A group of 28 local investors is buying the Gibson City, Ill., property’s clubhouse, practice greens, driving range, and 10 of the golf course’s 18 holes to create two six-hole loops. The group is shooting for a May 1 opening for the clubhouse, with the course opening shortly after.
A group of about 28 local investors are embarking on creating the only 12-hole golf course in the state, after purchasing Railside Golf Club in Gibson City, Ill., the Bloomington, Ill., Pantagraph reported.
The group will be purchasing 10 holes, three practice greens, driving range and the 5,000-sq. ft. clubhouse, which features a pro shop, restaurant, lounge and 150-seat banquet facility, from owner Doug Brucker on April 5. Brucker had no plans to reopen the course this year and had it up for sale, the Pantagraph reported.
“We tried our best to buy the whole 18, but we couldn’t reach a deal,” said Guy Percy, one of the 28 investors who was the club’s first PGA professional when the club opened in 1993. The investor group could have decided on a traditional nine-hole course. However, Percy said the group wanted to get “a little creative” and develop something not seen anywhere near here, the Pantagraph reported.
“It’s an international trend led by Jack Nicklaus,” he said of a 12-hole layout. “He’s concerned about the rounds being played are down throughout the world, the reasoning being people are too busy to play five hours on a Saturday.”
Now, Railside will have two six-hole loops. Golfers can decide if they have the time to play six holes, 12 holes or repeat one of the loops for a traditional 18 holes with a different rate for each. Percy predicted “there will be more” 12-hole courses coming in Illinois as golfers find it more appealing to their busy schedules, the Pantagraph reported.
There are other advantages to having 12 holes instead of nine, according to Percy. The course won’t have to close when high school golf matches are being played after school, while the number of golfers in an outing increases from 80 (with nine holes) to 100 (with 12 holes) using a shotgun format, the Pantagraph reported.
Because the portion of the course being purchased has 10 holes, there will be two new holes built using current practice greens. The signature hole will be the new No. 12, Percy said, with the tee at the back corner of the driving range to the practice green by the club’s entrance, the Pantagraph reported.
“It’s going to be the most memorable 80-yard par-3 you’ll ever see,” Percy said.
The front six holes will be current Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9. The par-3 seventh, with a horseshoe green, will have a different angle with golfers teeing off on the current fourth tee. Also, No. 8 will change to a par-5 so the first six holes will play to a par-24. The back six will include current holes Nos. 10, 11 and 17 (changed to a par-4) along with building a par-3 using a practice green and the closing par-3 for a par-23, the Pantagraph reported.
Work will start on a new roof for the clubhouse on April 6 along with construction on the course. The restaurant and clubhouse is shooting for a May 1 opening, according to Percy, with the course hoping to be ready for golfers shortly after that, the Pantagraph reported.
The driving range likely will be converted to a practice area where golfers bring their own balls to use. A new fleet of carts is being purchased with USB ports. Interviews also are ongoing to hire a PGA professional and superintendent, the Pantagraph reported.
“It’s going to be a fun little thing,” said Percy.
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