I spoke with dozens of golf loving professionals and board members this past snowstorm driven crazy January to develop the signature hole story (page 27).
And the golfers, nestled all snug (i.e., cooped up) in their offices, you could hear their smiles over the telephone lines when asked to talk about the most memorable hole they've ever played. They seemed transported to those very greens, calculating the shot, hitting the ball, counting the strokes.
Well, it won't be long now before golf courses in Illinois open to the public. And all topography knocks aside, this part of America's heartland has a reputation for great golf courses. Rockford, for example, was named by Golf Digest in July '98 as the best golf city (of medium size) in the nation.
Beautiful, challenging, and highly ranked courses abound here. And with them come opportunities for competitive sport, weekend fun and quality golf instruction.
New on the scene in 1999 are Zion Park Districts Shepherd's Crook golf course, designed by Keith Foster; the Peoria Park District's Golf Peoria Learning Center and Academy, offering the entire family a year round golf experience; and the Lake County Forest Preserve's Thunder Hawk Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., expected to be a regional championship course and an Audubon International Signature Course.
See the Public Golf Guide '99 on pages 41-44 for a listing of more than 100 public courses with ratings and contact information.
Thanks to all we pestered and all who contributed to this issue, especially Ken Ledene, PGA professional with the Byron Forest Preserve Districts Prairieview Golf Course. He helped design our course featuring signature holes from 18 premier courses.
Ledene says that todays golfers are willing to travel for variety and challenge. They want to play courses played by tour players and designed by well known architects.
Golfers today (or in about a month or two) will find all that and more at our park districts, forest preserves, conservancy districts and recreation agencies.
ANN LONDRIGAN
Editor
4 Illinois Parks and Recreation