Columbus Park Putting Course

In partnership with the Chicago Park District and Troon, we transformed a public space in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood into the new Columbus Park Putting Course. This first-of-its-kind facility introduces a new recreation concept aimed at making golf accessible and fun for everyone. The core mission was to remove the financial and social barriers of traditional golf, creating a welcoming and unintimidating entry point for new players and families.

Our team installed a comprehensive 22,000-square-foot facility, the first to integrate four distinct short-game elements into a single park. It features a 9-hole putting course, a full-size practice green, a dedicated chipping area with specialized turf for authentic shot performance, and a real sand bunker. This $450,000 project, funded by Troon as part of a city-wide capital improvement initiative, brought significant new investment and high-quality recreational infrastructure to the city’s West Side.

The park is now a vibrant, free-to-use community hub that is already having a tangible impact. It provides a valuable new resource for the long-running Chicago Road Kings Junior Golf Program and hosts innovative initiatives like “Play Like A Champion,” which brings local youth together with police officers. By successfully fostering community well-being, the Columbus Park Putting Course stands as a model for accessible public golf.