Plans for a new chipping and bunker practice complex in the spot where Naperbrook Golf Course’s 18th hole green are moving forward.
Similar to what has proven to be a popular enhancement to Naperville’s Springbrook Golf Course, the new amenity should add more space to the 22204 Hassert Blvd. facility and allow for more programming options, Naperville Park District officials said at Thursday’s park board meeting.
A final plan will be brought to the board at a future meeting that shows where the new 18th green will be moved behind the 11th hole, golf director Kevin Carlson said.
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That’s the first phase of the work, scheduled for completion by Sept. 15, and should not affect play on the course, he said.
“It should be a really fun and challenging hole,” Carlson said.
The second phase, reconfiguring the 18th green for use as a practice area, is to be done in 2024. Residents “were overwhelmingly demanding or asking for additional practice facilities,” Carlson said.
He also noted that the recent mild temperatures so far this winter allowed Naperbrook to open for use on Jan. 15 and drew about 80 golfers. Portable restrooms were set up because the clubhouse has yet to have its water restored after the board agreed earlier this month to skipping the bidding process in order to expedite the repair work needed to the well motor and piping.
The board will get another update on the status of the work at a future meeting.
Despite the inconvenience, “people were just happy to be out there (on the course),” Carlson said.
Giles Bruce is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.