Lake Forest Names Deerpath Golf Course Advisory Committee

A group of nine Lake Forest residents will provide input on marketing and golf course operations in assisting in revamping the financially strained Deerpath Golf Course.

The advisory group was created to replace the former golf committee comprised of just city officials after residents voiced disapproval over the lack of resident representation at a public meeting in late August.

At the same meeting, the decision was made to leave Deerpath in the hands of city management after residents denounced.

Since 2007, Deerpath Golf Course has suffered a significant decrease in revenue complicated by the downturn in the economy, and a series of rainy golfing seasons. The combination led city leaders to look at alternatives to keeping the popular facility financially viable.

Projections by the city’s finance department indicate that revenues may decrease even more. The golf course could stand to have no money by 2014 and would be subsidized by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department by as much as $220,000 in fiscal 2014.

, and the level of talent made him expand the group from its originally intended seven members to nine.

"It never ceases to amaze me the talent level in the community who step up to serve on committees," Kiely said.

Kiely said they wanted the group to come from all of the wards in the city with diverse backgrounds, a mix of men and women, and objectivity with "no axe to grind or single issue person," he said.

The group includes four people from the Fourth Ward, one from the Third, three from the Second and one from the First. They include:

Gary Chan, who was chosen chairman of the group, Fourth Ward alderman Michael Adelman, Jim Zitnick, Tim Newman, Ron Hirasawa, Linda Steers, John Lanctot, Ann Lerner and Mike Borkowski.

Kiely said the group will meet before the end of the year to get them organized and supplied with background materials. "Their challenge is to focus on what needs to be done first,' Kiely said.

Kiely said a clubhouse manager applicant will be recommended for approval at the next City Council meeting on Dec. 5.