Committee Discusses Options for Driving Range

Libertyville will begin to consider renting a less used section of the driving range within the as the village also reviews selling the property to reduce its debt.

Connie Kowal, director of recreation and Sports Complex, said the south side of the driving range closest to Peterson Road, offers minimal revenue potential. The section, which features the putting green, chipping green and grass tee practice area is difficult to manage  due to its topography and its distance, according to Kowal.

"It is out of site, out of mind to the clubhouse and thus is tough to manage for revenue production," said Kowal before the Parks and Recreation Committee and Commission Tuesday night.

He said the area may better be used as a rental field area for other sports or activities to generate better revenue.

The space also could give department supervisors more inventory and flexibility to offer outdoor rental space. Safety measures would need to be put into place to provide safety from the driving range action, he added.

Area Sports Group Seeks Space

But as the committee considered this space, representatives from area sports groups asked the committee to explore using the driving range to provide needed space to their programs.

Jim Mervis of the Libertyville Girls Softball Association said the space could be used to host tournaments and would bring in revenue through entry fees. Concessions and sponsorships could also help reduce the debt on the property.

Kowal said right now he is looking at how the space can be used because this section does not fit the business plan.

"I look at it from a simple aspect of what can we take down without any change to it as opposed to it something that will take a lot of investment and is limited seasonal," he said.

Trustee Todd Gaines said there was discussion last year, comparing it to the former Softball City in Hainesville where they would create four fields along with a concession area.

"We realize there is revenues in those fields. Coming up with the money to build them, that's the issue," Gaines said.

Financial Considerations

Trustee Drew Cullum, who chairs the Park and Recreation Committee, said the village cannot throw money to get something to go the second time around.

"We're open to ideas, but that is an expensive piece of land to turn into some baseball fields," Cullum said.

Kowal adds the driving range is attracting customers this year,  people lined up at 11 a.m. before the range opened at noon last weekend.

"That's not bad for the end of February," he said.

He said it's possible to sell the driving range, but it's his job to make the driving range successful.

"We hope to provide a facility where customers were have a wonderful time learning the game of golf," he said.