Joliet Park District plans $2.1 million year-round driving range at Inwood Golf Course – Shaw Local

The Joliet Park District will spend $2.1 million to provide heated hitting bays for the driving range at the Inwood Golf Course.

The new attraction will be a year-round facility and one that at least some park officials expect to be a money-maker in the long run.

But the Park Board this past week was divided 3-2 on the latest approval for the project.

Construction is expected in summer 2027.

Park Board President Sue Gulas at Monday’s board meeting voted against a $357,000 contract with Cover the Tees, a Florida company that will provide the hitting bays.

Joliet Park District board president Sue Gulas is seen in this file photo. (Eric Ginnard)

She and board commissioner Joe Mutz voted against the contract.

“We were not against the project at all,” Gulas said. “We’re just against the timing of it.”

Gulas said she considered the $2.1 million project more than the Park District should take on now.

Commissioner Bill Tatro, who along with Eric Perez and Rick Raasch, voted for the Cover the Tees contract, said he believed the year-round driving range will be a money-maker in the long run.

Tatro said the Inwood year-round driving range could pay for itself in 10 years and then “will make money” for the Park District.

“We did a lot of research on this,” Tatro said.

Joliet Park District Board Commissioner Bill Tatro (left) is seen with board President Sue Gulas in this file photo from an open house held at the park district airport.
(Larry W)

He said Inwood provided a promising location because the driving range faces southwest. Golfers, he said, would not face north winds that have been a detriment at other year-round driving ranges because of exposure to winter elements.

Golf courses in the area have had success with the heated hitting bays for driving ranges, Tatro said.

The bays provide heated enclosures while being open in the direction in which golfers hit balls.

The Inwood project, Tatro said, also involves extending gas lines to the driving range to provide heat and adding electronic screens that will provide golfers with detailed information about their shots.