KEMPER LAKES HIRES RICK JACOBSON TO DO RENOVATIONS
BOWES CREEK COUNTRY CLUB IN ELGIN IS A RICK JACOBSON DESIGN
RICK JACOBSON HAS BEEN HIRED BY KEMPER LAKES GC, to
do the clubs renovation plan for it's now 32 year old golf course. That
was originally designed by Dick Nugent and his late partner Ken Killian.
Jacobson began his architectural career working with Jack Nicklaus,
but has had his own firm for 20 years. Jacobson was selected out of
the eight architects that were interviewed about the project.
Most recently Jacobson has been awarded for several new courses
he has built in China. He has also renovated several courses in Japan.
"Weare extremely excited and tremendously proud to be working on
a project aimed at revitalizing one of the best-known championship
golf courses in the Chicago area, " said Jacobson. "In it's relatively
brief history, Kemper Lakes has hosted a major championship, a
number of PGA Tour events as well as prominent national amateur,
state and regional events."
Locally Jacobson's new design Bowes Creek in Elgin has well very
received by local golfers. Some of Jacobsons local renovation work
includes, Oak Park Country Club, Glen Oak Country Club (which is
currently hosting this weeks Illinois State Amateur), Bob O'Link, and
Cantigny Golf in advance of of the USGA Publinks Championship.
Jacobson's renovation work in advance of the 1999 US Senior Open
at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club got great reviews from
the club, USGA and players alike.
In a prepared statement Kemper Lakes General Manager Janet
Dobson announced the hiring of Jacobson.
"Kemper Lakes is pleased to announce that that Rick Jacobson
and his team will be working on behalf of our members to make
long term improvements to a number of very important aspects
of the golf course," Dobson said. "Our first priority for the golf
course will be to renovate the bunkers, but obviously we want
that done within the context of a Master Plan. In undertaking
this renovation our goal is to achieve long-term management
and operational efficiencies without sacrificing the strength and
character of our exsisting design. We want to contiune to provide
a wonderful golf experience for our members while preserving a
tour quality golf course. Based on his strong and extensive track
record, we think Rick is just the person to lead that effort."
Kemper Lakes was founded in 1979 as a high-profile, upscale
public course, the 7,217-yard Kemper Lakes hosted the 1989
PGA Championship the first major won by the late Payne Stewart.
Other top names in the golf world winning titles at Kemper Lakes,
included Hale Irwin and Tom Kite both champions of the Ameritech
Senior Open. Kemper Lakes also previously hosted the PGA of
Americas Grand Slam of Golf, that saw former world #1 player
Greg Norman compete in.
During the year 2003 Kemper Lakes was purchased by a local
developer Stephen Jouzapaitis and Crown Golf Properties, to help
convert the club to a private facility over a four year period.
A starting time for the renovations was not announced, but could
begin as early as this fall. They are expected to be completed
over a multi-year period.
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