Illinois News Index

Winnetka Weekly Talk, 18 Jun 1927, p. 23

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June 18, 1927 WINNETKA TALK 21 SHI RU ILM = WE ii SHITE = | a | STE = TC TT TT nm North Shore Golf Clubs UTE ULL T LLL REAR AEE ERLE i Tr ULI LTR LET LUTHER LL TT TT TT CTT TTT TTT HII A CT TT AUNT TR Evanston Community, the "Kindergarten of Golf" Good Players Developed on Public Links Club, Seven Years Old, Be- comes Popular and Success- ful--"Clientele" Drawn from Many Sections This is the third of a series of articles telling about the golf clubs of the north shore. It is the story of a public course, which has found popular favor. By RAY C. PEARSON ERHAPS the most interesting thing that should be mentioned when one writes about the Evanston Community Golf club, that straight shooting course which fringes the Sanitary Canal, is that its popularity has made the name somewhat of a misnomer. Starting as an Evanston institution -- Evanston money made it possible--the Board of directors today includes three Wilmette men. Also important is the fact that the "clientele" of this public course is not by any means drawn from Evanston. Wilmette players and others from suburbs farther north, to say nothing of Chicago, swat the elusive pill around the course to make it a "going organi- zation." Kindergarten of Golf Those who control Evanston Com- munity pridefully call attention to what players developed on their course have accomplished in golf. In the com- fortable little clubhouse just north of Lincoln street in Evanston it is not un- usual to hear one speak of the "kin- dergarten of golf." That's the pet name for the club. "When they get too big for us, they move on to the big private clubs, while others, the beginners, come to us and develop their game and then they too move on, and so it goes." I was listening to the genial W. L. McGoodwin speak. Mr. McGoodwin is managing director of the club. He likes to talk about the "kindergarten of golf," always stressing the point that Evanston Community is the starting ground of many good players. "'Golf and more golf,' is our line of chatter over here," he continued. "As our course is a public institution of the fee type, we, of course, have no so- cial side. However, there is a fine spirit of friendliness on the links." Club Seven Years Old Evanston Community came into ex- istence seven years ago when the old Evanston Golf club on Ridge avenue moved out to permit building opera- THE PICTURES: Evanston Commu- nity clubhouse, (top)--Hole No. 7, the Canal drive, (above) --Mrs. T. B. Harvey, club champion (upper right) -- Herman Fell, club champion, (bottom). tions. It started as a nine hole course and almost at the same time the North- moor club was formed. The forma- tion of Northmoor caused Community to play on the west side of the Canal, while Northmoor played on the east side. About five years ago Northmoor moved to Ravinia, which gave Com- munity the chance to expand. The result of that expansion is the present 18 hole course. In providing it much work was necessary. The swampy land south of Central street had to be filled in, which permitted seven new holes. Five new holes were placed in Wilmette. All of the land on which the golf a course is situated except the clubhouse belongs to the Sanitary District. The club is a "not for profit" organization. The story of how Evanston Com- munity started reveals a true civic spirit. The first essential was the raising af funds. At first it appeared this would rr 5 be a stumbling block, but when fif- teen Evanston men started working they discovered that there were plenty of pubic spirited men who were willing to help the movement. It was decided to ask $30 from a number of Evanstonians. They "came across" with surprising alac- rity. One of them was James Pat- ten--the millionaire grain operator. Other prominent men also did "their bit." The course has proved a success. To be convinced of its popularity one need only to visit it on a Sat- urady or Sunday. On any Sunday, for instance, probably four hundred players "do" the course. Saturday is always a big day too, but during the week, the women have an un- disturbed inning. Nine-tenths of those who play the course on week days, exclusive of Saturday, are representative of the fair sex. Short But Difficult Course Manager McGoodwin tells me that the course is short, but some- what difficult. The yardage is 4,485 yards. There are two water holes, the seventh and fourteenth, where hopes are often shattered. They are Canal shots with little carry necessary after getting over. The par figure for Community is 62. The honor of playing in par figures belongs to Ernest Meyer of Wilmette. The champion is Her- man Fell of Evanston. Fell is a consistent player as is evidenced by the fact that his best cards are 66, 64, 65 and 63. Mrs. T. B. Harvey, from Evanston, is who hails the woman's (Continued on page 34)

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