KemperSports to Manage Chicago's Harborside International Golf Center


KemperSports has been selected by the Illinois International Port District to provide golf course management, marketing and agronomy services for Harborside International Golf Center in Chicago.

Located only 15 minutes from downtown Chicago, Harborside features two award-winning 18-hole golf courses (Port and Starboard), and a 24,000-square-foot clubhouse that includes a Phil Stefani Signature Restaurant, Pier 37. The Starboard course has been named to Golfweek's Top 50 "Best Municipal Courses" in the U.S. list for 2011-12 and both courses are ranked in the publication's "Best Courses You Can Play" in Illinois.

"KemperSports has extensive experience in managing and promoting a number of the top public and private golf courses in the Chicagoland area, and its management team shares our vision for providing exceptional service and top course conditioning for all guests," said Michael Forde, chairman of the Illinois International Port District.

KemperSports will introduce a number of new marketing programs, tournaments and special events in 2013 to build on the facility's success and make Harborside a frequent destination for Chicago golfers. KemperSports also plans to expand player development and teaching programs at the facility as Harborside features one of the best driving range facilities in the U.S., an expansive 57-acre practice area with bent-grass tees, target greens and multiple short-game areas.

"With two great golf courses located just minutes from the Chicago Loop, Harborside is a premier golf facility," said Steve Skinner, chief executive officer of KemperSports. "We plan to introduce a variety of new programming at Harborside to cater to the residents of Chicago and surrounding areas. We look forward to elevating the service, playing conditions and guest experience at the property to make Harborside a must-play for Chicago golfers and visitors to the city."

Harborside International Golf Center was designed by Chicago-based golf course architect Dick Nugent. The development has been recognized for its positive environmental transformation as Nugent converted 500 acres of a former landfill into two, highly-regarded links-style layouts.

Harborside's Port course, a par-72 layout measuring 7,164 yards from the tournament tees, hosted SBC Senior Open in 2002, an annual event on the Champions Tour schedule from 1989-2002. The par-72 Starboard course stretches 7,166 yards from the tournament tees. The facility hosts a number of amateur tournaments each season and, this year, Harborside will welcome the Chicago Golfweek Amateur Tour as it hosts the Chicago Classic in August, the tour's second major of the season.

For more information about Harborside International Golf Center, visit http://www.harborsideinternational.com.