FROM THE EDITOR

With nearly 500 choices for municipal or daily fee golf courses in Illinois, there's plenty of public access to golf in the Land of Lincoln.

And, depending on where you live or visit, you can have access to golf as early as February. That warm spell felt in southern Illinois mid-February brought out golfers to the Hickory Ridge Public Golf Course in Carbondale. I called the clubhouse on February 14 and received a friendly invitation to head south for a round from Mike Curtis, former commissioner for the Carbondale Park District and retired teacher turned full-time outings coordinator.

Hickory Ridge is one of 132 premiere Illinois golf facilities in this year's edition of "On the Right Course"—IP&R 's annual listing of golf facilities owned and operated by IAPD-member park districts, forest preserves, recreation and natural resource agencies. We've added longer course descriptions and notable tournaments for 2002 as well as club managers and pros. The guide begins on page 39.

Junior golf is the focus of this golf issue. According to the National Golf Foundation, participation by juniors (ages 12 to 17) has increased 43 percent in the last 15 years. Learn from several pros how to keep young golfers returning to your course in the story by PHN Architects' writer Beth Bales, on page 26.

Woodridge Park District's management strategies—which include an ambitious junior golf program designed to "grow the game"—earned its course. Village Greens, designation as the "2001 Golf Course of the Year" by the Illinois Golf Course Owners Association. The district reaches out to women golfers, seniors and high school students as well. Find out how on page 33.

And, among the many golf dates on your calendar, mark July 12 for the IAPD/IPRA Legislative Awareness Day Golf Outing at Bensenville Park District's White Pines Golf Club.

ANN M. LONDRIGAN
Editor

4 Illinois Parks and Recreation

Illinois Parks and Recreation

(SSN 0019-2155) is published bimonthly at 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, Illinois, by the Illinois Associotion of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Annual subscription rates: $6 for IAPD/IPRA members; $25 for non-members; $30 foreign; $20 educational institutions. Single copies: $2 members; $5 nonmembers. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, Illinois. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL62701-1186. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the official views of the IAPD/IPRA. Likewise, the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or services offered. Members of the IAPD and the IPRA and other interested persons are encouraged to submit articles and illustrative photos for possible publication in the magazine. Send for manuscript guidelines and deadline dates: Editor, Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701 -1186, 217.523.4554, alondrigan@ILparks,org, www.ILparks.org

Copyright by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Pork and Recreation Association. All rights reserved. Reprints of articles in whole or in part without prior written permission are prohibited.

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4 Illinois Parks and Recreation