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SPECIAL FOCUS
18 Illinois Parks and Recreation S P E C I A L F O C U S
In the "old days," 40-year-old Joe Duffer would hit the
links at the country club with three male friends,
retiring afterwards to the "19th hole" for libations.
Today, the whole Duffer family heads to the park
district course. Joe proceeds to the expanded driving
range where he can practice an entire repertoire of shots,
while wife, Amy, and kids, Jake and Lexi, have lessons.
Then the family has a snack
in the clubhouse and the kids
relax for a bit in front of the
large-screen television.
Welcome to golf's new
world. More so-called
nontraditional golfers are
teeing off at the new "golf
learning centers."
According to the National
Golf Foundation (NGF), the
"typical" golfer is male, 40
years old, has a household income of $68,209 and plays
21.3 rounds a year. But the biggest increase in activity
in 1999 was in the "junior golfer" category—ages 12 to
17 who play at least one round in a year. Juniors shot
33.8 million rounds in '99, up nearly 15 percent over
'98, according to the foundation.
And women are joining the younger set on the
course. While women make up only 19 percent of the
country's 26.4 million golfers, females comprise 36
percent of all beginning golfers (1.16 million). And let's
not forget people age 50 or older who represent another
quarter of the golfing population. People with household incomes of less than $30,000 also are playing the
game in increasing numbers.
All those golfers need a place not only to play a round,
but also to take lessons, practice and learn the etiquette
of the game. Research from NGF shows women are
more apt to take lessons than men; both men and
women say they regularly work on their games at a golf
range or driving center.
Thus, more park districts
and forest preserves—and
private enterprises—are
adding "golf learning
centers." These centers
provide expanded facilities
for growing rosters of
players, plus offer more and
varied facilities and help
introduce novices to the
game. And with these extra
facilities, golf centers can boost the bottom line as well.
The name itself, "golf learning center," is a rather new
trend, as are some of the attractions being added to golf
courses, says Nicholas. But most centers have their
origin in the driving range of old. What's different these
March/April 2001 | 19
SPECIAL FOCUS
days is the scope of these newer ranges.
While the components of each center vary, virtually
all include an updated driving range that allows golfers
far more than the chance to practice their swing by
whacking a golf ball onto an open field. Most golf
centers now include bunkers, fairways and greens that
mimic actual course conditions. The centers permit
golfers to practice a variety of shots, from chipping to
putting to sand play. Some ranges in northerly climates
include enclosed, heated hitting stalls that allow year-round use. In geographic areas where extreme heat
exists, misters are installed.
Centers also permit park districts to offer lessons and
establish or expand programs for youths and other
beginners. The expanded facilities can generate
revenues, as well.
"There's a great effort to make the driving range of
yesterday more attractive, more interesting and more
available to a wider audience," Nicholas says.
"Golfers today really want to practice and improve
their game," says Ed Clift, executive director of the
Byron Forest Preserve District. Byron just completed its
golf practice facility, which will open in June, and
which joins the championship 18-hole Prairie View Golf
Course. Golf Digest magazine recently boosted
Prairie View's rating to four stars.
Clift cites statistics that show most golfers take 70
percent of their shots within 100 yards of the green.
"Where you really lower the score is where you're 100
yards in and you're putting," says Clift. "It's not when
you're driving."
To help golfers improve
their games, Clift says
golf course operators
need to create the kinds of
situations golfers will
experience on the course.
"They can practice those shots so that when they
encounter them on the golf course, golfers will know
how to handle these situations."
Byron's new facility includes a second putting green,
increasing the green by about 200 percent; a chipping
green and a pitching green with two bunkers, two sand
traps and a variety of elevations.
"You can practice from 40 yards in, with hilly lies,
flat, downhill and uphill lies. Just about anything you
can get on a golf course, we've got here," says Clift.
That breadth of available shots sets the new practice
ranges found in golf learning centers apart from the
driving ranges of old.
"Before, golfers were hitting to an open field," says
Clift. "Now they're hitting to a green and a pin so they
can judge exactly how they're really hitting that ball.
That makes it much more realistic to what they'll
experience on the golf course."
A number of other golf centers are now open or are
under construction. The Deerfield Park District will
begin a $500,000 project this spring at its Deerfield
Golf Club. The new driving range will include 25 to
30 hitting stations, plus six graded greens of varying
elevations, plus a chipping course. District officials will
be able to close the range and have a "mini course" of
20 Illinois Parks and Recreation
GOLF CENTERS LURE KIDS, WOMEN AND ENTIRE FAMILIES
six shortened holes for youth programs.
"The significant thing we've been lacking is a driving
range," says Linda Gryziecki, director of parks and
recreation for the Deerfield Park District.
"The new center will allow Deerfield to offer a well-balanced facility, plus establish youth and teaching
programs. Right now we have no pro on staff, nor do
we offer lessons. We'll be hiring a pro and establishing a
lesson program."
The Peoria Park District's Golf Learning Center &
Academy—which opened in June of 1999—features
both indoor and outdoor practice facilities, including an
indoor putting green; nine indoor hitting nets; a 9-hole
USGA-specification pitch-and-putt course; and a
21,000-square-foot putting and chipping green with
practice sand bunkers and fairways. The driving range
has six outdoor, covered and heated hitting stations—
for use in all weather—with re-created hole layouts,
which allow players to actually place shots instead of
having to imagine them.
"We had five golf courses, but we had only a small
driving range we'd outgrown," says superintendent of
golf Bill Woolard.
"There really wasn't a facility in our area where golfers
could practice every facet of the game. Now, instead of
hitting a ball onto a field, golfers can visualize the
fairways and can tell where their shots went."
"From a golfer's standpoint, that's pretty important."
The Oak Lawn Park District's Stony Creek Golf
Courses new clubhouse, now under construction, will
include simulators, computerized golfing machines to
let golfers practice their shots in any season or weather.
The simulators include a large screen into which golfers
physically hit their shot.
"The computer tracks your swing and estimated
velocity and will portray that on the screen," says Joel
Craig, superintendent of parks.
"It appears you're actually playing a course. Golfers
can select different clubs—putter, irons or woods—
depending on the course. It's kind of a virtual experience."
The Channahon Park Districts Heritage Bluffs Public
Golf Course has a "traditional concept" driving range
with a defined bent grass fairway, target and putting
greens, a chipping green with a sand bunker and
fairway bunkers.
"The concept was to let golfers practice every shot at
the practice facility that they'll experience on our golf
course," says director Chuck Szoke.
Some districts also are adding nearby entertainment
complexes. The Libertyville Parks and Recreation
Department's new golf center, for example, will include
80 tees—half grass and half automated—in an indoor,
heated facility open on one side. It also features a short-game area that includes putting greens and sand traps
adjacent to an area for private lessons. The clubhouse
New centers and short courses offer something highly prized these days: time. Time to
pursue a hobby and still have hours left for
other pursuits.
"People are stretched for time," says Daniel
Nicholas, principal at PHN Architects. "They're
cramming more 'stuff' into each day and trying to maximize each
minute. Golf, at four-and-a-half or five hours a round, is a significant
time commitment, especially when you're juggling family, work and
other interests.
"Golfers would like to continue participating in this sport without
having to carve out four or more hours of their day."
Indeed, most of the learning centers or driving ranges being added
to park and forest preserve district courses include facilities that will
allow practice or play in shorter time spans. They offer hitting stations
with greens of varying elevations, chipping courses, putting greens,
practice sand bunkers and fairways, simulators and short courses.
In developing the districts nine-hole pitch and putt course, Peoria
had in mind the working person—off to work at 8 a.m. or earlier—
and his or her ability to zip in at noon and get in nine holes or shoot a
bucket of balls.
"They can work on their short game, which is the important part of
their game," says Bill Woolard, superintendent of golf for the Peoria
Park District.
Woolard says the short-course concept is really nothing new.
"Europeans have had these courses for years," he says. "They're
gaining momentum here mainly because of the restriction of time
people have to give to a round of golf.
"Playing 18 holes can take anywhere from three-and-a-half to five-and-a-half hours. You dedicate a Saturday morning. If you tee off at 7
a.m., chances are you're not going to get home before noon."
"The 9-hole pitch-and-putt, on the other hand, takes about 45
minutes for a single. The short course holes range from 40 to 100
yards, much less than the range found on the 18-hole course. You can
take your wedge and your putter and that's all you need."
Money also can be an issue. Playing a short course, practicing at the
driving range or trying out shots on a golf simulator invariably is far
less expensive than playing a traditional round of golf. In Peoria, for
example, a round at the 9-hole short course costs $5 and $12.25 for
18 holes. Woolard cautions that golf in central Illinois "is very
reasonably priced." A round in the Chicago suburbs can cost $90 or
more for 18 holes during prime time.
According to the National Golf Foundation, the media cost of a
weekend round of golf at an 18-hole municipal courses in the
United States is $30, including cart and green fee. The average 18-
hole daily fee golf course records 30,000 rounds per year, employs a
total of 12 full-time employees and brings in about $892,000 in total
revenues. Nine-hole courses average 17,000 rounds, have four
employees and enjoy total annual revenues of $182,000. •
- Beth Bales
March/April 2001 | 21
SPECIAL FOCUS
will include a pro shop and concession area.
An interior road will connect the golf center to a
Family Fun Center, which will feature 27 holes of
miniature golf, batting cages and clubhouse with video
arcade and party rooms, as well as to a separate 160,000-square-foot indoor sports center.
Director of parks and recreation Randy Reopelle
estimated that potentially 40 to 50 percent of the people
who will come to the new Libertyville range are not
traditional golfers, but will be attracted to the new
automatic tees.
"They just like to hit a bucket of balls," says Reopelle.
"With the installation of the automatic tees, we're
catering to that market, which is relatively untapped in
this area."
Another reason to add golf centers is the desire to
introduce more people to golf in a learning atmosphere,
instead of on an actual golf course, which many people
find intimidating, say several park district directors.
"This can be a first stop, a first experience," adds
Szoke.
According to Szoke, people who are more unfamiliar
with the game might be too intimidated to jump right
on the course.
"This is a good opportunity to become introduced to
the game. Hopefully, they'll take lessons and then take
the next step onto the course."
About the decision to construct Peoria's Golf
Learning Center & Academy, Woolard says: "We saw
the growth in the game, not only nationally but also
locally."
"We saw a lot of juniors coming in and lots more
family activity. We figured somebody had to teach these
people to play golf and make customers out of them."
In many cases the expanded facilities bring in more
players. For example, after expanding its clubhouse
(including adding a junior area with a large-screen
television, eating areas and 60-bag storage area), the
Byron Forest Preserve District saw its junior program
expand dramatically. Since opening its center 18
months ago, Peoria has seen its lesson program nearly
double.
Says Woolard: "It's becoming what we wanted it to—
a place for camaraderie, a meeting place for seniors and
other golfers who, especially in winter, can come in and
talk about last year's game while they're having a
sandwich.
"Peoria even has an inexpensive lunch deal that
includes a sandwich, chips and a drink and a bucket of
balls. It's very popular."
Woolard has noticed an increase in the
number of fathers and children coming
together on a Friday night or Saturday
afternoon to the learning center.
"We'll see the whole family coming out and
hitting golf balls. It's really kind of neat," he
says. "That was one of the selling points (to
going ahead with the expansion). "We were
looking to expand golf as a family sport."
Learning centers also fulfill another,
extremely important objective of park
districts: to educate and provide recreation.
"The reason park districts are in existence is
to provide recreational facilities and opportunities," says Nicholas. "Districts develop these
centers to provide a true learning experience."
Adds Szoke: "As a public golf facility, our
lesson program and anything else we do to
introduce people to the game is part of our
mission, part of our aim. Making money is
nice, but we're also striving to help (golfers)
become more proficient at the sport. We want to help
them enjoy the game." •
BETH BALES
22 | Illinois Parks and Recreation |
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