Tiger Woods-designed golf course gets update after community concerns

The design firm revised plans after community concerns

By Sara Freund Feb 2, 2018, 1:53pm CST

A new plan for the South Shore and Jackson Park golf courses was presented by the Chicago Parks District and Tiger Woods’ design firm on Wednesday night at the South Shore Cultural Center.

While the city appears to want a tournament-quality golf course, residents aren’t on board, according to South Side community groups.

What was originally proposed was a plan combine the Jackson Park and South Shore golf courses into an 18-hole and shorter 6-hole course geared towards families. Following feedback after a meeting in June, TGR Design altered its design.

The new framework presented includes more walking trails and natural areas, changes the course configuration, and relocates the driving range and pavilion, according to the presentation.

However, some residents think the plan will fragment the South Shore Nature Sanctuary. Others are opposed to the elimination of park recreation fields, the closure Marquette Road and the creation of several underpasses for traffic.

Michael Kelly, Park District general superintendent and CEO, was hoping to complete the golf course design in 2020 just before the Obama Presidential Center opening in 2021, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Although at Wednesday’s meeting, he didn’t specify a timeline or complete financial details for the project. It’s estimated that the new course would cost $30 million and infrastructure updates would add another $30 million on top of that, the Tribune said.

Kelly said that he wanted to start 2018 off with public meetings so residents could learn more and give feedback, the Tribune reported.