Do You Remember the 1990s? Golf courses were popping up around the Midwest faster than dot-coms could go under. Investments designed to cash in on the golf frenzy were being made by speculators who both loved and knew nothing about the game, a cross section of Americana spanning all varieties of industry; auto-part suppliers, aggregate moguls, auto dealership owners, green grass golf professionals and even mom and pop farmers. They retained the services of the best and brightest (so they were told) and constructed fabulous courses, all championship of course, of all shapes and sizes: parkland, links-style, half & half, each touted as bigger and more stunning than the last.

As consumers, we ate it up. With so many different “courses” to devour, our hunger for new-new-new seemed insatiable. So what happened? Well, we apparently got full. As economic and geopolitical conditions shifted, development downshifted to nearly a halt and we were left with more supply than demand. Fast-forward a decade. Many of the courses we came to know and love as our next “most favorite” are still around and are still our favorites. Having weathered many storms, literally and metaphorically, these properties of varying sizes continue to search for points of difference. Some are happy not breaking the bank while others have gone back to the bank to finance big undertakings.

With laws of supply and demand always in play, the big question remains…what exactly are Midwestern golf/travel consumers demanding today and how much, if any, change can course owners afford to implement and execute? A number of properties have pressed play on makeover action plans and we’d like to draw your attention to some of them.

French Lick Resort and Casino
French Lick, Indiana

The most aggressive undertaking has to be that of the Indianapolis group in the final throws of a $382 million historic renovation project that has refurbished the French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs Hotels. When complete, the century-plus old resort destination will feature 689 guest rooms and suites; a brand new 42,000-square-foot, single-level casino; 45-holes of golf, two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms and an array of dining and entertainment options.
A portion of the restoration budget has gone into the renovation of the property’s Donald Ross Course. Formerly known as The Hill Course, $4.6 million has been dedicated to returning the course to Ross’ early vision. The project included restoring greens and bunkers to their original shapes and creating native grass areas, emulating Scottish links-style playing conditions. Officially reopened last September the Ross Course is accompanied by a new 60,000-square-foot Sports Center, which offers a 10-station indoor driving range and indoor putting green, video swing analysis and five freshly resurfaced tennis courts. Finally, by spring 2008, we all can look forward to the opening of a new Pete Dye design.
For more information on the details of the restoration project and/or more importantly for reservations, please visit www.frenchlick.com or call 812.936.9300.

Double JJ Ranch and Golf Resort
Rothbury, Michigan

Seventy years ago, the Double JJ (then known as the Jack & Jill) was simply a dude ranch. Today, the Double JJ Ranch and Golf Resort is a bona fide entertainment and leisure megaplex, trademarked by its Wild West architecture and award-winning 18-hole golf course designed by Arthur Hills (it was recently named “One of the Best in the State” by Golf Digest).
Last summer, the West Michigan resort began a $36 million expansion. The first phase includes the Thoroughbred Suites, part of the condo-hotel trend taking place nationwide. The units range from 497 to 3,625 square feet, and feature full kitchen, in-room Jacuzzi, and private balcony. Phase II of the Thoroughbred Suites is currently being sold pre-construction.
Set to complement Hills’s 6,900-yard creation is the 100,000-square-foot New Frontier Entertainment Complex and Gold Rush Water Park, to be completed in 2008. It will feature a sports bar
and grill, shopping pavilion and fitness center. The wave pool,
five-story water slide tower resembling a Western-themed Las Vegas casino, and action river with two speeds — “lazy” and “crazy” — opened last November.
“This is an exciting time for the Double JJ,” says resort co-owner Joan Lipsitz. “We are celebrating our 70th anniversary, and what a way to celebrate.”
For more information or to inquire about condominium reservations, please visit www.doublejj.com or call 800.DOUBLEJJ.

Lake Lawn Resort,
Delavan, Wisconsin

Clocking in at nearly 130 years, Lake Lawn Resort is one of the oldest respites in the Great Lakes region. Founded in 1879, the resort has been a summer staple thanks to its 18-hole championship golf course re-engineered by famed architect Dick Nugent in 1990 (it originally opened in 1921), and the marquee attraction: Delavan Lake. Lake Lawn boasts 1.5 miles of lakefront shoreline, as well as 250-plus acres of surrounding woodlands. But as with any resort built during the Rutherford B. Hayes administration, the laugh lines and wrinkles are starting to show. Last fall, Delavan Resort Holdings bought the property for just shy of $32 million; the company also purchased the neighboring private airfield. The plan: expand the expanse.
Lake Lawn is currently undergoing a whopping $390 million renovation and expansion that will not only add 1,000 guest rooms, but create a 165-slip marina and boardwalk, 30,000-square-foot spa, five new restaurants and a 130,000-square-foot water park. Attention is also being paid to Nugent’s baby: the course is being revamped, and will get a new clubhouse. “Because of the size of the resort, I think it requires multiple amenities,” resort co-owner Tom Quinn told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2005. “But I think we still regard Delavan Lake as our crown jewel.” The completion date is slated for 2009.
For more information, please visit www.lakelawnresort.com or call 800.338.5253.

Devils Head Resort
Merrimac, Wisconsin

With 500 vertical feet of elevation, 15 lifts and 28 runs, Devil’s Head Resort has long been known as a ski get-a-way for Midwest action seekers and party goers. This sneaky little resort, however, has been slowly but surely building up its golf and lodging offerings over the past two years. Now with two 18 hole golf courses, The Prairie Glen and The Glacier, and beautiful new condos to compliment the hotel, this four-season resort just two hours north of the Windy City is equally attractive for those seeking out summer’s sinful pleasures.
Of particular interest are the new and very nicely appointed The Glacier Ridge Condos. These fractional units are currently selling quarter deeded 13-week per/year shares for $126,000. Owners can use their unit for part of the week and rent it out for the remaining nights of the week. They can also receive gratis access to use the resort’s indoor pool, whirlpools, sauna, fitness center, outdoor pool, tennis courts and hiking/mountain biking trails and the resort’s property management system.
For more information on Devil’s Head and/or their Glacier Ridge Condos, please call 800-472-6670 or visit www.devilsheadresort.com.

Chicago Park District
Chicago, Illinois

The 7,300 acres that comprise the Chicago Park District come in all shapes and sizes: 552 parks, 33 beaches, nine museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, and 10 bird and wildlife gardens. It’s also home to six public golf courses (five nine-hole and one 18-hole), three driving ranges, two miniature golf courses and three learning centers. Fourteen years ago, the Chicago Park District was looking to upgrade the golf courses, and not by surrounding them with casinos, condominiums and pricey spas. This renovation was to be all about the golf. For the job, the Chicago Park District looked only 20 miles outside the city to KemperSports.
Headquartered in Northbrook, KemperSports is a golf course management firm that counts 70 courses as clients, including several in Illinois: Bolingbrook Golf Club, Westbury Country Club, Hawthorn Woods Country Club and the First Tee Golf Facility. In 1993, KemperSports began its partnership with the Chicago Park District, and it continues today. So far more than $7 million has been used for capital improvement projects including recent tee renovations and irrigation systems (Jackson Park, South Shore), as well as building a new clubhouse (Jackson Park) and a two-tiered, all-weather driving range and practice facility (Lincoln Park). Recent expenditures also include the building of three First Tee Facilities at Marquette Golf Course, Douglas Park and South Shore and new target greens and 18-hole miniature golf course at Diversey Driving Range.
For more information, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

It goes without saying there are more properties of all shapes, sizes and zip codes investing in their own betterment. Look for GLG to continue to highlight a couple in each ensuing issue…or at least until there are none left or we are no more (and this isn’t gonna happen). For your part, we ask that you respect the effort by making the effort get out and check out the change.

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