1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: Along the western shore of Lake Michigan lies the best 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: kept secret on the leisure landscape. It winds through the 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: green and placid gardens of Evanston and Wilmett at the 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: headwaters of the North Shore Channel, a man made drainage 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: canal dug in nineteen ten to flush the north branch 6 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: of the Chicago River into the sanitary and ship Canal 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: to the south. Upon its completion, local visionary Peter and 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: Jan seized the sublime opportunity to repurpose the undeveloped canal 9 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: banks by uttering a single word that would forever alter 10 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: the recreational character of the surroundings. He said, gulf Welcome 11 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: to Canal Shores. Put another log on the fire Nobody 12 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: hears get tied. Welcome to the fire pit. With Matt Chanella, 13 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: coming off the loss of our friend Tim Rosfort and 14 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: two weeks of battling COVID, it's nice to be back, 15 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: feeling healthy again and reporting some good news for all 16 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: the people from Chicago who, upon hearing the name Canal 17 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: Shores are inspired to say, hey, I grew up playing there. 18 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: One year old iconic fixture and fund zone that's wedged 19 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: between Evanston and will Met and ten miles north of 20 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: Wrigley Field, is finally getting some much needed resources and support. 21 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,839 Speaker 1: After years of a passionate band of locals making every 22 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: attempt to restore the bones, implore more investment, and explore 23 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: every option or opportunity for a resurrection, along comes Kemper Sports, 24 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: the Chicago based management company which is affiliated with Bandon, 25 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: down Stream, Song Sand Valley, Big Cedar Lodge, and another 26 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: hundred courses nationwide. Kemper has sunk its teeth, resources and 27 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: relationships into making the Tom Bendelow original design relevant again 28 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: on two acres and multiple many parcels of land. The 29 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: three thousand, nine yard eighteen whole par sixty has been overgrown, 30 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: down trotted, and some might say under performing for quite 31 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: some time. What is owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation 32 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: District that's least to the towns of Evanston and will Met, 33 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: and least again to the Evanston will Met Golf Course 34 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: Association will now be managed by Kemper Sports. Green fees 35 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: range between fifteen and thirty dollars. It's a youth on 36 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: course facility, so junior members of YOC can play for 37 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: five dollars. The nonprofit which has relied heavily on donations 38 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: and create a fundraising finally has an optimistic plan for 39 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: some realistic and relative success. The Canal Shores narrative is 40 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: going to look and sound a lot like Winter Park 41 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: nine in Florida, which was losing almost two fifty dollars 42 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: per year before a one point two million dollar investment 43 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: by a forward thinking mayor resulted in a thoughtful renovation 44 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: by Keith reb and Riley johns Now. The w P 45 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: nine is making money, a lot of it. See goat 46 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: Hill Park in Oceanside, California, where John Ashworth Rallied the 47 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: community to save an incredible asset which is now flourishing 48 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: instead of floundering. And there are countless other success stories 49 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: that continue to follow suit. But while on the subject 50 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: of Ashworth, I have to thank him and link Soul 51 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: for their sponsorship of this podcast and a lot of 52 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: what we create here at the Firepit Collective. The lifestyle 53 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: brand is all that I wear on and off the course. 54 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: Use promo code fire Pit off your next purchase on 55 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: link soul dot com. We'd also like to thank par 56 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: Points for their support. The app vides an alternate way 57 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: to score your next round, which is conducive to beginners, 58 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: family golf or buddy strips looking to mix up their 59 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: formats for betting. Download the part Points app today and 60 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: go make par And we like to thank bag Boy 61 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: for their support. I believe the bag Boy Nitron Auto 62 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: Open push cart is the best out there, and for me, 63 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 1: it's not even close. Now it's back to the news 64 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: out of Evanston, Illinois. In this podcast, you'll be hearing 65 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: from Josh Lesnik, president of Kemper Sports and the original 66 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: general manager of Bandoned Dunes. Lesnik grew up in the 67 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: town of Winnetka, which is only fifteen minutes from Canal Shores. 68 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: Pretty Much everyone around here grew up playing. You know, 69 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: if you wear a Canal Shores logo around, everyone's like, 70 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: I've played there. I grew up playing there, so it's 71 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: just it's just a part of the community that I 72 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: grew up in. We'll hear from Carl Liinberger, president of 73 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: Evanston and will Met Golf Association, which is currently managing 74 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: the nonprofit as a group of committed volunteers. Here's Lineberger, 75 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: a lawyer, on the news that they've partnered with Kemper Sports. 76 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: Farce wants to be the best community golf course in 77 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 1: the whole world, and partnering with Kemper Sports this is 78 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: something that's going to help make that happen. Throughout this story, 79 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,799 Speaker 1: I get background in perspective from Andrew Fleming, a great 80 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: friend of mine who's a former lawyer at the Golf 81 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: Channel and a former employee at Kemper Sports who graduated 82 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: from Northwestern, which is around the corner from Canal Shores. Look. 83 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: I grew up playing golf and and and went to 84 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: college at Northwestern hoping to walk onto the golf team, 85 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: and so I had my clubs in my dorm room 86 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 1: as a freshman. Uh, they didn't need me and didn't 87 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: even really want to see me to take a swing. 88 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: I talked to the coach, but they weren't interested. Basically 89 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: said like, hey, you know, playing some tournaments this summer 90 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 1: and put some good scores up and come back and 91 00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: talk to us next year. But you know, as a 92 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: college students, that's a death certificate, right because you've got 93 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: no access, you know, no money. I got no ability 94 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: to go anywhere to practice or keep my game in 95 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: any kind of shape. So by the time the next 96 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: summer came around. You know, I was done done playing 97 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 1: golf basically, but I did hear about what was Peter 98 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: Jams at the time. Uh, and found a buddy in 99 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: the dorm who was also a golfer. Happens to be 100 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: Ali Done my U T I partner who lived in 101 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: the same dorm. As a freshman year at Northwestern, we 102 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: used to ride our bikes, put our clubs on our 103 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: backs and ride our bikes over to now Canal Shores 104 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: then Peter Jans and played golf there as college students. 105 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: You know, affordable, accessible, convenient in terms of the location, 106 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, fell in love with the place, 107 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: didn't didn't play at all of the time. You know, 108 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: you only have so much disposable income and disposable time 109 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: as a college student. But you know, his first place 110 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: that we played golf together, and we're still you know, 111 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: playing golf together thirty years later, and so it's got 112 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: a great spot in my heart from that regard. After Northwestern, 113 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: Fleming went to law school at the University of Chicago. 114 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: While in law school, he got married to his wife, 115 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: Cecily in two thousand two. They had twins in two 116 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: thousand three, and they moved to Los Angeles. In two 117 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: thousand four, he landed a job at the Golf Channel 118 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: in Orlando. In two thousand and eight, accepted a job 119 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: with Kemper Sports in which is when he moved back 120 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: to Chicago got reintroduced two uh now shoes at that time. 121 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: You know, it's been renamed a couple of times, and 122 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: I think really falling into disrepair, uh in a in 123 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: a really bad way ten or so years ago, um 124 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: and had sort of started its bounce back up when 125 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: I got reintryduced to it as just a guy that 126 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: lived in Evanston and was looking for somewhere to play golf, 127 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: and then and then ultimately got connected to Jason way 128 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: through sort of the evangelism that he was conducting to 129 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: try to get some more attention and um help with 130 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: you know what had been sort of a one man 131 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: mission on his part too. Um, you know, sort of 132 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: polish off this sort of ignored Jim in our neighborhood 133 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: that as we all know now has a ton of 134 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: character and a lot to offer and you know, really 135 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: unique golf experience that was, you know, on the verge 136 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: of going completely under because they couldn't pay their water 137 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: bills and the course was a total mess. Jason Way 138 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: has his own story. The Way is actually how I 139 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 1: discovered Canal Shores and I played the course with him 140 00:08:54,320 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: in an architectural enthusiast and avid golfer into eighteen. Way 141 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: was actually sentenced to eleven years in prison for running 142 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: a California based synthetic drug trafficking ring. Per the U. S. 143 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: Attorney's Office, quote, Way led an illegal business manufacturing and 144 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: distributing large quantities of harmful, mislabeled synthetic cannabinoids nationwide for profit. 145 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: End quote. Like I said, he has his own story. 146 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: But after he was caught and before he went to prison, 147 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: Way had thrown himself into trying to make a positive 148 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: impact on his community by helping the resurrection of Canal Shores. 149 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: Going back to Way wasn't only reaching out to me 150 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,599 Speaker 1: at the golf channel. He was also reaching out to 151 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: people like Andrew Fleming, who was at Kemper Sports at 152 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 1: the time. So I got reintroduced about you know, I 153 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 1: don't know eight nine, ten years ago and started playing 154 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: it again, started looking at it through the lens of 155 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: you know, what it could be. And this is sort 156 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: of riding the way of community golf that was getting 157 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: some more emphasis thanks to large part to you and 158 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: Winter Park and and ash and Go Hill Park and 159 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: you know, different places like that. And I think Canal 160 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: Shorts is different from those two, but it's in that 161 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: same vein um and so you know what was was 162 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: reintroduced to it at that point and offered up my 163 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: support as uh, you know, a local resident and a neighbor, 164 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: but as also somebody who's been around the block in 165 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 1: the golf business and could be a resource for them 166 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: to um, you know, talk through ideas that they had, 167 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 1: help them think about what they ought to be doing, 168 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 1: help them evaluate how they should be marketing the place 169 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: and selling tea times. And you know I didn't. I 170 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: didn't didn't try to pitch them on on utilizing Kemper Sports. 171 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: I didn't want to be on the board of the 172 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: organization that was managing Canal Shores because you know, frankly, 173 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: I think it's a bit of a mess in terms 174 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: of the structure of that organization. But I did, uh, 175 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 1: you know, offer up my thoughts and perspective and help 176 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 1: to try to get them to to where they wanted 177 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: to go. Here's Josh Lesnick again, you really are playing 178 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: in the community like Winter Park. You're crossing the roads 179 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: and people are walking their dogs and jogging and coming 180 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: home from work if you're playing a twighlight round. Um. 181 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: So it really is like that community centered golf course 182 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:30,239 Speaker 1: which makes it so charming. Really, And I asked Leineberger 183 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: about Canal Shore's geographic connection to the community. How many 184 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: times you crossed the road. It's about five or six times. 185 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: You've got Lincoln Central, Isabella Maple. Uh. Yeah, it's five 186 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 1: or six times. And you know you're you're crossing it 187 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: going both ways. Um. And it's you know, it's one 188 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: of those things where you have like sections of the 189 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: course that can all have their own personality and play 190 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: in different ways himself. You know, you know, we're moving 191 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: towards a phase where we think this will be you know, um, 192 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: something that can be truly special in the destination for 193 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 1: golfers all around who. By the way, Fleming's wife, Sicily, 194 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: is a city councilwoman in Evanston, and Andrew also helps 195 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 1: the course navigate the political system, which as anyone who 196 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: has ever worked with municipalities knows about those layers of complexities. 197 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: I asked Fleming where he thought Canal Shores would be. 198 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: Without the energy and efforts of the Evanston and will 199 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: Met Golf Association and other enthusiastic volunteers, can now shore. 200 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 1: As you know, the municipalities are hands off, right. They 201 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: own the land or they sub lease the land essentially, 202 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: but they're not getting any tax dollars from the City 203 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: of Evanston, They're not getting any tax dollars from the 204 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: Village of will Met. It's a resource for their community. 205 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: But there's been no um involvement with the parts that 206 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: you know by design, right, there's been no involvement by 207 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: the Parks Department from from either of those municipalities. So 208 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: Canal Stores has been left on its own, operating normally 209 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: at a negative, with the difference being made up by 210 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: this kind of army of volunteers who have you know, 211 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: tried to scratch and claw and and figure out a 212 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: way to make the balance sheet work and keep the 213 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: doors open, whether that's through you know, concerts on the course, 214 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: parking cars on the golf course during Northwestern football games, fundraisers, uh, 215 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:34,239 Speaker 1: you know, patching together some sponsorships, weaving in local businesses 216 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: that want to support So they've done really just a 217 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: ton of work trying to keep the doors open, and 218 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,439 Speaker 1: amidst all of that, you know, have made a lot 219 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 1: of improvements to the golf course, to the experience, and 220 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: and you know, welcomed a ton of juniors and a 221 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: ton of new golfers through the doors, which is a 222 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: remarkable accomplishment. Here's Lineberg on what has been the driving 223 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: force behind the commitment from the community. We're up open 224 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: green space eighty two acres, and so golf is our 225 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: primary activity, but we really pride ourselves on being much 226 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: more than just a golf course. We have joggers, bird watchers, 227 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: lots of people come out for fresh air, which you know, 228 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: the pandemic has been something people have really benefited from. 229 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: So you know, we're all about getting back to the 230 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: community that supports us. So fast forward too. Fleming has 231 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: been out of the golf business for a few years now. 232 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: He still lives in Evanston and continues to frequent Canal Shores. 233 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: I asked him why it's still so special to him. 234 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: That's where I keep my handicap, It's where I take 235 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: friends to play when they come to town, because it 236 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: truly is a unique golf experience. You know, there are 237 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 1: a lot of cookie cutter golf courses out there, and 238 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: particularly on the North Shore of Chicago. When you talk 239 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: about public access golf, municipal golf in in in the 240 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: Chicago suburbs is um a lot of the same thing, 241 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: and and Canal Shore is anything but that. Um. It's 242 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: a It's truly one of a kind, and for people 243 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: who you know, appreciate the game of golf, but also 244 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: appreciate unique experiences and and sort of that community golf 245 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: um experience and the ability to weave in, you know, 246 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: different aspects of of a town that a golf course 247 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: is a part of. You know, I think Canal Shots 248 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: does that as as well as as any other golf 249 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: facility I've seen. So it's got a special places in 250 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: my heart for a lot of reasons. Yes, to Fleming's point, 251 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: it's unique, and this uniqueness is definitely charming, but there's 252 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: also a lot of room to improve. Here's Josh Lesnik. 253 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: It's pretty interesting once I started to get to know 254 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: some of the volunteers and the people the board, the 255 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: executive committee that's running it. I mean, our our goals 256 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: are as a company are totally aligned with theirs it 257 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: was really interesting and it was really maybe even more 258 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: interesting for them that we were so interested in They're like, 259 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: what is this company that manages all these incredible properties 260 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: all over the country. Why aren't we interested in canal shores? 261 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: But there, I mean, they're stated goals are golf, youth development, ecology, 262 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: and community. And you know, if you go back to 263 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: kind of our d n A when my dad started 264 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: the company, I mean he always said, look, the golf 265 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: course has to be an important part of the community. 266 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: You have to attend things, you have to be doing 267 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: things for the youth, and that's in our d n A. 268 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: UM Obviously are you know, are Green with t our 269 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: environmental program you know aligns with their ecology mission. So really, 270 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: I mean just our our missions were aligned, and it 271 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: was a shame to see it in the condition I 272 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: think you saw it maybe at its worst or getting 273 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: to its worst. And you know, it's important us. This 274 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: golf course has been around a hundred years and so 275 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: many people you know, both that could afford to play 276 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: golf but also that couldn't afford to play golf have 277 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: learned to play golf here and so we wanted to 278 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: kind of make sure this could be around for the 279 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: next hundred years. Uh, and that's why we wanted to 280 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: get involved. Here's Lineberger again on what he'll always stay 281 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 1: focused on. Canal Shorts has tremendous character and charm, and 282 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 1: it was really important to us that we not lose 283 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: that as we as we move forward in a new 284 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: era with Kemper Sports. UM. And what we really greatly 285 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: appreciate about Kemper is that, you know, they understand and 286 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: appreciate our four pillars, which are golf, youth development, ecology 287 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 1: and community. And so with Kemper Sports coming in and 288 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 1: managing our golf operations for Canal Shorts, it's a tremendous 289 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: opportunity to expand and further develop our other pillars UM 290 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:58,439 Speaker 1: and better serve the local communities. Here's Fleming with his 291 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: reaction to the news Kempers Sports is getting involved in 292 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: the management of Canal Shores. I'm really excited about the 293 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: potential to UM do some things from a caddy program 294 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: standpoint that UM, you know Josh and I worked on 295 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: when we were working together at Kemper Sports, and uh, 296 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,399 Speaker 1: you know, I think it's no secret that most of 297 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: the clubs that have rich caddy programs, particularly around Chicago. 298 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: I assume this is the same case in the Northeast. 299 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't know them as closely as I 300 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 1: do the Chicago ones, but you know, they don't have 301 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 1: you know, they've got a lot of caddies and a 302 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: lot of Evans scholars and they're putting a lot of 303 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: UM kids to college through that program. But I think 304 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: they would admit that they're having a hard time getting 305 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: black and brown caddies two uh those high end private 306 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: golf courses because it's a location issue, right, how do 307 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: you how do you get kids to a neighborhood where 308 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: they don't live near the beauty of Canal Shores. From 309 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: that standpoint is one, it's it's right in the middle 310 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: of Evanston, so it's accessible from a lot of different 311 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 1: UH communities that you know, um some of those other 312 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 1: golf courses aren't accessible to. And that's right next to 313 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: the Elk train, so you know, you can you can 314 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: get folks there pretty easily, which is you know, good 315 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: for introducing new golfers, but it's it's great for having 316 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: a more robust caddy program that that you know, that's 317 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: that's tapping into a different demographic that I think a 318 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: lot of you know, private clubs that support caddies are 319 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: having a hard time doing so. That's the most potential 320 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: I see is, you know, the ability to weave in 321 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 1: the Evanston community and then the broader Chicago community and 322 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: get some folks who don't otherwise have you know, local 323 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: golf course or accessible golf course. You know, the ability 324 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: to play to caddy to understand golf and and and 325 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:49,479 Speaker 1: and test it out and see if you see if 326 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: it's something that's for them. Here's Lesnik who has a 327 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: close relationship with the Western Golf Association, which is also 328 00:19:55,800 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: based in Chicago. Since the w g A has managed 329 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 1: the Evans Scholars Foundation and has sent almost twelve thousand 330 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: hard working junior caddies with limited financial means to college. 331 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: They get full tuition and housing scholarships. In one school year, 332 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: there was a record one thousand seventy Evans Scholars enrolled 333 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 1: in twenty one universities. You know that kind of leads 334 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: me to sort of the youth development opportunities that exist 335 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: at Canal Shores. I mean, yes, you and I and Ashley, 336 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,199 Speaker 1: you are going to have a blast plan there. We're 337 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: gonna hop on the l and go down to a 338 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:37,639 Speaker 1: Cubs game. And you know that's great, But as I 339 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: said earlier, a lot of people have learned to play 340 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: the game there and you know, so so get it. 341 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: The youth development there in Evanston. Where where eleven of 342 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,959 Speaker 1: the whole sit in the city of Evanston is you know, 343 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: thirty percent is a diverse community, non Caucasian is um 344 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: you know, lives under the poverty line. We already have 345 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: their I mean the volunteers that are running already have 346 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: fifty scholarship kids that they're paying for them to take 347 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,399 Speaker 1: golf lessons. And we feel we can we can do 348 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: even more than that. We want to not only uh 349 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 1: to learn golf and and hopefully getting the first team 350 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: involved and they learned life lessons through golf, but taking 351 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: it to the next level and creating opportunities for them, 352 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 1: even scholarship opportunities. You know that not only do we 353 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 1: have a chapter of the first Team, but that the 354 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 1: Western Golf Association evan scholars is located right here. I 355 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 1: mean there ten their offices, ten minutes or fifteen minutes. 356 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: I mean this could be a kind of a training 357 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: ground for youth caddies and a diverse group of youth 358 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: caddies to learn not only the game of golf, but 359 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: the art caddying and then maybe go on to some 360 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 1: of the clubs. You know, all the local clubs around 361 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: here in Chicago Land that you know everyone talks about, 362 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 1: they're all here, they all have caddy programs and get 363 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: these kids scholarship opportunities. I mean, there's us every facet 364 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: of this thing, and there's so much opportunity there. And 365 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,959 Speaker 1: that's kind of what what we saw and partnered with 366 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: the volunteers. So let's make this happen. Let's finally make 367 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 1: it happen. Lineburger is also on board on doubling down 368 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: with a focus on kids. One of the things that 369 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: we're you know, we're most passionate about is our youth development. 370 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: And you know, cow Shores wants to make golf accessible 371 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: and affordable for all of youths, especially those who are underserved. 372 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: And so you know, we have two scholarship programs that 373 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 1: are focused on on the underserved and minority youth who 374 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 1: don't have the same opportunities as some others. And so 375 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,399 Speaker 1: you know, Canal Shorees wants to help develop that next 376 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: generation of youth and playing being outdoors, playing golf and 377 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: learning those valuable life skills that golf in part, you know, 378 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:54,679 Speaker 1: dedication and hard work, discipline, sportsmanship and respect. So you know, 379 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: for us, it's all about evolving into a bigger and 380 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 1: better community golf course. So we couldn't be more excited 381 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 1: about our partnership with Kemper Sports. In addition to what's 382 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 1: possible with kids in caddy programs and the layers of 383 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: impact that hyper focus can have on a community like Evanston. 384 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 1: I asked Fleming what else he thought Kemper could bring 385 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 1: to the situation. First of all, it should be, you know, 386 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: on the list of golf courses you've got to check 387 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: out when you come to Chicago. I think it's sort 388 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: of is already, but just because of the unique nature 389 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: and some of the quirkiness of you know, going under 390 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 1: the l tracks and jumping over the canal a couple 391 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,919 Speaker 1: of times, and the bridges and the metro running you 392 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,199 Speaker 1: know next to the sixteen poll, and so I think 393 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: it's sort of already is on that list. But the 394 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 1: golf experience isn't great. You know, you go and you 395 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: check it out and you're like Wow, this is cool, 396 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 1: this is unique. But I can't really put on these 397 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 1: greens because you know, there's no grass on them, or 398 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: there's too much grass on them or whatever. So I 399 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 1: think it really should solidify its place as UM just 400 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: one of those golf courses that you've got to go 401 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: check it out when you're in town because it's unlike 402 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: anything else you're gonna see anywhere. So that's that's one 403 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 1: piece that I think Temper can bring to the table. 404 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,439 Speaker 1: And you know, they they've they've proven that over and 405 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: over again with UM. You know, other destination golf courses 406 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: that you've got to go check out that are in 407 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 1: a different category or a different vein than can outshores. 408 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 1: But they still they still know how to put a 409 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 1: place on the map, for sure. But you know, more importantly, 410 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: what I want to see out of it is, as 411 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: I mentioned, a place where UM, different people you know, 412 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 1: can feel welcome and encouraged to come try the game. 413 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: And whether that's through UM modifying the routing here and 414 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: there to make you know, some short course routings, to 415 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: create UM putting course short game areas different things that 416 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: can be sort of a launching pad for new golfers. 417 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: And I think the opportunity with Canal Shores in particular 418 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: in that regard is just that because of where it sits, 419 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: because of its location. Uh, there's a great opportunity to 420 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 1: bring in a different demographic and and and have. You know, 421 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 1: I'd love to see it, UM look a lot different 422 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: than other golf facilities when you show up to Canal 423 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 1: Shores in terms of the other golfers that are there. 424 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: You know, whether that's young people, old people, minorities, women, 425 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 1: you know, all those things that are lacking in in 426 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: in most golf facilities that you and I go to. Um, 427 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 1: I'd love to see Canal Shores be more of a 428 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: diverse experience and and more welcoming to people who are, 429 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:46,919 Speaker 1: you know, a little bit outside of the game of 430 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: golf right now, beyond the community. I asked Fleming what 431 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: a reinvigorated Canal Shores can mean to the city of Chicago. 432 00:25:55,280 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: Chica is great golf town. Um. You know, Unfortunately, the 433 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 1: affordable public access to golf in Chicago is not great. Uh. 434 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: There's options, but you know there uh my opinion, you know, 435 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: not great. It's a great golf town if you belong 436 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 1: to one of the top tier private clubs, you know, 437 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: of which there are many in Chicago. And there are 438 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: a handful of really good daily feed courses in Chicago 439 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: that are on the higher tier from an expense standpoint, 440 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 1: but from a more you know, affordable accessible, UM golf 441 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 1: course standpoint, there's not a ton of great options for folks. 442 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: Canal shores can be that, uh, And I think you're 443 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 1: right having local and there's a lot of uh, you know, 444 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:45,439 Speaker 1: not just a great golf town in terms of golfers 445 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: and golf fans, but to your point, there's a lot 446 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: of golf companies, Kemper Sports being one of them, that 447 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:57,120 Speaker 1: are firmly rooted in Chicago, and uh, you know, tapping 448 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:02,359 Speaker 1: into those resources to um build canal Shores into what 449 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:03,920 Speaker 1: it should be and what it could be, I think 450 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:08,879 Speaker 1: is um exciting to see. Here's Lesnik again on the 451 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:14,359 Speaker 1: specifics of Kemper's top priorities four Canal Shores. Well, you know, 452 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 1: we've we've already started and we do it like we 453 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: do kind of we get involved with everything. You know, 454 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: we have a group of experts, UM. You know, we 455 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: take our regional operating executives are regional sales and marketing director. 456 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 1: Are regional agronomist is going to be obviously really important 457 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: um here and how we get the conditions back to playable. 458 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 1: And the unique thing is we want to get the 459 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 1: conditions back to put playable, but we also wanted to 460 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: remain accessible. We're not looking to come in and charge more. 461 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 1: We just want to get the conditions. The green you know, 462 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 1: you've got to have good greens. You know that you've 463 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 1: gotta have greens that you can put on, and you've 464 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 1: got to have at least decent lies in the fairway. 465 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:59,439 Speaker 1: And it doesn't have to be mode short like the 466 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: private clubs that surround it, but it just has to 467 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: be um, you know, sort of best in class for 468 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 1: the class that it is. And it's a you know, 469 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: twenty five to thirty dollar municipal golf course, and we 470 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,439 Speaker 1: want to take those conditions. We also want to improve 471 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 1: the experience. I mean, look at the things I played 472 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: in your Skins game at Winter Park nine A few times. 473 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 1: I'm just the hospitality, um, the social atmosphere, um you know. 474 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: So we want to approve sort of every facet of 475 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 1: the golf golf operation. And that's really what we do 476 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: for all our clients Maddie so um, and it's very 477 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: close to the home office. Really want to get the 478 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: home office involved in this. We can all kind of 479 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: take a day and come out and help. You know, 480 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: whether it's volunteered to, we'd removal and you know, we 481 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 1: want to kind of make it a mission of the 482 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 1: company to get this golf course back to where we 483 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 1: think it needs to be. Although there are no immediate 484 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: plans for significant architectural enhancements, both Lesnik and Leinberger hint 485 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 1: to that being an obvious aspect of future plans. What 486 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: they'll do and who will do that is undecided. For now, 487 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: it's all there. I can see it. I think now 488 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: that you know, the volunteers can really see it. They 489 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 1: see the potential. I mean you have to look at 490 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: it from their perspective. There running sort of this fledgling 491 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: operation and a company like ours comes in and says, 492 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: wait a minute, this has huge potential. Their eyes kind 493 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: of really what what you know? And then they get it. 494 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: They get it now, and it took, you know, a 495 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: lot of courage for them to want to take this 496 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 1: next step. You know the amount of time these volunteers 497 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: put in I can't I can't tell you it's um, 498 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: it's inspiring, and we need their energy and well, you know, 499 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 1: their energy combined with our expertise, it's a it's a 500 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 1: dangerous match. It's gonna be good. Once more from Carl Liinberger. 501 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 1: I think the vision that Josh las Nick and Kemper 502 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:05,959 Speaker 1: and Canal Shore share it's going to be fantastic. And 503 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: watching the ark go from where we are now to 504 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 1: where we're gonna be three years from now is going 505 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 1: to be really something extra Mary. And lastly, a final 506 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: thought from Andrew Fleming. Yeah, I'm excited. I mean, it's 507 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 1: it's my home course. It's you know, it's where I 508 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 1: keep my handicap, that's where I play most of my 509 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 1: golf and I love the place. But there's so much 510 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: room to improve. Uh, And I know that there are 511 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: um some pretty easy things that can be improved with 512 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: the right time and attention and money and resources. Uh, 513 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: there's some harder things that need to be improved to right. 514 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: But I'm excited about what they'll bring to the table. 515 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: I'm excited to have their professionalism and their team um 516 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: working on it and uh hopefully leave my home course 517 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: for a long time to come. M h. Put another 518 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:23,200 Speaker 1: log on the fire. Nobody hears getting tired, Settle down 519 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 1: and setting the story is about to begin. The circles 520 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: start in to take its shape, seats the field in 521 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 1: the tired sun plans its escape. Everybody's got some glory. 522 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: Just wait onto, un phoned, everybody's got some story. Just 523 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: wait on to and be to the place, for that 524 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 1: is here. All those smiles and all those tears, let 525 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:23,200 Speaker 1: them go. Put another log on the fire. Nobody hears 526 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 1: stick getting tired, Settle down, and settle in. The story 527 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: is about to begin. Tales were told of warring gold, 528 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: Love is lost in a lifetimes. Dreams ours so and 529 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 1: maybe you should stop in the sun at the wisdom 530 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 1: and the baby. You should pour your heart out. We 531 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:09,920 Speaker 1: ain'to head only with id your mercy in the sound. 532 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 1: As the smoke gets pushed around in your soul. Put 533 00:33:54,240 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 1: another lock on fire. Nobody hears getting tired, Settle down 534 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 1: and settle in the story hears about to begin. The 535 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 1: story hears about to begin. The story Here's about to begin.