Lake County Gazette

A group was recently formed to protect the Lake Bluff Golf Course after the Lake Bluff Park District Land Use Citizen Task Force released a report proposing numerous changes to the course, including its closure as a golf club.

Protect the Lake Bluff Golf Course, which currently has 572 Facebook group members, posted that the organization was formed to secure the golf course "in every and any way possible." The group was formerly "Support the Lake Bluff Golf Course."

"This community gem is not just about golf: it’s about the people -- golfers and non-golfers alike -- who have cherished the course for the past 50+ years," the group posted on Facebook. "Whether you are a pro golfer or a duffer, a young kid just learning the game, someone who craves their ideal annual tee time, or someone who simply loves to walk the course when the mist is rising over it in the morning, this is YOUR course. Join us in making it better, more vital, and more sustainable into the years ahead.”

The Lake Bluff Park District sent a mailer to its constituents informing them of a meeting regarding the future of the Lake Bluff Golf Course. The Facebook group established to preserve the course is imploring people to attend meetings and make their voices heard. Three public forums will be held at the recreation center gym on July 18, 25, and Aug. 9. People can ask questions about the Land Use Task Force Report on the first Monday. Opinions and feedback on the report and future use of park district property will be discussed the following Monday. The third meeting to provide feedback will be conducted on the Aug. 9 public forum.

The Land Use Citizen Task Force of the Lake Bluff Park District released its final report dated June 28. The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission has proposed 40-acre-feet stormwater storage on the Lake Bluff Golf Course. 

The task force has several proposals for the property:

Creating wetlands and an upland prairie with active recreation including golf;

Creating wetlands and an upland prairie with a 9-hole golf course; 

Creating wetlands and an upland prairie without active recreation (no golf);

Creating wetlands and an upland prairie with active recreation, but no golf;

Just a wetland (golf course is closed and land returns to natural state); 

Retaining golf course (no changes to the golf course and no stormwater storage, continued periodic flooding can be expected);

Flood easement (no changes to the golf course, increased flooding and course closures); 

Close the course for a year with changes in course design to give way to storage areas built on the course.

Lake Bluff Golf Club was founded in 1968. Despite the future of the golf course being uncertain due to the Lake Bluff Stormwater Wetlands Proposal, its website says, “GolfVisions remains committed to successfully operating the Lake Bluff Golf Club on behalf of the Lake Bluff Park District.” It also invites guests: "Lake Bluff Golf Club is open for the 2022 season!" the website reads.