Vandals operating recreation vehicles overnight Friday caused significant damage to the newly renovated facilities of The Evans at Canal Shores, a nonprofit golf course that spans Wilmette and Evanston.
Canal Shores leaders said they are working with Evanston and Wilmette police departments on the incident, which left multiple greens and fairways in need of repairs.
“Damage was consistent with doing ‘donuts’ on the putting greens,” says a report provided by Wilmette Cmdr. Alexander Mercado.
According to the local police reports, a resident reported to Wilmette police at 3:10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, that two “ATVs” were driving on the golf course; however, police could not locate the vehicles and left the scene.
Evanston Police Cmdr. Ryan Glue said at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Evanston police responded to reported damage at the course and found the track marks, as well as a broken wheel and plexiglass, on the course.
Chris Charnas, the vice president of Canal Shores’ board of directors, said course volunteers discovered the damage in the near-dawn hours on Saturday, Aug. 16, and shared details and photographs with police and the Canal Shores team.
“Wow. It was like a gut punch when I first saw,” Charnas said. “Why would somebody want to do this to a golf course, for what reason, how does this provide you any satisfaction, especially (doing it) to something that is so beloved in the community.”
Some of the damage done by recreational vehicles overnight Friday-Saturday, Aug. 15-16, at The Evanst at Canal Shores.
Charnas said the worst of the damage occurred on the greens on Holes 13 and 11 — though others were also impacted — where deep tire tracks dug into the sod. More destructive skid marks were found on fairways on the north end of the course in Wilmette, he said.
Glue said early investigation shows both vehicles were golf carts belonging to Northwestern University and reportedly were taken from Foster-Walker Complex, 1927 Orrington Ave.
One of the carts — the one with only three wheels — was found around 5 a.m. at Isabella Street and Garrison and the other around 7 a.m. in Evanston.
The Evans at Canal Shores closed on Saturday, as a result of the damage, but opened again on Sunday with limitations, Charnas said.
As far as restoration, he said it is too early to provide details, but it will not be easy — or cheap.
“We gotta get out there and see is it repairable on our own or does someone need to come in, take the sod off and start over in two spots,” he said. ” … It’s going to take a while for 13 and 11 to be ready to play again.”
Formerly Peter Jans Golf Course and just Canal Shores Golf Course, The Evans at Canal Shores is a 104-year-old community course that in 2023-’24 underwent a $6 million in renovations.
The course is a nonprofit governed by the Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association, which in 2022 passed operations to KemperSports, a 45-year-old company that manages 120-plus recreation facilities.
As part of the extensive renovations, course designers added an extra hole, 17b, to the layout, giving Canal Shores the flexibility to offer a full round to users while it addresses the damage from the “joy riding,” Charnas said.
The course grounds, which follow the North Shore Channel, are commonly used by neighbors for walking, reflecting and other activities.
In a social media post, Chase Mattingly, a member of Canal Shores’ advisory board, wrote in part:
“Understand that not everyone plays golf, but this course and its surrounding green space was developed to be a community asset that provides an outdoor outlet for kids, dog walkers, bird watchers and more. The course staff — and a loyal legion of volunteers — work hard to keep the space beautiful and open to everyone in the neighborhood.”
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