Kids Field Day at Forest Preserve Golf’s George W. Dunne National Golf Course

This summer, Chicago-area kids made their way to Forest Preserve Golf’s George W. Dunne National Golf Course in Oak Forest, Illinois, for the first “Kids Field Day.” As part of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, the Forest Preserve Golf courses have a deep, abiding dedication to the mission of providing all kids with opportunities for physical fitness, fun and adventure.

Close to 250 area children were treated to an afternoon of activities – and not just golf. In addition to receiving some pro golf tips on driving, chipping and putting, kids made ample use of the bounce houses and rock-climbing walls on hand.

“We were thrilled to welcome kids of all backgrounds from all over Cook County to get a taste of all the activities the Forest Preserves can offer, and we were excited to fold in some golf as well,” said Andrew Johnson, Regional Director of Operations with Forest Preserve Golf.

Professionals and staff donated their time that day to help ensure a successful event and no one went home empty-handed, as everyone in attendance received lunch, snacks and water, and took home a goodie bag.

It wasn’t all about physical activity, either. Everyone got a primer on camping, sustainability, agronomy and environmentalism, and even got chance to meet some of the creatures frequently found in the wilds of the Cook County Forest Preserve: snakes, foxes, beavers, raccoons and more.

Troon Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Kendall Murphy, summarized the intention and impact of the day: “We had a lot of fun today exposing the youth of Cook County to golf and nature. This is all part the Troon mission – helping to make the future of golf fun, assessable, inclusive and reflective of the world we live in.”  During this month of Philanthropy, we highlight the efforts of our teams and facilities to donate their time, facility and talent to help those in the community.

Learn more about Troon’s DE&I Initiatives, Associates and Stories.

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