"Year after unveiling, what’s latest on Tiger Woods’ Chicago golf project?"

Not much, appears to be the answer from Teddy Greenstein.

In this Chicago Tribune update, Greenstein speaks to developer Mike Keiser, a consultant and donor for the rebuilding of two rundown muni's into a Tiger Woods redesign complimenting the Obama Presidential Libary.

While Keiser blames bureacrats and red tape, the ambitious design sounds like the main culprit.

But as Keiser knows, building a golf course on the South Side is way more complicated than doing it in rural Wisconsin. Here’s why:

•This isn’t merely adding a course. Golfers loyal to the Jackson Park and South Shore courses fear something will be taken from them. Or made more expensive.

•The construction of an underpass at 67th Street to link the properties could cost around $25 million. Other expensive roadwork needs to be done so golfers no longer have to dodge cars between holes. And the shoreline might have to be fortified.

•Some residents are wary of traffic issues during construction and the relocation of a nature sanctuary.

Comments

[Tom]

I've played more rounds on Jackson Park than any other course. Always thought it was a hidden gem with several short but elegant holes, and quite a few remarkable greens. South Shore is OK, but the lakeside setting is more impressive than the course.

It's hard for me to believe anything will really get done on this project. The course are too much of an institution, and the south siders are justifiably wary of the socieconomic implications of the proposal.

[Chicago Parks Golf Alliance]

Regarding "golfers loyal to the Jackson Park and South Shore courses," the Chicago Tribune previously published a letter of support from Jackson Park Golf Association (JPGA), a coalition representing 500 longtime golfers.
(http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/ct-letters-jackson-park-golf-course-20171018-story.html)
"JPGA is confident in the Park District’s pledge to keep rates below $50 for Chicago residents. Providing free golf for juniors will also continue and that proposed pricing is acceptable to our golfers. Many of us often choose to play suburban courses at higher rates due to the deteriorating and unchallenging conditions of Jackson Park and South Shore. We appreciate and demand quality and would gladly accept a modest price increase for a world-class golf experience closer to home."

Additional information on the fervent participation of the local golf community is available at (https://chicagoparksgolfalliance.org/updates/2017/12/jackson-park-golf-association-symposium-recap-video-highlights/).


As Teddy Greenstein concluded, "These things take time." We are confident for the long term, in both Tiger Woods' design vision and potential for this project to spur positive results far beyond the game of golf.

[D. maculata]

Ambitious is the right word. Just because Keiser is ready to lend his wisdom and donate money, doesn't mean he's lost his sense of smell. When he said "It's in bureaucrat land or political land" it's a polite way of saying the financial pecking order hasn't been resolved yet.

http://thesecretsix.com/2017/09/20/chicago-ranks-worst-for-financial-disclosure-requirements-among-major-cities/

The project has noble intentions; a caddie program, mentoring and the potential for a college scholarship. Free golf for juniors is no small thing, provided the window of opportunity to access the course doesn't take on the size of a mail slot. The promise to keep the current 18-hole walking rate of $20-$33 for residents less than $50, wouldn't technically be a lie if it were $49.99. But for the residents that can't afford to drop an extra $25 on golf, having world-class conditions becomes meaningless.

[FC]

Throw in a coffee and donut for the $49.99.

[MJR]

Gracious, people. Of course, being Chicago, we can rest assured that there is no corruption or graft with this project. Everything is on the level...Just working out the details of this "association" or that...

Jackson Park is a goat ranch, but a cheap one. It is in a marginal neighborhood (near a horrifically bad one), but there are clearly people getting value out of it. Yes, some people get robbed on the course, but all part of that South Side charm...

Money does not magically appear for a caddy program, better grounds, more maintenance, etc while folks barely pay half the cost for the upgrade. Do we seriously think we can build a "Section 8" golf course?

Are we going to let the Chicago Park District maintain the grounds? They do a bang up job with Soldier Field, if you like chunks of turf coming up every game, and borderline unsafe conditions throughout the year.

You want to gentrify Jackson Park, that is fine. Just do not kid yourself that the regular players will get a chance to be in the area code of that new complex.

[Sari]

MJR, you may well be right, but weren’t they saying the same thing about East Lake back in the day?

[Sidvicius]

grew up near the area .
Waste of time and money.
You think riding on the back of the Obama library is going to cut it , your wrong .

[Jeff Tackleford]

Chicago is a corrupt dump, spend the money elsewhere. Maybe use it to grow the game in North Korea or some other more worthwhile place.

[KLG]

Sari: East Lake is now just one more super-exclusive club that Atlanta didn't need. Yes, it's a nice golf course. The clubhouse looks like it did when Bob Jones was still alive. The Charlie Yates complex across the street is useful, as far as First Tee things go. But what if Tom Cousins had revived it for the community as a public, affordable daily fee destination? That would be something to talk about. I have a friend who used to sneak out to Jackson Park in the afternoon when he was a graduate student in Hyde Park. That's how it should stay? With better grass.

[CRC]

As a member of the Jackson Park Golf Association (JPGA)I have played this course for many years. Although it is in fairly good shape, it needs to be upgraded. A PGA level course is just what the Jackson Park/South Shore area needs. This restoration project could prove to be an economic engine for the community, so the project is definitely not a waste of time or money. The south side needs this kind of boost. However, let's be very clear, the price for the locals will have to be $50 or less for this project to be a huge success and the developers have promised to make that happen at the various community engagement meetings that have been held. In addition, kids from neighboring high schools would have a world class playing and practice facility which would meet the criteria for junior golf. Currently, students from Mt Carmel HS (which is 2 blocks away) have travel to the far south suburb of Glenwood to play and practice!!! How ridiculous it that when they could literally walk to Jackson Park. I say let the restoration process BEGIN!!

[Sidvicius]

Mt. Carmel is a private school for one and you could have made a deal with Harbor side .
Or Marquette park has a nice 9 hole.
But I agree that what's there now should be brought up to a better standard.
Chicago doesn't need a PGA course.