Scorecard:
http://goo.gl/gkhDgB Course Tour:
http://www.sbparkgolf.org/events/elbel/elbel/course-tour/ The City of South Bend recently sold its Blackthorn course (previously city-owned, but managed privately) to a consortium for $1.655 million. (Construction cost $5.6 million in 1994.) The city maintains three other municipal courses: Elbel Park, Studebaker, and Erskine Park. The city planned on selling Elbel Park for non-golf use, but the new owners of Blackthorn have suggested they would like to purchase that property for golf use as well.
I hope they can make Elbel Park work as a golf course. It sits about ten miles from downtown South Bend.
https://goo.gl/maps/XD0cV Although that might not seem a long drive, Warren and Blackthorn provide more convenient golf, especially to the residents of Mishawaka and Granger to the east of South Bend. I enjoyed the layout more than I did Blackthorn. It could do with some tree removal, especially on the early holes by the water, to improve the turf. Some of the holes look out of place. But I maintain that in the correct hands, South Bend golfers could enjoy another excellent public facility in addition to Warren. It also has a 300 yard driving range, that faces east, so lacks the problem that west-facing Warren has during the evenings.
At 6,885 yards from the tips, they really don’t need to add yardage. Warren and Blackthorn each host D1 and D3collegiate tournaments, so I don’t think Elbel Park could work their way into that market. The front nine has at least two holes (6 and 9) that don’t satisfy at all. 6 provides a fun tee shot, but then the green looks like someone just plonked a flag down and mowed the grass.
On the back nine, you have the possibility of shifting tees, fairways, and greens, to open up the course, while using land not currently in use. Starting with 11, a 468-510 yard par 5 that routes like a tall, slim “S”: you have the possibility of relocating the green to the east so that the hole plays more of a dog-leg left. That would allow the tee shot on 12 to play from further to the east. 13, a longer par-3, could play as a Biarritz. 17 could play as a Redan.
I’d love to hear the thoughts of others who have played this course. The suggestions I’ve offered require financial investment by someone. It’s easy to spend other folks’ money pontificating about course renovation on a message board. But these suggestions reflect a respect I hold for the course and the property itself. I hope that it remains open for generations to come.