Chicago area course embarks on ambitious renovation project

The Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association has announced an ambitious capital campaign to fund a multi-year transformation project at Canal Shores, an 18-hole short course that straddles the communities of Evanston and Wilmette near Chicago, Ill. The capital campaign, termed Canal Shores 100 to honor the course’s 100th Anniversary in 2019, will raise funds to give the historic course significant upgrades that will lead the property on a successful path for the future.

Opened in 1919 as Evanston Community Golf Club, Canal Shores has a storied history as an important and much-utilized community amenity for golfers and non-golfers alike. The course, which routes on both sides of the North Shore Channel Canal and winds its way through residential communities and the famous Chicago “L” train tracks, remains a recreational hub for the community with walking paths throughout the urban layout. The Canal Shores 100 project aims to capitalize on the unique nature of the property while enhancing its presence as a great place to learn the game of golf.  

The Master Plan for Canal Shores, will give the course four distinct areas of focus and 41 total holes, including:
-- The Kids Links 5-hole short course and youth practice facility;
-- The Rolling Green 18-hole putting course;
-- The Back Lot 6-hole par 3 course that doubles as multi-directional practice facility;
-- The Jans Course 12-hole golf course which will pay homage to Chicago’s Golden Age of Golf Architecture.

The versatile and innovative layout will give Canal Shores the ability to attract new segments of golfers at all levels of experience.

“We believe the renovation of Canal Shores will lead to environmental and economic sustainability,” said project visionary Jason Way. “The multi-use facility will encourage golfers of all levels to experience this hub in the community in their own way.”   

In addition to serving the community with a multi-use recreational facility, the renovation of Canal Shores will serve to demonstrate best practices in environmental sustainability by maintaining, nurturing and enhancing ecological health and natural habitat of land along the waterway of the North Shore Channel.

Fundraising efforts got off to a strong start as Canal Shores was the first recipient of a partnership grant from the United States Golf Association and the American Society of Golf Course Architects that gives public golf courses the opportunity to improve the design and maintenance of their facilities. The project has drawn the attention of others in the local and national golf industry, including:
-- Northwestern University Director of Golf Pat Goss, who hopes to use the facility for the Northwestern Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams;
-- PGA TOUR Pro Luke Donald, a Northwestern Alum and long-time Goss student, who practiced at Canal Shores in his college days and who will be a design consultant;
-- Renowned golf course architect Dave Zinkand, who will be the project lead, as well as architects Drew Rogers (Consultant) and Todd Quitno (Project Manager);
-- The First Tee of Greater Chicago, which may use the facility as a home site for youth programming;
-- Wadsworth Construction, which has committed $200,000 from its foundation to support the renovation;
-- KemperSports, Chicago-based golf course management firm that is consulting on the project.