Whispers of a delightful past echo here at Canal Shores Golf Course. This isn’t just any golf course. It’s a community treasure with a unique story. Canal Shores Golf Course began in 1919. It sits on 82 acres in Evanston and Wilmette Illinois. Eleven holes lie in Evanston and seven in Wilmette.
Originally, Canal Shores was known as Peter N. Jans Memorial Golf Course. It was also named the Evanston Wilmette Community Golf Course. Peter N. Jans wanted to reclaim the canal banks for golf. Todd Sloan designed the Canal Shores Golf Course. He also designed the back nine of the Racine Country Club in Wisconsin.
The Evanston Golf Club was once here. They moved because of the North Shore Channel drainage project. Canal Shores is mostly on public land. The Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association manages it. This group is made up of local golfers and neighbors.
Canal Shores faced a near-death experience in 2012. A $20000 water bill went unpaid. The community rallied to save it. A new board of directors formed. Todd Ricketts a Chicago Cubs co-owner joined. Philanthropists donated $250000. This paid the water bill and addressed maintenance.
Junior golf became a focus at Canal Shores. A new superintendent arrived from a top private club. The USGA and Golf Channel got involved. People spoke of environmental stewardship. Joggers and dog walkers were welcomed.
Canal Shores is fun unique and full of history. Bill Murray and his brothers grew up here. They worked at the course. The layout isn’t too hard but still challenging. Seven par 3s measure between 165 to 220 yards. The greens are small and quick.
In 1994 Canal Shores hosted a mini-tour event. Tim Lumpy Herron won it. He later won over $19 million on the PGA Tour. The El train runs over a tunnel from the 11th green to the 12th tee.
The roar of trains finds golfers waiting to hit. After golf in the spring or summer you can take the El to a Cubs game. An Evanston Fire station stands near the first tee. Sirens sometimes blare. Canal Shores has a community feel like St. Andrews in Scotland.
Golfers cross six suburban streets. Homes sit next to the fairways. People barbecue in their backyards. The Bahai Temple rises near the front nine. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Golfers walk bridges over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. This reversed the Chicago River to protect Lake Michigan. The North Shore Canal bisects the course. Tee shots on the 10th and 16th holes go over the Canal.
Canal Shores is undergoing a $5.9 million renovation. This includes a new irrigation system. The course will have a First Tee training center. There will also be a caddie training program. The updated course may have 19 holes. The 6th hole will feature a view of the Baháʼí Temple.
The Evanston community supports Canal Shores. Volunteers help with course upkeep. A red telephone booth provides a place for mourning. Canal Shores is quirky and special. It’s a place where people make it cool. So come experience the new and old Canal Shores.