CONGRATS-WOODRUFF GOLF COURSE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Larry Walsh

Recognizes Woodruff Golf Course’s 100-year history as a free, public recreational asset in Joliet, highlighting its community value and ongoing commitment to public recreation.

Resolution Adopted

Summary of HR 860 (104th General Assembly, Illinois) – CONGRATS-WOODRUFF GOLF COURSE

Purpose and intent

Recognizes and congratulates Woodruff Golf Course on its 100th anniversary.

Commends the Joliet Park District, and the Woodruff family for their longstanding commitment to public recreation and community investment.

Emphasizes Woodruff Golf Course as a historic, publicly accessible recreational asset in Joliet and Will County, and a symbol of civic generosity.

Key provisions and changes

Proclamation-style resolution acknowledging factual milestones:

Woodruff Golf Course opened on Labor Day, September 6, 1926, as a gift to the Joliet Park District from Mr. and Mrs. George Woodruff.
The Woodruffs funded land donation, construction labor, and materials, ensuring public access at no cost to taxpayers.
It is the oldest of Joliet Park District’s three golf courses and one of Will County’s oldest municipal golf facilities.
The course sits on the northeast corner of the Pilcher Park footprint, offering an 18-hole layout over more than 100 acres.
The course has hosted numerous tournaments and community events (e.g., Joliet Park District Tournament, Youth Tournament) and remains a prominent public golf facility with substantial annual use.
In 2026, the course marks its 100-year anniversary as a public institution and enduring legacy of generosity.

The resolution expresses appreciation and support for Woodruff Golf Course to continue serving the public for the next century.

Who or what is affected

Woodruff Golf Course and the Joliet Park District are the primary beneficiaries acknowledged for their history and ongoing contributions to public recreation.

The residents of Joliet, Will County, and the broader Illinois community, who benefit from accessible, public, affordable recreational facilities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill is a House resolution (no binding fiscal impact; ceremonial in nature).

Sponsorship: Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr., with co-sponsor Rep. Larry Walsh.

Action timeline:

Filed with the Clerk (May 5, 2026).
Placed on Calendar Order of Resolutions (May 6, 2026).
Resolution adopted on May 6, 2026.

Substantive impact

No new laws, funding, or regulatory changes are enacted.

The effect is ceremonial: formally recognizing and praising Woodruff Golf Course for its centennial milestone, highlighting its historical significance, community role, and ongoing value to public recreation in Illinois.