Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Michael Kelly announced the creation of the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance (CPGA), a group to be led by Mark Rolfing, who will serve as the organization’s President and Founder. In partnership with the City and Park District, the CPGA aims to restore and improve the existing golf courses at Jackson Park and South Shore Golf Courses to create an economic and recreational asset for the South Side of Chicago. The idea to restore the historic golf courses – Jackson Park opened in 1899 and South Shore Golf Course opened in 1907 – is not a new idea, as a framework plan created by the Park District in 2000 contained various recommendations for the South Lakefront area, one of which proposed upgrading the two golf courses.

The not-for-profit CPGA will oversee fundraising and development of a combined and upgraded golf facility, which would be situated within the confines of the existing two golf courses. The golf course restoration would tentatively begin in 2017, financed primarily through private funds generated through the CPGA. Completion of the course, which would allow players to start and finish their rounds at either South Shore or Jackson Park, as well as the completion of a short course for the entire family, is targeted for late 2020. In launching the CPGA, Mark Rolfing, an award winning Golf Course Developer and NBC Golf Channel Analyst, also announced the golf course restoration would be designed by Tiger Woods’ TGR Design. The Chicago Park District oversees six public golf courses (Sydney Marovitz, Jackson Park, South Shore, Columbus Park, Marquette Park and Robert A. Black), a driving range/practice facility at Diversey Range, a driving range at Jackson Park and a practice facility at Douglas Park.