Course and South Shore Golf Course into a new design aimed at hosting a PGA Tour event—while remaining playable for the masses.

tiger-woods-chicago-routing

Beau Welling, senior design consultant at TGR Design, said with the proposed 7,354-yard, par-70 track the firm believes in “catering the golf experience to a wide swath of people — juniors, elderly, avid players, not-so-avid players. One of Tiger’s tenets is playability. How can we bring more people out to the golf course and allow them to have fun?” (per the Chicago Tribune)

The proposed design features six sets of tees and no cart paths (to emphasize walking and the associated caddie program) at a parkland-style course.

As Golf.com’s Joe Passov rightly points out, Woods’ designs at Diamante’s El Cardonal and Bluejack National offer fun and playability for junior and average golfers as well as a top-tier experience from the tips.

“I don’t want people to lose a dozen balls when they play our courses,” Woods told Passov. “Pinehurst is a great example of a course that’s tough for us (pros), but playable for everybody else. It gets players thinking, with options around the greens. We want lots of variety.”

Looking at the proposed design, that principle becomes apparent from the wide fairways.

“Width makes it way more playable, keeps speed of play flowing. And it’s more fun. Who wants to lose a golf ball? (Wider fairways) allows us to create hazards and bunkering to get that better player to have a make a decision off the tee. Tiger is an analytical guy. He wants to get people using their brain,” Beau Welling said.

The water-facing holes will feature both tremendous views of Lake Michigan and a more exposed, links-style feel (and challenge). And speaking of views, beautiful panoramas of the Windy City’s skyline would also be a component of the course.

tiger-woods-chicago-golf-course

Passov is particularly excited by holes 12-14 at what he calls potentially “the greatest urban golf course in America.”

“Notably, holes 12 through 14 will captivate. The par-3 12th will serve up a spectacular peninsula green, jutting into the lake and placing a premium on club selection and trajectory. The par-4 13th will play 362 yards, but if a professional event happens to come along—as anticipated—a back tee can stretch the hole to 543 yards and players would swat tee shots over a public-access beach and into the fairway.”

Could Passov be right? The legacy of urban golf courses pales in comparison to the “more money, space, and topographical variety” reality of tracks further from population centers, so the competition isn’t the stiffest. But before we can evaluate such a claim, the course has to be built, which is anything but a certainty at this point.

However, you’d assume with President Obama’s involvement and the fact that the design will abut his Presidential Center and Woods’ guiding hand, it’s more likely than not the still unnamed South Shore track will indeed be routed.

Location, ambition, and the players involved in this design make it one of the more intriguing new course ventures in recent years, and we’ll certainly be keeping an eye on development.

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Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

39 Comments

39 Comments

  1. Biff

    Nov 5, 2017 at 11:41 pm

    With all the troubles in the south side of Chicago , Chicago as a whole , and the state of Illinois this is a disgrace and waste of money . It’s simply an Obama ego project next to his library . What a fraud . Just south of this location is harbor side international , a 27 hole public links course , nice course … they can’t even come close to filling the tee time slots there, and it’s starting to deteriorate due to lack of play and funds.
    What a fraud , why not apply those 50 million dollars to build an educational facility for the people without the financial resources , a technical school or better. This course will be used 4 months out of the year a total waste .. I’ve played gold and lived in Chicago for 30 years we don’t need this course . Put your money, clout where your mouth is and do something for the people of these neighborhoods .

    Reply Report comment

  2. Alex

    Jun 28, 2017 at 11:55 am

    So grafting a public access beach into the golf course? How do the taxpayers feel about that? Graft and pull are the Chicago way I guess. No wonder they are financially and ethically bankrupt.

    Reply Report comment

  3. Mat

    Jun 27, 2017 at 6:16 am

    Given the current Eldrick issues, I actually think this will be his future in the sport. I also think he could do the most good that way, as well. Kia kaha, Tiger.

    Reply Report comment

    • Alex

      Jun 28, 2017 at 11:57 am

      Professional armwaver? Beau Welling is the one who works for a living in this arrangement.

      Reply Report comment

  4. U

    Jun 27, 2017 at 2:42 am

    Didn’t Obama ask Eldrick to do this? So where is Obama’s money? I guess he don’t wanna be caught by the taxman by letting them in on how he embezzled millions from the American people for doing nothing to help the economy but line his own pockets

    Reply Report comment

  5. Duk Koo Kim

    Jun 26, 2017 at 10:30 pm

    And hopefully there will be 19th hole drivers to get you home safe after getting tanked! Or zonked on sleep meds. Either way, you’re gonna need access to an app to get you back to da “hoe-tell!”

    Reply Report comment

  6. tazz2293

    Jun 26, 2017 at 10:09 pm

    Is Eldrick’s new course gonna have curbs so that when you drive off the fairway you end up halfway in the bike lane, I mean 1st cut and fairway?

    Reply Report comment

  7. Chuck

    Jun 26, 2017 at 8:57 pm

    Who has played Jackson Park? I have.

    Who has played the old South Shore? I have not.

    Seeing what happened with Harding Park, there is potential here. One thing about Jackson Park is that it is a real park, like Lincoln Park in San Francisco. Or like St. Andrews. People can walk all over. And I actually like that. It isn’t easy to pull this off. The East Lake (Atlanta) rebirth, with many historical advantages, was not easy.

    I hope that there is a serious golf course architect on this project. I wonder who would agree to work on it, with all of the credit going undeservedly to Tiger.

    Reply Report comment

    • George

      Jun 27, 2017 at 3:57 pm

      to answer your question I play both all the time.

      Reply Report comment

      • Chuck

        Jun 28, 2017 at 9:08 pm

        First, I clicked “Report comment” on you by mistake and PLEASE do not delete George’s inoffensive comment! My sincere, abject apologies all around.

        Second; George, what do you think about this, since you are a regular at Jackson Park? Would you be disappointed? It would be a big change. Your course totally re-done; no longer a simple little muni. A much bigger, much more expensive course that might be taken out of use for a full month of your already-short golf season every year if they host a regular Tour event…?

        Reply Report comment

  8. mo

    Jun 26, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    Far flung idea. But perhaps Tiger can subdue the gun fights in that proposed area? Players will require fire arms for protection. Let’s not forget that he’s dealing with the murder capitol of the world.

    Reply Report comment

  9. Jack Nash

    Jun 26, 2017 at 4:03 pm

    “Could be incredible”. Then again, maybe not.

    Reply Report comment

    • H8R

      Jun 26, 2017 at 8:10 pm

      First winter freeze and it will be a forgotten memory

      Reply Report comment

      • Alerrrrr

        Jun 27, 2017 at 10:54 am

        Yeah because good golf courses don’t hold up in Chicago weather (Olympia Fields, Cog Hill, Butler National, Chicago Golf Club)

        Reply Report comment

        • mike

          Jun 27, 2017 at 12:16 pm

          you forgot Medinah, Beverly, Conway Farms, Shore Acres, Knollwood etc etc etc

          Reply Report comment

          • E

            Jun 28, 2017 at 11:28 am

            Those are all high-end, expensive, if not, private courses, not a muni in the hood

            Reply Report comment

            • setter02

              Jun 28, 2017 at 6:37 pm

              So you’re saying he’s doing to be a part of a facility with $35 green fees and a sub $500k turf budget…?

              Reply Report comment

  10. Jack

    Jun 26, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    Between Rahm in Chicago and the Illinois state legislature, there is little taxpayer money left in the state to be wasted or stolen. That won’t stop them from trying, however.

    Reply Report comment

    • JThunder

      Jun 27, 2017 at 1:02 am

      Thanks goodness all is well at the federal level! No corruption there!

      Reply Report comment

  11. Southsider

    Jun 26, 2017 at 1:18 pm

    I will tell you one thing, you will need to carry a weapon to get all the way to the driving range and back unscathed.

    Reply Report comment

    • George

      Jun 27, 2017 at 3:59 pm

      do you play golf in these parts of town? Or have you played? if so did you feel threatened at any point?

      Reply Report comment

      • Chuck

        Jun 28, 2017 at 9:13 pm

        I played Jackson Park several times and I just flat out enjoyed it. Never felt threatened. Met some fascinating people. Half are neighborhood guys, older, who love a good game. The other half were University of Chicago people, from all over the world. Europe, California, New York, etc., etc.

        Reply Report comment

  12. Not Bubba

    Jun 26, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    It’s funded by mostly private funds. The taxpayer portion will be for the surrounding infrastructure.

    Reply Report comment

    • George

      Jun 27, 2017 at 4:03 pm

      if you dont live in chicago dont worry about it. It is not your problem.

      Reply Report comment

      • Amused by Bubba

        Jun 28, 2017 at 4:35 am

        I’d say you have probably more problems than those two you have listed…but who’s counting? I don’t know whether your comments are serious or not but they keep me entertained. Keep ’em coming Bubba.

        Reply Report comment

  13. LaCa

    Jun 26, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    What the heck is Edlrick doing in Chicago? Where does his hate for his hometown of L.A. and Orange County, CA come from? Bad childhood memories? He should put his hand in fixing some of courses like this around the L.A. area that he grew up playing. Chicago gets to play golf for only a part of the year. L.A. is year-round, and can sustain the urban courses like this. If he put his hand on a course in L.A., it would be the best course ever. So why doesn’t he do it in L.A. and help fix some?

    Reply Report comment

    • Ward Wayne

      Jun 26, 2017 at 12:33 pm

      1: “What the heck is Eldrick doing in Chicago?”
      That is where the job is located.

      2: “Where does his hate for his hometown of L.A. and Orange County, CA come from?”
      It looks like it is coming from you!

      3:”So why doesn’t he do it in L.A. and help fix some?”
      L.A. didn’t ask.

      Reply Report comment

    • Sully

      Jun 26, 2017 at 12:48 pm

      The rumor is that the Navy course in Cypress, CA treated Tiger’s dad so poorly that Tiger doesn’t want to be associated with them in any way. The course is now open to the the public and I played there quite a bit when I lived in OC, there is barely any mention that this is where the greatest player ever learned the game. You would think there would be a statue or something out front when you pull up but there wasnt much that I saw.

      Reply Report comment

      • Bert

        Jul 5, 2017 at 8:31 am

        I think the correct word you used is “rumor”. I doubt nay of the stories “rumors” about Tiger, or his Dad have any factual base. The truth lies in the example produced.

        Reply Report comment

  14. Dat

    Jun 26, 2017 at 11:08 am

    I don’t care who’s name is on the course, it would be a huge success in Chi town.

    Reply Report comment

  15. ooffa

    Jun 26, 2017 at 10:30 am

    It will also have a large golf bag pickup and drop off area for speedy WD’s

    Reply Report comment

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