American Greens, a leading synthetic turf sales and installation company, is proud to announce the completion of the new Columbus Park Putting Course in Chicago, Illinois.
Designed and built by American Greens for the Chicago Park District and its golf management company, Troon, the new amenity is a free-to-use public putting and short-game park intended to make the game more accessible and fun for everyone.
The new facility, located in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, represents a new short-game recreation concept from American Greens. The 9,000-square-foot installation features a 9-hole mini-putt putting course, a full-size practice putting green, and a dedicated practice chipping green with specialized turf for authentic chip and pitch shots.
Uniquely, the park also includes a real sand practice bunker, making it the first American Greens project to combine these four distinct short-game elements into a single, comprehensive public amenity.
This project brings meaningful investment and expanded recreational opportunities to the city’s West Side. Troon, which manages the Chicago Park District’s golf facilities, funded the $450,000 facility as part of its ongoing commitment to capital improvements in park golf facilities across the city.
The new putting course is designed to remove barriers to the sport and foster community well-being by providing exceptional experiences at no cost to the user.
Reflecting on the project’s unique purpose, Mike Long, Founder and Director of Sales for American Greens, stated, “We are thrilled to provide a one-of-a-kind amenity that will truly help many people and families be introduced to the game who otherwise may have been too intimidated to go to the golf course.”
The facility is already having a positive impact, serving as a hub for community programs like “Play Like A Champion,” which brings city youth and Chicago Police Department officers together to build healthy relationships through golf.
The park will also serve as a valuable new resource for the Chicago Road Kings Junior Golf Program, which has introduced hundreds of local children to the game over the last 37 years.