mkwalsh

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Canal Shores Announces $100,000 Gift from the Wirth Family and Dedication of the Don Wirth Hiking Trail

Evanston, IL – February 14, 2025 – Canal Shores is honored to announce a generous $100,000 donation from the family of Don Wirth, a beloved figure in Evanston’s parks and recreation community. In recognition of his legacy and enduring contributions, the newly completed hiking trail along the canal will be named The Don Wirth Hiking Trail at Canal Shores.

For over 20 years, Don Wirth served as the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry for Evanston while also dedicating his time as a board member at Canal Shores. His passion for open spaces, environmental stewardship, and community engagement left a lasting impact, making this dedication a fitting tribute. The newly completed three-mile loop, built by the Lumberjacks, spans both sides of the canal along the entire length of the golf course, providing a scenic and accessible outdoor space for the community.

“This generous gift from the Wirth family allows us to continue our mission of preserving and enhancing Canal Shores as a space for recreation, nature, and community engagement,” said Board President Matt Rooney. “Naming this trail in Don’s honor is a meaningful way to celebrate his lifelong commitment to Evanston and its outdoor spaces.”

The Lumberjacks, a dedicated volunteer group, played a pivotal role in building the trail, ensuring it blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Chris Broch, Ecology Chair at Canal Shores, added, “The completion of this trail embodies Don’s vision for accessible and well-maintained outdoor spaces. It’s a testament to what community-driven efforts can accomplish.”

Beyond honoring Don Wirth’s legacy, this donation will also support ongoing ecological initiatives at The Evans at Canal Shores. Megan Hart, Ecology Coordinator at Canal Shores, noted, “This contribution will help us further our ecological restoration efforts, fostering increased native plant and animal diversity and maintaining the natural beauty of the course for future generations.”

Speaking on behalf of the Wirth family, Shelly Wirth Williams shared, “We are incredibly proud of everything our father did for Evanston and Canal Shores. Supporting the ecology program and having this trail dedicated in his name is a perfect way to continue his legacy. He would have loved to see how this space is bringing people together.”

Don Wirth’s impact on Evanston extends beyond Canal Shores, as he played a vital role in numerous projects that enhanced parks, recreational spaces, and community engagement across the city​. He was also a fierce advocate for protecting the urban tree canopy. 

A formal dedication ceremony for The Don Wirth Hiking Trail at Canal Shores will be announced soon.

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About The Evans at Canal Shores

Nestled along the scenic North Shore Channel, The Evans at Canal Shores offers a unique golfing experience steeped in history and charm. Originally opened in 1919, this beloved course is a gem for golfers of all skill levels, blending natural beauty with a challenging, yet accessible layout. With its meandering fairways, towering trees, and serene water features, The Evans is more than just a round of golf—it’s a peaceful retreat just minutes from downtown Chicago.

Recent renovations have enhanced the course while preserving its classic appeal. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer to the game, The Evans provides a welcoming environment, community-driven atmosphere, and a rich legacy tied to the area’s golfing tradition.

The Evans at Canal Shores is committed to fostering an environment that focuses on the core pillars of Golf, Ecology, Youth Development and Community.  KemperSports proudly manages The Evans at Canal Shores – bringing more than 40 years of industry knowledge and proven track record in golf course management, agronomy and marketing to this historic community gem.

Media Contact:

Ellen DePodesta
Email: edepodesta@gmail.com
Phone: 312-550-2454

The Evans at Canal Shores Progress Update

Volume 1

July 25, 2024

This is Chris Charnas Vice President of Golf for The Evans at Canal Shores – If you’re a baseball fan your 4 favorite words are “Pitchers and Catchers Report”. If you are a golf fan your 4 favorite words are “Tee Times are Available”. 12 months after we started construction on the renovation of what was then Canal Shores Golf Course  I am excited to announce that we are opening 12 holes for Preview Play on August 1, 2024 of The Evans at Canal Shores.

If you want to get out and play here is the link to our new Evans Course Website and our Tee Time Reservation system. https://www.canalshores.org/

The first 12 holes feature: #7 the 65 yard putting hole, #4 with the cross canal tee shot, # 8 with the Rodan green, #11 with the Biarritz green and a host of other fun features. Be sure to check out our new tee posts, directional signs and fencing and stop by the pro shop to be one of the first people to wear our new Owl logoed items. We plan to open our newly refurbished patio for limited Food and Beverage Friday and Saturday nights starting August 9th.

Having raised over $5.9 million – oh yeah we reached our goal last week! and completed construction and growing  in  the course in just over 12 months – the list of people to thank is almost endless. This is  just a start, we will formally thank everyone at the Grand Opening next Spring,  but I would be remiss if i did not thank the following individuals and entities for getting us to this point in the project.

Josh Lesnik – for his incredible vision, unwavering support and unmatched network – without Josh this project does not happen.

John Kaczkowski and the Western Golf Association  – for his trust in the Canal Shores Board to turn this dream into a reality.

Lea Jesse and the First Tee – for their commitment to this project and their mission to teach golf to kids

Eric Wadsworth and Doug Myslinski and the whole  Wadsworth Golf team – for their long term support of Canal Shores and their incredible expertise in building this amazing new golf course.

Todd Quitno for his vision and ability to turn a table top into what may be one of the top short courses in the country.

Tom Grey and Brad Helms and the entire EC Staff – for their herculean efforts to get the golf course ready to  open August 1 and for their patience in dealing with the Canal Shores Board.

Matt Rooney, Karl Leinberger, Rick Bald, Dan Chow and the entire Canal Shores Board past and present for leaning in not giving up even when the odds seemed stacked against us.

Steve Skinner and the entire Kemper Sports team for bringing us into the Kemper Sports Family and all the support that comes with that.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, The City of Evanston and the Wilmette Park District  (Our landlords) for trusting us with the Gem in their Front Yard.

Patrick Hughes, Chris Broch and the 250 member strong Lumberjack crew for creating a community unlike any other in the golf world.

And especially to the 180 donors who stepped up and supported this project and our mission to Preserve a Cherished Course and Provide a Path for Kids.

And finally to our neighbors in Evanston and Wilmette for their unending patience during this project

THANK YOU

We can’t wait to see you on the course.

Chris

*** Photo Credit to Patrick Hughes, Jr.

THE EVANS at CANAL SHORES 

PRESERVING A CHERISHED COURSE

PROVIDING A PATH FOR LOCAL KIDS

Canal Shores Progress Update

Volume 12

June 21, 2024

Greetings – I am Chris Charnas, Vice President/Golf at Canal Shores, and this is your update on the progress of the Canal Shores golf course renovation project.  While the course is still closed we have been busy the last few months growing in the grass and a number of other smaller  projects. This newsletter will highlight some of those projects  and update you as to when the course should be opening along with a major announcement regarding the name and logo.

To keep you excited for the 2024 golf season here is a video showing every hole from 1-18.

First off, the question everyone is asking is “When is the course going to open for play”. Based on some of the uninvited guests who have been out on the course lately, some people think we are already open. However we  are not open yet, based on the current turf conditions and anticipated weather over the next 40 days we are hoping to open 11  holes on  August 1. We are seeing much better turf conditions on the 11 holes North of Central and those holes are getting closer to being playable. The 6 holes south of Lincoln  germinated last month and they might not be ready for golfers until October at the earliest.

We are in the process of a minor renovation of the clubhouse bathrooms and the veranda outside the front doors. While this hasn’t been a major project we hope that a little paint and flooring will help the first impression when we do open our doors to customers. With the changes to the layout we are also upgrading and adding fences to a number of holes; behind  #8 green behind #9 green, adjacent to #4 tee, next to #13 green, behind 17b green.

The photo above is of the new 17b with the wetland in the front. 65 yards of fun.

The Big News that we announced this week is:

As we enter our 2nd Century and to honor Chick Evans and our major donor The Western Golf Association, we are pleased to announce that we are renaming the golf course The Evans Course at Canal Shores. 

The new name represents a deep connection to the namesake of the Evans Scholars Foundation, Chick Evans, who attended high school in Evanston and became one of the greatest amateur golfers of all time. Instead of turning professional, Evans worked with the Western Golf Association to use the earnings from his golf career to establish the Evans Scholars Foundation in 1930. To date, the Foundation has awarded full tuition and college scholarships to more than 13,000 youth caddies, including the 1,130 Evans Scholars enrolled in 24 leading universities nationwide this year. The Evans at Canal Shores is located less than a mile from the first Evans Scholarship House, established in 1940 on the campus of Northwestern University.

It’s going to take some time for everyone to get used to The Evans – and we know some people will still call it Canal Shores (some people still call it Peter Jans!) But we could not be more excited to share our new course and our new name with the public.

With a new name comes a new logo and we are excited to show you our new logo.

The golf course logo is the graphical representation of an owl perched on top of a golf club. The logo represents the course’s commitment to being a good steward to all inhabitants in the community and represents its mission of educating the community’s youth through golf. Our GM, Tom Grey, and Kemper Sports are busy getting ready to stock the pro shop with new merchandise including some fun tshirts, hats, and putter covers from our first Corporate Sponsor – Swag Golf.

This photo is of the Biarritz green on the 11th hole. You don’t want to be up front if the pin is in the back.

Please let me know if you have any questions on the project or would like a tour. A huge thank you to all that have donated to the Canal Shores 2nd Century project. If you have already donated and want a tour bring your putter, we might be  able to test out the new #7.   We have currently raised $5.8 Million of our $5.9 Million goal. So we are only $100,000 short of our original goal!!!  If you have not yet donated and are interested, you can email me to set up a meeting or you can access our donate page on our website.

We still have a number of naming rights available and would love to have one big donor get us over the top.

August 1 will be here soon and we cannot wait to open up The Evans Course to you.

Best Wishes and Happy Summer,

Chris

*** Photo Credits to Patrick Hughes, Jr.

THE EVANS COURSE at CANAL SHORES 

PRESERVING A CHERISHED COURSE

PROVIDING A PATH FOR LOCAL KIDS

51 years of memories at Canal Shores! Listen to Actor Joel Murray share a few of his favorite stories over the years at Canal Shores, including his celebrity golf tournament, Out of Space concerts, and more.

Thank you for all your support as we get closer to reaching our fundraising goal! Learn more and donate online – https://www.canalshores.org/donate/.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canal Shores Re-brands As The Evans at Canal Shores

New name and logo are amongst the big changes ahead for the urban gem

EVANSTON, Ill., June 18, 2024 – The Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association and KemperSports announced today the re-brand of Canal Shores to The Evans at Canal Shores. The new name and logo spearhead the re-branding efforts as the 100-year-old course embarks on a new era of delivering exceptional and memorable experiences for Chicagoland golfers.

Led by KemperSports in conjunction with the Canal Shores Board, the non-profit course is funded and reimagined through a partnership of golf industry leaders, including the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation, First Tee – Greater Chicago, Wadsworth Golf Charities, the Chicago District Golf Association, Quitno Golf Designs and through private contributions. The reimagined golf course will re-open in 2025 with a completely upgraded par-60, 18-hole golf course, youth development training center and Western Golf Association Caddie Academy.

“Canal Shores has served a special place in the community for more than 100 years,” said Board President Matt Rooney. “The Evans at Canal Shores continues the legacy of Canal Shores while putting added focus on the youth development and youth caddie training opportunities that will come from the renovated golf course.”

The golf course renovation, which started in 2022 and is led by architect Todd Quitno, is the modernization and reimagination of the urban golf course. Located alongside the North Shore Canal which feeds into the Chicago River, The Evans at Canal Shores will serve as a beacon for youth golf development and a youth caddie training facility through partnerships with the First Tee – Greater Chicago and the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation.

“It’s still the charming and quirky urban parklike course it’s always been,” said Josh Lesnik, Executive Vice President of Golf for KemperSports and Member of the Canal Shores Board. “We simply created a new mission focused on youth development and scholarships, invested in infrastructure so we could improve playing conditions and certainly added some architectural interest and excitement to an already memorable routing.”

The new name represents a deep connection to the namesake of the Evans Scholars Foundation, Chick Evans, who attended high school in Evanston and became one of the greatest amateur golfers of all time. Instead of turning professional, Evans worked with the Western Golf Association to use the earnings from his golf career to establish the Evans Scholars Foundation in 1930. To date, the Foundation has awarded full tuition and college scholarships to more than 13,000 youth caddies, including the 1,130 Evans Scholars enrolled in 24 leading universities nationwide this year. The Evans at Canal Shores is located less than a mile from the first Evans Scholarship House, established in 1940 on the campus of Northwestern University.

The golf course logo is the graphical representation of an owl perched on top of a golf club. The logo represents the course’s commitment to being a good steward to all inhabitants in the community and represents its mission of educating the community’s youth through golf.

The Evans at Canal Shores will open a limited number of holes for preview play in late summer 2024 and open all 18 holes in summer 2025.

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About KemperSports:

KemperSports is a leading sports, entertainment and hospitality company that delivers operational excellence in property and experience management. Headquartered in Chicago with regional offices throughout the U.S., KemperSports manages more than 140 golf courses, private clubs, sports venues, and destination resorts nationwide. It has more golf properties named among the top 100 U.S. public and resort courses as rated by GOLF Magazine, Golf Digest and Golfweek than any other management company. For more information about KemperSports, visit www.kempersports.com.

Join the KemperSports social media conversation at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

B.R. Koehnemann

KemperSports

brkoehnemann@kempersports.com | 847-421-4537

Belated Happy New Year! I am Chris Charnas, Vice President/Golf at Canal Shores, and this is our Winter 2024 update on the Canal Shores course renovation. The above photo is of our namesake canal which runs the length of the course and shows Evanston in all its winter glory. The photo is actually in color, but  if you have lived in Chicago for any length of time you know that January is gray. While we wait for the grass to grow in, I thought you might be interested to learn more about the history of Canal Shores.

Canal Shores has a long history that dates back to the 1890’s. Some even refer to it as the Cradle of Golf on the North Shore.

• Original Evanston golf course was known as the King’s Daughters Club, the second oldest club in the US specifically developed for women, and located on the Kidder tract in north Evanston.
• In 1898, the course was incorporated as the Evanston Golf Club, and shortly thereafter moved to a new tract in Evanston (general Canal Shores location) where the clubhouse was located just west of Ridge Road and north of the Evanston Hospital near the border of Evanston and Wilmette.
• From this clubhouse location the course played out to the west and north, then swung south before returning back north to the clubhouse.  The land occupied by the course was leased from private entities.
• In 1905, the North Shore channel was cut through the course, which disrupted several holes of play.  From the beginning, beautification of the channel banks has been a priority.
• Also in 1905, the Chicago and Milwaukee electric rail line was built through the grounds, further disrupting the golf course layout.  According to a newspaper clipping (Dec 31, 1920), “the canal and railway thus seriously interfered with the purpose for which the golf course was intended, but the members carried on though the canal provided a ‘hazard’ which taxed the time, patience and pockets of the members.”
• In 1911, a group of members chose to leave the Evanston Golf Club and move west to get more land and they formed the new Westmoreland Country Club.
• In 1917, a new permanent location was found for the Evanston Golf Club in Skokie, IL where it resides today.  Donald Ross was hired to design the new course.
• On November 22, 1918, the Northmoor Country Club was formed and occupied the course over 2 years until it became apparent to the Board of Directors that 9-holes was not enough to satisfy its growing membership.  Thus in 1919, the board leased the current Northmoor CC property, hired Donald Ross to build their new golf course, and left the Evanston locale.
• In 1919 Local Evanston businessman and future alderman Peter N. Jans put together a group to finance and build a new public golf course in Evanston. Tom Bendelow is hired to design the 18 hole golf course.
• On September 22, 1919, Judge Richard Tuthilll played the first round on the first public golf course in Evanston, which was being run by the Evanston Community Recreation Association and had been established on the grounds formerly used by the Evanston Golf Club.
• Between 1922 and 1923, in order to get 18 holes on the public lands, five new holes (pre-current renovation 5-9) were routed up to Sheridan Road to the north, extending the golf course into the Village of Wilmette. The remaining 13 holes, situated in Evanston, were incorporated mostly from the original golf course with a few new additions and a rebuild of most of the greens.
• The same year, a new brick clubhouse was built between Central and Lincoln Streets and modeled in a Colonial style, including wraparound second-story porches on the west and north sides (which have since been enclosed and/or removed as part of the American Legion Post 42, still on the second floor of the clubhouse building). The building and land were donated by Thomas Leahy (namesake for Leahy Park)

• In April 1998 the bridge over the Canal at the southern end of the course is put in place.
• 2007 – Peter N Jans Golf Course is renamed Frank Govern Memorial Golf Course.
• 2012 – the course is renamed Evanston Wilmette Community Golf Course
• 2013 – the course is renamed Canal Shores Golf Course

Progress Report:

For those of you in the local area, the winter weather has been atypical. Although we had the longest stretch of cold days since 1996, currently we have no snow cover and last week we even had temps in the 50’s for 2 days.

We know that the construction has been an inconvenience for our neighbors who typically enjoy walking, running and walking  their dogs on the course. We are asking for continued patience from our neighbors as the grass is very vulnerable at this stage and walking on it will delay the opening. We hope to have a schedule for when the course will open for play announced to the public on June 1.

As the holes grow in, we continue to  highlight the great new golf experiences coming to Canal Shores:

HOLE #14

PAR 3 120 – 155 YDS

RESTOVATION

The 14th gets its name from the cheeky portmanteau (*the combining of two words) of Restoration and Renovation, indicating that the overhaul of Canal Shores is a combination of both approaches. The same is true for the 14th hole, which will be recaptured in its original form from tee to green, with the putting surface expanded back to the original green pad and guarded by steeper side slopes and adjacent hollows. The contours of the putting surface will be renovated to include some new rolls and distinct pinning areas.

Hole #18

PAR 4 215-285 60-75 YDS; 

ROAD

The closing hole at CS pays homage to the O.G. of golf, the 17th “Road Hole” at St Andrews, Scotland, and its Chicagoland brethren at Shoreacres (10th) and Chicago GC (2nd). The yardage of this final hole will flex a bit depending on whether hole 17.5 is in play. When it’s not, the tees can stretch back to nearly 300 yards. Regardless, position off the tee is key to scoring here. For those who are willing and able to brave the left side and the threat of the canal, the green angle will allow for access to any pin, including a central green ridge that will help to funnel rolling approaches to the tightly guarded back, right. For the less bold who choose the wide open right side, the approach will be a much more difficult test requiring a precise shot to a very narrow green guarded by a grass “Hellhole” hollow. Central Street also lurks behind and slopes will funnel mishits away on either side. Birdie here will definitely deserve a cold Sketchbook Level Par Lager on the updated Canal Shores Patio!

Please let me know if you have any questions on the project or would like a tour. It’s a little cold, but if you want a tour I am happy to walk about. If you prefer to be unsubscribed from this newsletter, please let me know. Finally, a huge thank you to all that have donated to the Canal Shores 2nd Century project. Canal Shores is a 501(C)(3) and any donation is tax deductible.  We have currently raised $5.5 Million of our $5.9 Million goal.  If you have not yet donated and are interested, you can email me to set up a meeting or you can access our donation site here.

Best Wishes and Happy New Year,

Chris

*** Photo Credits to Patrick Hughes, Jr.

*** Writing help from Tim Pretzsch

CANAL SHORES GOLF COURSE

PRESERVING A CHERISHED COURSE

PROVIDING A PATH FOR LOCAL KIDS

Greetings – I am Chris Charnas, and I continue to be Vice President/Golf at Canal Shores. This is our final 2023 update on the Canal Shores course renovation. The above photo is from the east looking at the three hole loop on the north end of the course (holes 6, 7, 8). While construction is complete and we are waiting for warm weather to grow in the grass, KemperSports and our staff have been busy preparing for 2024 and all the fun that will come with opening the new Canal Shores. We plan to keep you updated on all the changes in the coming months.

To keep you excited for the 2024 golf season here is a video showing every hole from 1-18 including 17b.

This week I want to highlight our partner in golf, KemperSports. Without their help and guidance we would not have been able to complete the renovation of Canal Shores. Their insights and industry contacts have been invaluable throughout the entire process. We  cannot thank them enough for all of their help in moving Canal shores forward into its 2nd Century.

KemperSports is a leading sports, entertainment and hospitality company that delivers operational excellence in property and experience management. Headquartered in Chicago with regional offices throughout the U.S., KemperSports manages more than 140 golf courses, private clubs, sports venues, and destination resorts nationwide. It has more golf properties named among the top 100 U.S. public and resort courses as rated by GOLF Magazine, Golf Digest and Golfweek than any other management company.

As a leading partner in the revitalization of Canal Shores, KemperSports was brought in because its team shared our Board’s vision for Canal Shores – a community golf haven and an example of forward-thinking programming for underserved youth in the community. KemperSports is also a founding member of First Tee – Greater Chicago and has a shared commitment to using the game of golf to positively impact youth in the area..

For over 40 years, KemperSports’ development and construction team has led a range of projects including golf developments, clubhouses, recreational facilities, activity fields and conference centers. Other notable KemperSports construction work in the Chicagoland area includes building The Lawn, a 30,000-square-foot putting and chipping experience at Deerpath Golf Course in Lake Forest, an ongoing 27-hole course renovation at Winnetka Golf Club, and an upcoming short game renovation at Vernon Hills Golf Course as well as a 27-hole renovation at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton.

Thank you to the entire team at KemperSports for their commitment and dedication to this project and the communities surrounding Canal Shores. Special thank you to Josh Lesnik, Tom Grey, Brad Helms, Vince Juarez, Mary Kate Walsh and our entire Maintenance and Pro Shop staff – Lou Rossetti, Charlie McCormick, Andrew Mack, Rick Brinkman, Chris Nitto, Laura Collyer, Kein Nelson and Ella Capozzi.

Progress Report:

In late December, our Maintenance Staff and volunteers covered the final greens with tarps. The tarps help with erosion control along with providing an insulating cushion which should help with grow-in in the Spring. We are hopeful that the grass under the tarps grew during those 50 degree days in December. Special thanks to Bryn Mawr Country Club, Northshore Country Club Biltmore Country Club and Twin Orchard Country Club for helping us with the green covers.

As the holes grow in, we continue to  highlight the great new golf experiences coming to Canal Shores:

HOLE #8

PAR 3 115-150YDS

BANK ON IT

The 8th is a nod to the great Redan holes of the McDonald/Raynor/Banks template architecture. Its design most closely mimics the 7th at Chicago GC, but is muted to cater to the Canal Shores golfer. With the front quarter of the green sloping towards the line of play, and the remaining green sloping away from play at roughly a 45-degree angle, the smart play here is to use the banking slope at the middle, right of the green to funnel shots toward back pins. Missing right or left of this green will leave a tough recovery to a narrow green with a cross slope that falls hard away.

Hole #7

PAR 3 60-75 YDS; 

TEMPLE

The first of its kind in the Chicagoland area, the 7th has been designed specifically to be a putting hole playing on a southeast axis toward the Baha’i Temple. Clearing of the invasive buckthorn growth along the top of the canal bank allows for some incredible views of the majestic structure and a  peek at Lake Michigan in the distance. The 70-yd long green plays along the edge of the existing ridge and hints at a crescent moon shape, a spiritual symbol of the Baha’i faith. The green surface is banked on the right side using the backside mounds of the punchbowl 6th, allowing for players to use multiple avenues to reach the pin. Misjudging the break could easily lead to a chip from the back of the green, making this shorty one of the harder holes on the course to make par.

Yes, we realize this is a different type of golf hole and certainly not traditional, but Canal Shores is not traditional either. We think this new hole will be the signature hole of the entire renovation. Our GM, Tom Grey, is already planning weekly putting contests.

As we close out 2023 we also wanted to mention some of our other highlights from the past 12 months. Our volunteer Lumberjacks (they just added their 200th member) managed to make significant progress on the walking trail from Green Bay Road to Sheridan Road. The trail is now almost three miles in length. Once finished, it will help direct walkers and dog walkers onto their own path and away from the golf play. They have cleared acres and acres of buckthorn, an invasive species that has taken over a large portion of the banks of the canal. The lumberjacks have regular work sessions most Saturdays and are always looking for new members to help clean up and clear out buckthorn. It took over 100 years for all that buckthorn to overgrow the banks of the canal, we are hoping to get it cleared in less time than that! Here is a long video that Patrick Hughes put together about the Lumberjacks. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vicVxZd4L8BXYqzU1jXB7bykmIjvfrBc/view

Please let me know if you have any questions on the project or would like a tour. It’s a little cold, but if you want a tour I am happy to walk about. If you prefer to be unsubscribed from this newsletter, please let me know. Finally, a huge thank you to all that have donated to the Canal Shores 2nd Century project. If you are looking for an end of year place to donate, Canal Shores is a 501C3 and any donation is Tax Deductible.  We have currently raised $5.4 Million of our $5.9 Million goal.  If you have not yet donated and are interested, you can email me to set up a meeting or you can access our donation site here.

Best Wishes and Happy New Year,

Chris

*** Photo Credits to Patrick Hughes, Jr.

*** Writing help from Tim Pretzsch

CANAL SHORES GOLF COURSE

PRESERVING A CHERISHED COURSE

PROVIDING A PATH FOR LOCAL KIDS

One last photo – the Windphone on the 11th hole. That’s a story for a future newsletter.

Greetings – I am Chris Charnas, Vice President/Golf at Canal Shores, and this is our next to last 2023 update on the course renovation. Thanks for the positive feedback on this series! We have completed moving dirt and putting seed in the ground, but the work to get the course grown in and ready to host golfers in 2024 is just starting. In the coming months KemperSports and our staff will be working tirelessly on all things turf, but we also will be developing operational plans for reopening the course and providing a terrific golf experience with an increased focus on our caddy program (Sponsored by the Western Golf Association) and youth golf development. The above photo is #12 looking west toward Ryan Field.

This week I want to highlight Wadsworth Golf Construction. Wadsworth is not only the contractor for the project, but their Foundation, The Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation, has  been a long-term donor to Canal Shores and has made a major gift to the renovation of the golf course. Thank you for your support!

Brent Wadsworth started the Wadsworth Golf Construction Company 65 years ago in 1958 based on the golf industry’s need to have a dedicated golf course construction company deliver products that exceeded industry standards.  Devotion to duty, proudness and “extraordinary satisfaction” remain their Mission Statement and are carried through on each and every project regardless of its size.

From the beginning, the Wadsworth Company earned a reputation for integrity, service and quality of workmanship that is unsurpassed in the industry. A key to the Company’s success has been its ability to hire and retain key employees who share a high level of values and commitment to service. Many primary managers, supervisors and shapers have served the Company for more than 25 years.

The Wadsworth Company has completed more than 1,000 major golf projects, working with virtually all of the world’s most renowned golf course architects – most of them on multiple occasions. Many of those projects have received high accolades, such as “Best New Course of the Year”, or are ranked in the “Golf Digest Top 100”. The true dedication to delivering the architect’s vision with uncompromised quality yields products that can withstand the test of time as they provide enjoyment to each golfer that embraces the great game of golf.

Thank you to all of the employees from Wadsworth that worked on the project! Special thanks go out to Eric Wadsworth, Pat Karnick, Doug Myslinski, Matt Lohmann and Mario Salas. Mario was onsite every day rain or shine  kicking ass and taking names. His contributions were immeasurable.

Progress Report:

In late November, Staff and volunteers covered 14 of the 18 greens with tarps. The tarps help with erosion control (and coyote control on the 4th green) along with providing an insulating cushion which should help with grow-in in the Spring. With construction finally wrapped, here are some interesting stats on the project:

Buckthorn Removed – 201, 288 square feet

Total Disturbed Ground – 37.9 acres

Dirt Moved – 23,788 Cubic Yards

Drainage Pipe 4” – 5,965 Linear Feet

Drainage Pipe  6” – 5,580 Linear Feet

Drain Inlets – 99

Connections to the Canal – 13

Greens Area – 121,740 Square Feet (2.79 Acres) –

Greens Drainage – 16,080 Linear Feet

Tees and Fairways – 654,291 Square Feet (15 Acres)

Roughs – 683,357 Square Feet (15.7 Acres)

Bluegrass Sod – 104,299 Square Feet (2.4 Acres)

Cart Paths – 12,891 Linear Feet

Erosion Fence – 11,340 Linear Feet

Temporary Fencing – 11,340 Linear Feet

Number of Wadsworth Employees onsite – 20

Date Construction Started – July 17, 2023

Days Under Construction – 125

Days lost to Rain – 15

Subcontractors on the Project

ArborGreen – Tree Removal

Green Source – Sod Installer

McGinty Bros, Inc. Hydromulch Installer

Halloran & Yauch – Irrigation Installer

As the holes grow in, we continue to  highlight the great new golf experiences coming to Canal Shores:

HOLE #15 

PAR 4 210 – 275 YDS

ALPS

The straightaway 15th has some considerable width through the playing corridor, a rarity at Canal Shores. The best tee shot here will favor the right side along the hollows that parallel the fairway. From the right the approach into the green is wide open. For those who either choose or happen to play down the left side, a large perpendicular landform bisects the fairway 20 yards short of the green, obscuring vision of the putting surface and toying with depth perception, while also protecting the 16th tee. If lucky, a shot played just over the mound could jump onto the putting surface, or it might be funneled left into one of the deep greenside hollows that closely guard the green.

Hole #16

PAR 3 90-130 YDS; 

DON’T SLEEP ON IT

Drawing inspiration from the great Short template par 3s–including its namesake New York cousin, the 16th at Sleepy Hollow–the Canal Shores version of the 16th features a distinct indentation (thumbprint) that guards the center of the green, requiring an accurate approach to find the correct quadrant. The entire complex has been repositioned on the edge of the steep canal bank and surrounded on all sides by hollows of various depths. Though short in stature, the canal crossing here provides an intimidating and dramatic lead-in to the final stretch of the back nine. Green Inspiration: Short Template.

Please let me know if you have any questions on the project or would like a tour. It’s a little cold, but if you want a tour I am happy to walk about. If you prefer to be unsubscribed from this newsletter, please let me know. Finally, a huge thank you to all that have donated to the Canal Shores 2nd Century project. We have currently raised $5.4 Million of our $5.9 Million goal.  If you have not yet donated and are interested, you can email me to set up a meeting or you can access our donation site here.

Best Wishes,

Chris

*** Photo Credits to Patrick Hughes, Jr.

*** Writing help from Tim Pretzsch

Greetings – 124 days after receiving our permits from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation  District, The City of Evanston and Wilmette Park District –  Wadsworth Golf Construction finished their portion of the project this week.  I am Chris Charnas, Vice President/Golf at Canal Shores, after endless rains in October, I am still here – happy to report that  this is your final regular 2023 update on the progress of renovations at Canal Shores. In golf it’s not how you start, but it’s how you finish and we think that the last three (really four) holes are going to keep golfers coming back to Canal Shores again and again. The above photo shows, from bottom right counterclockwise, the finishing holes at Canal Shores (16, 17, 17b and 18). Holes #14 and #15 are on the left side of the canal, top to bottom.

This week I want to highlight our key partner, The Western Golf Association. When the Canal Shores Youth Training Campus is fully completed in late summer 2024 it will allow us to:

•  Positively impact the youth of Evanston, Wilmette and surrounding communities through our life skills programming, a reimagined practice area, and unprecedented on-course access
  • Including a 100,000 square foot short game area, alongside Canal Shores Hole #1, which gives our coaches the ability to teach the full game while also accessing the course
•  In partnership with the Western Golf Association, create a unique path for our First Tee participants to become caddies and pursue Evans Scholarships
•  Connect with local schools and community organizations to expand our programming to kids in all regions of Chicago

The below photo is of the Youth Training Campus with the first green and the new bunker on the top, just south of and viewable from the Central Street bridge. The old school bunker is the only sand bunker on the golf course and will be used to help caddies learn their trade.

Youth Training Campus – Evans Scholar Caddie Training Academy 

The Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) awards full tuition and housing scholarships to high-achieving caddies with limited financial means. Established in 1930 by the Western Golf Association (WGA) and celebrated amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr., the Foundation oversees the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

To qualify for an Evans Scholarship, caddies must meet the requirements of having a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. Scholarship applications are accepted at the beginning of an applicant’s senior year of high school, as well as from college freshmen. The Evans Scholarship value is $125,000.

The first two Evans Scholars enrolled at Northwestern University in 1930, and since then, 12,040 outstanding young men and women have graduated as Evans Scholars. Evans Scholars are enrolled at 24 leading universities nationwide including 17 where the Foundation operates a Scholarship House. A record 1,130 Evans Scholars are currently in school for the 2023-24 academic year. Evans Scholars live and work together in community, with each chapter electing its own officers, running social and service activities, and participating in campus programs.

As part of our ambitious long-range plan that includes doubling the number of youth caddie opportunities and achieving 1,500 Evans Scholars in school by 2030, the Evans Scholars Foundation is fully dedicated to funding a WGA Caddie Academy chapter at Canal Shores. As part of our commitment, we will have a caddie manager assigned to the course and the ESF will pay all caddie fees, so golfers at Canal Shores will be able to take caddies at no cost to them. It is our hope that these golfers will perhaps buy them a Gatorade and a hot dog and just agree to help mentor these kids on their way to applying for the Evans Scholarship. We are hoping many of these kids come to golf through First Tee’s outreach with schools in Evanston and the north side of Chicago.

We cannot thank enough our partners at Western Golf: John Kaczkowski, Steve Brueggeman, Jeff Harrison, Mike Maher, Kevin Buggy – Past Chairman, Joe Desch – Chairman, Mick O’ Rourke and Josh Lesnik.

Progress Report:

The bad weather finally broke and we have had enough sunshine and mild temperatures for Wadsworth to finish the construction phase of the project. A huge thank you to Eric Wadsworth, Pat Karnick, Doug Myslinski, Matt Lohmann, Mario Salas, and the entire on-site Wadsworth team that put Canal Shores back together. Grassing has been completed on all 18 holes and we are in full grow-in mode!

As the holes grow in, we continue to  highlight the great new golf experiences coming to Canal Shores:

HOLE #17 

PAR 4 275 YDS

NARROWS

That’s the 16th green on the right with its thumbprint green.

Leading off for the final stretch, the 17th is a slight dogleg par 4 that offers ample room from the start, but quickly narrows upon approach to the green. This tapering effect is aided by a fairway cigar mound and hollow that cuts in on the right at 220 yards from the back tee, challenging the tee shot and helping to drain one of the perennially wet fairways on the course. The long, narrow green here has been relocated along the top of the canal bank with hollows guarding the right and back sides. Positioning down the left side off the tee will offer the best run-up access to the green, but beware a back right pin location where the slope falls away into one of the greenside collection area.

Green Inspiration: Original

Hole #17B

PAR 3 70-85 YDS; FAMILY 60 YDS

SHORT

17B – Tee in the foreground, the new wetland and then the green behind it. You can see the 18th green in the distance at the top of the photo.

While small in stature, this “bonus” hole serves a critical role in the function of the greater golf course. On select days when youth programming requires extra space, the 1st hole will be used as a practice area, taking it out of the 18-hole rotation and moving the start to the 2nd. Hole 17b will then be added to the lineup to complete the 18. The green here occupies the location of the original 17th, but doubled in size with a small, pinnable central plateau that divides the surface into distinct areas left, right and back. Fronting the green is a newly excavated wetland area with low-growth plantings that serves as both a storm water storage area and a buffer for the native wetland found immediately to the east.

Green Inspiration: Recapture and expansion of 1920s Bendelow green

Please let me know if you have any questions on the project or would like a tour. If you prefer to be unsubscribed from this newsletter, please let me know. Finally, a huge thank you to all that have donated to the Canal Shores 2nd Century project. We have currently raised $5.4 Million of our $5.9 Million goal.  If you have not yet donated and are interested, you can email me to set up a meeting or you can access our donation site here.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Chris

312-543-7192

*** Photo Credits to Patrick Hughes, Jr.

*** Writing help from Tim Pretzsch

CANAL SHORES GOLF COURSE

PRESERVING A CHERISHED COURSE

PROVIDING A PATH FOR LOCAL KIDS