Naperbrook Golf Course background
Overview
Located in northwest unincorporated Plainfield, scenic Naperbrook Golf Course is “links-style” course, carved out of good Illinois farmland. It features rolling hills, native prairie grasses and ten ponds throughout the 6,755 yard, par 72 challenge with four sets of tees, large greens, one double green, hidden bunkers and wide fairways. Additional amenities include a ten-acre driving range, separate lesson tee and 10,000 and 3,000 square foot practice putting greens.
Golf lessons taught by our experienced, on-staff professionals are offered throughout the season as well. The clubhouse features a golf shop stocked with the latest in golf accessories and apparel. A food service area that seats 60 serves a wide variety of snacks and beverages, and the relaxing outdoor patio is a great place to enjoy some pre- or post-game refreshments.
The District’s second course also has been viewed as a precious gem for the residents and nonresident golfers in southern Naperville and Plainfield. More than 39,500 rounds are played on the course annually with approximately 60% being played by local residents.
Naperbrook Golf Course has been recognized by Golf Digest as one of the “Top Places to Play.”
History:
The 170-acre Crego Farm was purchased by the Naperville Park District in January 1988 to build a second golf course; Springbrook Golf Course had opened in 1974. Following a fall groundbreaking ceremony, the new 18-hole championship course was named “Naperbrook” due to its affiliation with the Naperville Park District and close proximity to Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Naperbrook Golf Course, designed by golf course architect Larry Packard, opened its doors on April 27, 1991, only to be forced to close three weeks later because of a 13” rain that flooded the back nine.
Over the past ten years, many improvements have been made to the Naperbrook facility.
• Perimeter fence installation and repairs – 1996/98/00/05
• Cart paths throughout 60% of the course
• Clubhouse carpeting replacement - 2000
• ADA clubhouse retrofit – 2002
• Addition of chemical rinsate building - 2005
• Replacement of hole #8 green complex – 2005/06
• Course entrance signs – 2006
• Three new tee boxes – 2006/07
• Two on-course restroom facilities – 2007
• Clubhouse office/storage/basement addition – 2007/08
• Target greens on the driving range - 2008
Naperbrook’s Future
In the near future, there are several projects that are planned for Naperbrook Golf Course. They include:
• Bunker renovations on holes 15 through 18 (NB)
• Clean-up to hole #9 greenside pond (NB)
• Restore tee #9 (NB)
Our Mission and Vision
The Naperville Park District Golf Operations staff is dedicated to serving our customers by providing high-quality golfing experiences to players of all ages and abilities at an affordable price while enhancing their enjoyment of the game of golf.
Naperville Park District Golf Operations will:
• Be recognized as a premier municipal golf operation by all guests.
• Receive increased recognition from the golfing public as an operation with high standards, integrity and high-quality customer service.
• Deliver competitively priced golf to Naperville residents and nonresident guests.
• Provide continual enhancements to the playability and condition of each of the District golf facilities.
The guiding principles drive everything that we do and assist in making decisions related to golf. The four main principles - customer service, financial stability, public access and effective operations - allow staff to focus its efforts and resources in the areas that are most important to golfers.
Each of the golf complexes is unique in what is offered to the golfing public. Staff recognizes that uniqueness and manages the facilities accordingly. The intent of the business plan is to simplify the golf experience, yet maintain the integrity of each of the two facilities and continue to provide high-quality customer service, course conditions and affordable golf to as many people as possible.
Golf Operations
The Naperville Park District Golf Operations is one of five operating departments within the Naperville Park District, and currently the District operates two 18-hole municipal golf facilities. Each facility offers a different golfing opportunity for players of all ages and abilities. One of the goals within the golf department is to provide challenging yet accessible and enjoyable golfing experiences to the residents of Naperville as well as to our nonresident guests at an affordable price.
The Naperville Park District Golf department is unique in that it operates as an Enterprise Fund. This requires the golf courses to generate sufficient revenues to cover all operational and maintenance expenses, capital improvement costs and any debt service incurred by the department and avoid using general fund monies. It is extremely important to maintain and manage the Enterprise Fund in a fiscally responsible manner so that the users of the facilities (golfers) are not only supporting the daily operational and maintenance costs, but also the long term capital improvement projects keeping the courses competitive with the local golf market and up to today’s industry standards.
Early in 2008, Golf Services developed a five-year business plan that will run through November 2013. This plan is to be used primarily to develop guidelines related to Golf Department principles, a five-year golf course fee structure, fair and equitable distribution of tee times for all stakeholders and to outline a five and ten-year capital improvement plan. Currently the golf department is working with a golf consulting firm in Colorado, Golf Convergence, Inc. Golf Convergence was retained in late 2008 to study current operational practices, maintenance practices and to assist staff with the development of the five-year business plan.
The golf operational goals will be based around the mission and vision of District golf operations and guiding principles that address the core values of the department.