Pro golfer Tiger Woods is putting his time, talent and treasure into a new project that’s very close to his heart. According to CNN, Woods and his TGR Design team are working together to develop an 18-hole course near the coast of Lake Michigan, with a view of the Chicago skyline.
‘It’s Time to Be Done’: Benjamin Watson Announces Retirement Ahead of NFL Playoffs
By establishing a brand-new public golf course on Chicago’s south side, Woods hopes to share his love of the sport with disadvantaged children. The privately funded park will offer opportunities for children of varying economic backgrounds to learn golf and compete for college scholarships.
In an August interview with the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance, Woods, who grew up in Cypress, California, described how free public golf courses made his early career possible.
“Growing up on a public golf course was instrumental for me getting the experience to compete and play,” he said.
Woods, 43, noted that his family “didn’t have enough money … to be part of a country club, so it was huge for us to be able to play on a public golf course.”
Back in September, the Jackson Park Golf Association held its Inaugural Golf Invitational in Jackson Park. The event drew more than 100 golfers from leagues and clubs across the city, WLS-TV reported.
Woods’ involvement in the park’s redesign began with a personal request from former President Barack Obama, according to WLS.
Speaking to the Alliance, Woods called the project “as good as it gets.”
“We have the opportunity to create something so special,” he added.
A public course that can be so much more than just golf. An honor for me and my @tgrdesignbytw team to be involved.https://t.co/iZjHIoRFMH
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) December 29, 2018
CNN reported that Woods and his team are “lead architects on a proposal to redevelop the Jackson Park and South Shore Golf Courses in downtown Chicago.”
Woods will be working with NBC golf commentator Mark Rolfing, who heads the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance. Construction and renovation of the 100-year-old park could begin in 2019, as the project “was given the potential go-ahead” last month during a Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners meeting, according to CNN.