28 TEE BOX Todd Quitno will begin a renovation project at Canal Shores Golf Course near Chicago, Illinois, in June. The project is part of the public facility’s efforts to improve youth development in the community. The initiative is a collaboration between Canal Shores, Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association (EWGCA), KemperSports, Western Golf Association (WGA), First Tee – Greater Chicago, Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation, Chicago District Golf Association, and other key donors. Quitno’s masterplan will see the current first hole converted into a Himalayas-style putting green, with the second playing as the new opener. “The first – as it exists today – will be removed from the routing and become the new half-acre putting lawn,” said Quitno. “To compensate for this loss, we have made a three-hole routing change at the north end of the property, where existing holes six and seven will now play as five, six, seven, but in a clockwise fashion. The impetus for this change is multifold: first, to replace hole one which was taken away from the clubhouse area; second, to create three exciting and dynamic new holes which include a Punchbowl, putting hole and Redan; and third, to open some amazing views of Baha’i Temple, Wilmette Harbor and even a peak of Lake Michigan. “On select days when youth programming requires extra space, the proposed first hole will also be used for practice, taking it out of the eighteenhole rotation and moving the round’s start across the street. On those days, ‘hole 17.5’, which is otherwise a bonus hole, will then be added to the lineup to complete the 18. The green here occupies the location of the original seventeenth but doubled in size. A newly excavated wetland area will be added between tee and green to serve as both a stormwater storage area and a buffer for the existing wetland found immediately to the east. “Having these extra holes and flexibility in the routing allows the opportunity to maximise the limited space that we have for youth golf development and caddie training, which is the impetus and the inspiration for completing this exciting project!” Canal Shores focuses on youth development and environment Images: Quitno Golf Designs A 70-yard ‘putting-only’ hole at Canal Shores will play directly towards the Baha’i Temple
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