Forest Park Golf Course Renovation

The current 27 holes will be reconfigured as three nine hole courses, which can be combined to be played as 18 holes, lending more variety and flexibility than now exists. Construction will be phased so that the courses will remain open and at least nine holes will be playable at all times.

Each nine-hole course will be named for a native Missouri tree: Dogwood, Redbud or Hawthorne. The clubhouse will be a completely new structure and will be located near the Forsyth entrance to Forest Park. The Lindell Pavilion, which houses the current clubhouse, will be restored according to the Forest Park Master Plan and converted into a multi-use Visitor's Center.

A $12.5 million funding agreement was reached among the City of St. Louis, Forest Park Forever, the Norman K. Probstein Foundation and American Golf Corporation for the construction of the golf course and club house as part of the Forest Park Master Plan.

A $2 million pledge from St. Louis Developer Norman K. Probstein was the initial gift toward the full project funding, which includes $1.6 million from the City of St. Louis, $2 million from the American Golf Corporation, $2.4 million from the Danforth Foundation as part of their "Progress Plus" challenge grant, and $4.5 million in private funds from Forest Park Forever. The facility will be named the Norman K. Probstein Community Golf Courses and youth Learning Center, and will be a Hale Irwin Signature Design.

A native of St. Louis, Norman K. Probstein was Chairman of Madesco Investment Corp., established in 1960 with the late Morton D. May. He died this winter.

In making his pledge, Probstein explained, "The golf courses in Forest Park have been the training ground and home course for innumerable St. Louis golfers over the years. It is very exciting for me to know that future generations will also get their start here, and that they will do so in a unique urban setting on one of the finest municipal courses in the nation. I am privileged and delighted to play a part in the improvements to the courses, the new clubhouse and the restoration of Forest Park."

The new Youth Learning Center will be run by a PGA professional and will be open to children in the community, ages 7 to 17. It will offer golf instruction for all skill levels with an emphasis on diversity and broad-based participation.

American Golf has managed and maintained the courses for the past 13 years, and signed a lease extension with the City of St. Louis.

The largest golf management company in the world, American Golf is dedicated to helping people of all ages and backgrounds learn and enjoy the game of golf through its many training facilities. As part of their lease agreement with the City. American Golf also has pledged $2 million to the Forest Park Forever capital campaign, thereby investing the company's resources in the long-term future of Forest Park.

Rich Holman, Senior Vice President of American Golf said, "In addition to outstanding facilities and world-class service, American Golf is dedicated to helping people of all ages and backgrounds learn and enjoy the game of golf. We are pleased to play a role in the upgrade of this historic course and provide training for the young people of St. Louis."

Pending design and bid approval, ground breaking on the new courses will take place in the summer of 2001. Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program practices will be followed in the design in order to promote ecologically sound land management and conservation of natural resources. The Audubon Program also sets standards for wildlife and habitat management, pest management, water conservation and water quality management. The course will feature zoysia fairways and a number of new water features as part of the new park system. The golf course reconfiguration is a pivotal component of the Forest Park master Plan implementation, and must move forward prior to the renovations of the Grand Basin, Lindell Pavilion, and other park facilities.

The 27-hole Hale Irwin signature course will include three 9-hole courses, each of which may be played as 9 or combined for 18-hole rounds. The new clubhouse will include "Ruthie's Cafe, "a golf supply shop, a banquet facility called "Champions Room," and class rooms and offices. The clubhouse has been designed by Powers Bowersox Inc.