DRAFr AND CONFIDENTIAL

To:

Rahm Emanuel
Mayor

From:

Michael P. Kelly
General Superintendent and CEO

Date:

August 3, 2016

RE:

Chicago Golf

We have an opportunity to transform Jackson Park golf course (1899) and South Shore golf course
(1907) into the strongest urban golf site the PGA tour has seen in 25 years, but only if the Obama
Foundation and the community strongly encourage us to reinvest in our two historic golf courses. Note
we must combine the two courses (27 holes) Into one course (18 holes) and vacate Marquette road
which currently splits Jackson Park GC.
This reasonable investment will create numerous jobs, stimulate the local economy and restore these
historic community assets for future generations. Furthermore, this process will rejuvenate our Chicago
Golf brand at all of our facilities. As you know, the Chicago Park District owns six golf course (South
Shore, Jackson Park, Marquette, Columbus, Black, and Marovitz), three driving ranges (Jackson Park,
Marquette and Diversey) and a soon to be redesigned practice area at Douglas.
In order to recognize this vision, we partnered with Mark Rolfing to be our Golf Facilities and Industry
Advisor. Mark is a passionate leader and talent in golf. A native Chicagoan, Mark also happens to have
unique relationships with PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, local business leaders and countless
golf celebrities. Collectively, we developed the following strategies:
Closely coordinate with the Obama Foundation.
As of today, both Mark Rolfing and I have spoken with Marty Nesbitt. Marty proposes a
meeting for next week which may include a site visit from Tiger Woods. We think a meeting
with the foundation is an excellent Idea, but we are concerned about media exposure if Tiger is
seen on Chicago's south side. Nevertheless, we defer to Marty on this matter and he has our
support.
Two weeks ago Mark and I met with another golf course designer Ben Crenshaw. Crenshaw's
firm typically embraces a prairie style course that is sustainable and budget friendly.
Additionally, Mark Rolfing and Ben Crenshaw have worked on other projects together. Mr.
Crenshaw has NOT signed on to the project at this point.

In any event, whoever redesigns South Shore and Jackson Park, needs to be someone that can
work within budget, maintain an excellent relationship with the community, and deliver a
course that guarantees a PGA tour event in summer, 2021 and beyond.
Community Support

It is critical for YOU that this project has the support of the Obama Foundation and the
surrounding community. Furthermore, the community should initiate the request to improve
the golf courses. As you know, it is very common for Chicagoans to request significant capital
improvements to its Park facilities. This project is no different. Still, we must be very cautious
as this community typically weighs in loudly on any capital project that makes change. Consider,
the decade-old promontory point revetment project and the 63"' street beach Improvements.
Or the more recent opposition to the Phoenix Pavilion and the Yoko Ono sculpture installation.
Additionally, the community already wants to know where we will relocate the track and field.
Thus, it is critical that the community request a significant investment in Jackson Park golf
course and South Shore golf course. And that this investment will greatly benefit the greater
Jackson Park community.
Construction Tlmeline

In order to host a 2021 PGA Tour event we need to follow an aggressive timeline.
Starting next year 2017 we recommend redeveloping three golf holes to the south of the South
Shore Cultural Center. This will preview the course restoration and invite wonderful images to
be shown during the BMW Championship hosted in Lake Forest in September, 2017.
In 2018, finish the South Shore holes.
2019-2020 begin the redevelopment process of Jackson Park golf course starting on the far-east

side.
Finally, we open the course in 2021 for public play and a professional tournament.
Some final thoughts. This golf course will be great for kids because it will create the nation's premier
First Tee facility as well as create a vibrant caddie program that will result in good paying jobs and
college scholarships.
This park land should be cutting edge in environmental technology making it a model for low water
usage and native plantings that require little or no mowing.
This park land should continue to be a wildlife sanctuary as both Jackson and South Shore present
stopover sites for migratory birds. Note migratory bird paths in the Great Lakes are of interest to the
Army Corps of Engineers. I met with the Army Corps yesterday and they are interested in helping us
create habitat along the lakefront from La Rabida to 71st Street.

Federal transportation dollars could help us with a long standing pinch point at South Shore drive and
67 th Street. This pinch point is also critical to connecting the two courses.
Last, I believe a prairie style design will create a significant amount of natural area acreage which in turn
will bolster your Building on Burnham commitment of 2020 by 2020.
These are my thoughts and I look forward to continuing this discussion at your earliest convenience.

Sender:
Sent:
Recipient:
Subject:

Martin Nesbitt <mnesbitt@vistria.com>

Saturday, August 6, 2016 3:20:00 PM
Rahm Emanuel <mayor_re@rahmemail.com>
Re:

I did not get it.

Sent from my iPhone
> On Aug 6, 2016, at 10:20 AM, Rahm Emanuel <mayor_re@rahmemail.com> wrote:
>

> You have the golf memo?

> Sent from my iPhone

Sender:
Sent:
Recipient:
Subject:
Attachments:

Rahm Emanuel <mayor_re@rahmemail.com>

Saturday, August 6, 2016 8:24:55 PM
Martin (Marty) H. Nesbitt <mnesbitt@vistria.com>
Fwd:Memo
Message Text;Documentl4.docx

Here
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Lindy McGuire
Date: August 5, 2016 at 6:52:23 PM EDT
To: ma_yor~rahmemail.com
Subject: Fwd: Memo

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:
From: Lindy McGuire
Date: August 5, 2016 at 5:32:07 PM CDT
To: mayor re@rahmmail.com
Subject: Memo

Please see attached.A

Thank you.A
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:

DRAFT AND CONFIDENTIAL

To:

Rahm Emanuel
Mayor

From:

Michael P. Kelly
General Superintendent and CEO

Date:

August 3, 2016

RE:

Chicago Golf

We have an opportunity to transform Jackson Park golf course (1899) and South Shore golf course
(1907) into the strongest urban golf site the PGA tour has seen in 25 years, but only if the Obama
Foundation and the community strongly encourage us to reinvest in our two historic golf courses. Note
we must combine the two courses (27 holes) into one course (18 holes} and vacate Marquette road
which currently splits Jackson Park GC.
This reasonable investment will create numerous jobs, stimulate the local economy and restore these
historic community assets for future generations. Furthermore, this process will rejuvenate our Chicago
Golf brand at all of our facilities. As you know, the Chicago Park District owns six golf course (South
Shore, Jackson Park, Marquette, Columbus, Black, and Marovitz), three driving ranges (Jackson Park,
Marquette and Diversey) and a soon to be redesigned practice area at Douglas.
In order to recognize this vision, we partnered with Mark Rolfing to be our Golf Facilities and Industry
Advisor. Mark is a passionate leader and talent in golf. A native Chicagoan, Mark also happens to have
unique relationships with PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, local business leaders and countless
golf celebrities. Collectively, we developed the following strategies:
Closely coordinate with the Obama Foundation.
As of today, both Mark Rolfing and I have spoken with Marty Nesbitt. Marty proposes a
meeting for next week which may include a site visit from Tiger Woods. We think a meeting
with the foundation is an excellent idea, but we are concerned about media exposure ifTiger is
seen on Chicago's south side. Nevertheless, we defer to Marty on this matter and he has our
support.
Two weeks ago Mark and I met with another golf course designer Ben Crenshaw. Crenshaw's
firm typically embraces a prairie style course that is sustainable and budget friendly.
Additionally, Mark Rolfing and Ben Crenshaw have worked on other projects together. Mr.
Crenshaw has NOT signed on to the project at this point.

In any event, whoever redesigns South Shore and Jackson Park, needs to be someone that can
work within budget, maintain an excellent relationship with the community, and deliver a
course that guarantees a PGA tour event in summer, 2021 and beyond.
Community Support

It is critical for YOU that this project has the support of the Obama Foundation and the
surrounding community. Furthermore, the community should initiate the request to improve
the golf courses. As you know, it is very common for Chicagoans to request significant capital
improvements to its Park facilities. This project is no different. Still, we must be very cautious
as this community typically weighs in loudly on any capital project that makes change. Consider,
the decade-old promontory point revetment project and the 63"' street beach improvements.
Or the more recent opposition to the Phoenix Pavilion and the Yoko Ono sculpture installation.
Additionally, the community already wants to know where we will relocate the track and field.
Thus, it is critical that the community request a significant investment in Jackson Park golf
course and South Shore golf course. And that this investment will greatly benefit the greater
Jackson Park community.
Construction Timellne

In order to host a 2021 PGA Tour event we need to follow an aggressive timeline.
Starting next year 2017 we recommend redeveloping three golf holes to the south of the South
Shore Cultural Center. This will preview the course restoration and invite wonderful images to
be shown during the BMW Championship hosted in Lake Forest in September, 2017.
In 2018, finish the South Shore holes.
2019-2020 begin the redevelopment process of Jackson Park golf course starting on the far-east
side.

Finally, we open the course in 2021 for public play and a professional tournament.
Some final thoughts. This golf course will be great for kids because it will create the nation's premier
First Tee facility as well as create a vibrant caddie program that will result in good paying jobs and
college scholarships.
This park land should be cutting edge in environmental technology making it a model for low water
usage and native plantings that require little or no mowing.
This park land should continue to be a wildlife sanctuary as both Jackson and South Shore present
stopover sites for migratory birds. Note migratory bird paths in the Great Lakes are of interest to the
Army Corps of Engineers. I met with the Army Corps yesterday and they are interested in helping us
create habitat along the lakefront from La Rabida to 71tt Street.

Federal transportation dollars could help us with a long standing pinch point at South Shore drive and
th
67 Street This pinch point is also critical to connecting the two courses.
Last, I believe a prairie style design will create a significant amount of natural area acreage which in turn
will bolster your Building on Burnham commitment of 2020 by 2020.
These are my thoughts and I look forward to continuing this discussion at your earliest convenience.

Sender:
Sent:
Recipient:
Subject:

Rahm Emanuel <mayor_re@rahmemail.com>

Saturday, August 6, 2016 10:24:05 PM
Martin Nesbitt <mnesbitt@vistria.com>
Re:Memo

Ok hope that is what you guys were looking for

Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 6, 2016, at 6:11 PM, Martin Nesbitt <mnesbitt@,yistria.pom> wrote:
Got it.
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 6, 2016, at 3:25 PM, Rahm Emanuel <mayor re@rahmemail.com> wrote:
Here
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Lindy McGuire <
Date: August 5, 2016 at 6:52:23 PM EDT
To: mayor re@rahmemail.com
Subject: Fwd: Memo

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:
From: Lindy McGuire <
Date: August 5, 2016 at 5:32:07 PM CDT
To: I.llID'Or r~ahmmail.com
Subject: Memo

Please see attached.

Thank you.
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:

<Document14.docx>

Sender:
Sent:
Recipient:

Rahm Emanuel <mayor_re@rahmemail.com>

Monday, August 8, 2016 1:00:28 PM
Martin (Marty) H. Nesbitt <mnesbitt@vistria.com>

Call me to discuss memo when you have a moment.

Sent from my iPhone

Sender:
Sent:
Recipient:
Subject:

Rahm Emanuel <mayor_re@rahmemail.com>

Monday, August 8, 2016 3:15:02 PM
Martin Nesbitt <mnesbitt@vistria.com>
Re:

No rush
Sent from my iPhone
> On Aug 8, 2016, at 8:23 AM, Martin Nesbitt <mnesbitt@vistria.com> wrote:
>
>Okay.In a big meeting. Will call as soon as it's over.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Aug 8, 2016, at 8:00 AM, Rahm Emanuel <mayor_re@rahmemail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Call me to discuss memo when you have a moment.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone