A year after it was announced that Tiger Woods would design a golf course on the South Side of Chicago, the project has been put on hold. That’s at least according to one of the designers involved in the project, Mike Keiser.
Keiser, who has designed Sand Valley in Wisconsin as well as Bandon Dunes, told the Chicago Tribune that, while he has pledged to donate time and money to the project, its progress remains stagnant.
“We’re all sort of on hold, waiting for some electricity,” Keiser said. “It’s in bureaucrat land or politician land. … Bureaucracy and red tape in Wisconsin is non-existent. They say, ‘Build all the golf you want; it’s great for tourism.'”
The project, which plans to overhaul the area currently occupied by the Jackson Park and South Shore courses, fell under the purview of the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance.
The Tribune notes that one of the biggest delays is the construction of the Obama Presidential Center, set to open in 2021. The center is located near where the golf course will be and, as a result, has been put on a different timeline.
Plans for the proposed par-70 layout include a caddie program that would offer mentorship options and an estimated $300 greens fee for out-of-town players.
Woods was included on the project at the request of President Barack Obama and with the approval of Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel.
On a personal note, this will be my final posting for LINKS Magazine Digital. I have been writing for LINKS for a year now and loved every minute of it. I have enjoyed getting to share my passion for this great game of golf with you and hope that you have enjoyed the journey with me. It has taken me to many tournaments and afforded me the ability to meet incredible people both inside and outside the ropes.
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