The cornerstone of the privately funded project in Evanston, Ill. is an emphasis on youth golf and includes a renovation to the holes in front of Canal Shores’ clubhouse that will serve as a new youth golf facility, as well as the creation of a caddie academy.

Members of the Evanston and Wilmette, Ill. community gathered June 1 at Canal Shores Golf Course to officially break ground on the renovations taking place at the 103-year-old course as part of the Canal Shores 2nd Century Campaign.

The cornerstone of the privately funded project is an emphasis on youth golf and includes a renovation to the holes in front of Canal Shores’ clubhouse that will serve as a new youth golf facility, as well as the creation of a caddie academy.

In attendance were representatives from the Western Golf Association (WGA), which administers the Chick Evans Scholarship Fund, and First Tee – Greater Chicago. Both of these organizations vocalized their support of the project and detailed how these renovations would directly and positively impact their youth.

During the ceremony, Ryan Lach, an Evans Scholar and current sophomore at Northwestern University, shared his story on how life-changing the WGA and Evans Scholarship is for young adults like him. He noted that Canal Shores (affectionately known as “Evanston’s gem”) has felt like a second home to him, and how he hopes the renovations can extend the impact of these crucial youth golf organizations and provide that sense of home for future generations.

Lach is one of the hundreds of North Shore volunteers (which includes the Lumberjacks of Canal Shores) that dedicate their time to the upkeep of the course.

Representatives from KemperSports, Wadsworth Golf Construction Company, Chicago District Golf Association, the local municipalities, Northwestern and course architect Todd Quitno were also in attendance. During the ceremony, emcee Josh Lesnik of KemperSports noted how the project is truly a community effort, and that was evident in the support the groundbreaking received today. 

Canal Shores has raised more than $4 million of its $5.9 million goal for what is being called the “Canal Shores 2^nd Century” campaign.