Deerpath Golf Course Creates Incentives to Bring in Linkers

The recent warm temperature swing already has golfers hitting the , and Lake Forest officials are hoping some added incentives will bring in more.

Lake Forest residents from all four wards comprise the nine-person advisory group, . The panel has been busy with various projects to rejuvenate the golf course.

Since 2007, Deerpath Golf Course has suffered a significant decrease in revenue, complicated by both the downturn in the economy and a series of rainy golf seasons. Projections by the city’s finance department indicated that revenues might 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.

The combination led city leaders to look at alternatives to keeping the popular facility financially viable. The advisory group was created to replace the former golf committee composed solely of city officials after residents at a public meeting in late August voiced disapproval over the lack of resident representation.

At the same meeting, the decision was made to leave Deerpath in the hands of city management after residents denounced . In December,  approved a one-year agreement with KemperSports Management Inc. for consulting services and providing an operations manager.

Ron Hirasawa, a member of the advisory group, believes they have put together the “most valuable incentives in its history” to members who sign up before April 1. 

The new programs include:

• Early registration incentives: Each seasonal member signing up before April 1 will receive benefits of more than $300 in value, with unlimited free electric golf carts, range balls, discounts on irons during the month of April, a one-month free pass to Lake Forest Fitness Center, $50 off the Fred Jackson Golf Classic fundraiser (June 1) and a free 20-minute lesson from Richard Franklin (before June 1).

• Nonprofit new member referral: With the purchase of an annual membership, a new member’s favorite nonprofit organization will receive a gift package. The organization receives a golf round for four, electric carts, and a $50 shop credit to provide prizes for blind auctions and other fundraising events.

• Make Mondays matter: Lake Forest nonprofits can register to receive $2/person in an accrual fund every time they play on a Monday and pay a daily fee.

New members also can sign up by Saturday, March 10, to participate in the permanent tee time lottery to win ideal starting times on weekends and holidays. The lottery winners will be drawn March 17.

“I think people will be pleasantly surprised at what Kemper Sports Management will bring to the city,” said Hirasawa.

Changes for the golf course include a practice facility in the restaurant’s former location and renovations on the golf shop.

“The golf shop has been stripped down and rebuilt, using mostly new materials from The Glen, another golf course in Glenview. We’ve benefited from that relationship — we doubled the space at half the cost.”

Other changes include new flight scope technology and professional PGA golfers.

Rick Walrath, , said his start has been “wonderful, very welcoming” and that he is looking forward to good weather to start the season.

“The city and committee put forth the new incentives to get people excited and interested in coming out,” Walrath said. “Buying before April 1 has people talking right now.”

Walrath highlighted the month-long pass to the Lake Forest Fitness Center included with early registration as “a great opportunity for people to try out another great facility.”

To those on the fence about a membership, Walrath points out that it is the only public golf course in a private club-heavy area.

“The course is fun to play, good to walk and it’s accessible,” he said. “It fits the mold for an active golf participant and traditional golfers who like to walk and carry.”

Membership applications can be found here.

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