Sanctuary Golf Course Expands Maintenance Fleet and Secures New Permanent Tee Times for 30th Anniversary

New Lenox Community Park District Board of Commissioners Meeting | March 18, 2026

Article Summary:
As the Sanctuary Golf Course celebrates its 30th Anniversary, the Park District announced the hiring of a new Assistant Director of Golf Course Maintenance and the implementation of aggressive groundskeeping strategies to prepare the course for the spring season. The district also secured two new permanent Sunday tee times to meet surging demand.

Golf Course Operations Key Points:

• New Hire: Alan Hoogstraat has been hired as the new Assistant Director of Golf Course Maintenance.

• Grounds Upgrades: The course will contract out the aeration of its fairways in March, utilizing specialized machinery capable of reaching 7 inches deep to break up soil compaction.

• Permanent Tee Times: The course successfully secured two new permanent tee times for the 2026 season on Sundays.

• Upcoming Tournaments: The Sanctuary will host the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour in April and an Illinois Junior Golf Association event in May.

The New Lenox Community Park District Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, reviewed sweeping operational updates for the Sanctuary Golf Course as the facility gears up for a busy 30th Anniversary season.

During the Business Services report, Commissioner Ott announced the hiring of Alan Hoogstraat as the new Assistant Director of Golf Course Maintenance. Hoogstraat’s arrival coincides with the launch of aggressive spring groundskeeping strategies designed to prepare the course for heavy tournament play.

Commissioner Larson reported that the course “came out of winter in really good shape” with only minor snow mold damage. To further improve the turf, Larson noted that the district will contract out the aeration of its fairways in March. The contracted machinery can penetrate up to 7 inches into the ground—significantly deeper than the district’s standard 4-inch equipment—to aggressively break up soil compaction.

“This should also eliminate the need to pull cores when we aerate so our recovery time will be much less,” Larson stated.

The enhanced turf will be put to the test immediately. Director of Golf Bob Schulz announced that the course will host the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour on April 11 and 12, followed by an Illinois Junior Golf Association event on May 28. Larson noted that all standard outings have been locked in for the season, with only a few openings remaining in late October. The course will also host a PGA Hope outing on September 16.

To meet surging weekend demand, Larson reported that the course has successfully secured two new permanent tee times on Sundays for the 2026 season. He also noted that all leagues are fully set, attributing the high retention rate to the district’s decision to hold rates steady in celebration of the 30 Years of Excellence anniversary.

Looking toward future capital expenditures, Larson stated that the district will need to begin the process of replacing the facility’s aging golf cart fleet, which is currently entering its fourth year of operation. Furthermore, while patio furniture was recently replaced to meet ADA requirements, the district will look to replace the inside restaurant furniture in the next budget year. Larson cautioned that food and beverage prices will be going up to offset rising food costs.