Evanston Wilmette Community Golf Course

(cart included), played on Friday, July 2013 at 4pm

I previously rated this golf course in 2011. Some of my past comments were critical, but I am pleased to say that major improvements have taken place during the two year interim. There have been significant personnel and management changes and the groundskeeping crew is now being properly supervised by a new superintendent. While there is more work to be done, the progress to date has been significant. Many golfers have complimented the staff and have noted that the golf course appears to be in its best condition in nearly a decade. Seventeen the greens have been aerated and top dressed. While some are still being improved upon, all of the greens are better than last Summer. One green has been completely resodded with new turf and should be open for play in two weeks. Likewise, the tees and bunkers have received greater attention and care. The 94 year old Canal Banks golf course deserves a second look from area players.

Member (cart not included), played on Saturday, June 2013 at 10am

This course is now known as the Evanston Wilmette Community Golf Course. The locals often refer to it as "Canal Shores". It is situated on narrow fairways and is longer north to south. The course starts outside the American Legion Hall in Evanston, goes up to the Bahai Temple in Wilmette and works its way back down to Noyes St. in Evanston. Great course to walk, but carts are available. Challenging holes fine tune short and long irons. Course is getting in much better condition and there's a Tour of Duty tournament coming there in August. Good value and worth trying.

(cart included), played on Friday, August 2012 at 2pm

hit and giggle cow pasture -- but that might insult the bovine nation. a little better greens keeping -- like rogers park course and could be a lot better -- but serves purpose

$10 (cart not included), played on Sunday, July 2006 at 10am

I attended NU decades ago but had no interest in golf then. My brother and I have played it about fifteen times since. He was a scratch golfer and he never complained. It was what it was. I believe it cost us eight dollars many years ago; and we got $8 worth of course. An advantage was that golf was not as popular then, so there were not many golfers which allowed us to go at our own pace.

It came with its amusing quirks. No one has mentioned, maybe because they are no longer there, that coming back from the southward Baha'i Temple hole, one passed by a fenced-in area with goats, rabbits, small deer and other animals: a tiny zoo-like enclosure feet from your path.

It only takes a very short time to recognize what kind of course it is. Maybe we weren't as demanding because we were accustomed to playing the public courses of northwestern Lake County, most of which did not resemble a country club. I remember viewing the fairways at Pine Meadows and thinking they resembled some of the better greens we had played on in the past. There was a split moment when I recoiled at the thought of tearing into the beautiful turf with my club.

Many weekends, for example, we played at Brae Loch before the Lake County Forest Preserve took over its management. There would be an occasional yellow dandelion with a very short stalk growing on a green. And also my brother grew up playing Sunset Valley in Highland Park before they installed an extensive watering system. The clay-based fairways would present a challenge to even the young backs and wrists of teen-aged players hitting their irons.

Member (cart not included), played on Wednesday, June 2011 at 2pm

Renamed Frank Govern Memorial Golf Course (a commemorative plaque for Peter N. Jans is on first tee), this is a deceptively difficult, short course with narrow fairways and small greens.

There are some long par 3s here that require long and accurate drives. The course parallels the North Shore Channel and winds through a scenic suburban residential neighborhood. There are six par 4s and twelve par 3s on the course. There are two water holes and twenty-three sand traps. Practice greens are available near the parking lot.

The course has been neglected in recent years and it is always harder to repair something to its original condition than it is to maintain it in the first place. Things are improving as of late, but there is always more to be done. Many of the trees on the course need to be pruned and this can effect your shots. The soil has plenty of hard pan clay in it and the ball can take some odd bounces sometimes.

Interruptions and petty vandalism are constant problems at this course. Too many neighbors (children, dog walkers, joggers) feel that they can enter the grounds whenever they please without paying any regard to the golfers.

There is a small pro shop at the 1st tee and a refreshment stand at the 7th tee. Visitors with a current day's golf tag are welcome to visit the American Legion Post in the clubhouse above the 18th fairway on the day that they played golf.

Under ideal circumstances, this can be a challenging and fun course, but the groundskeeping issues need to be addressed.