This is a view of the first hole of Settler’s Hill Golf Course, looking south toward the clubhouse. The driving range is planned to be located to the north and east of the first hole.

Kane County Forest Preserve District commissioners have OK’d concept plans for a new driving range at Settler’s Hill Golf Course and will pay an additional $24,000 for the final design plans. Safety precautions like the promise of getting driving range netting installation have been made to help get the plan approved by the commissioners.

Commissioners voted unanimously at Tuesday’s Forest Preserve meeting to move forward with the preliminary design after what Greggory Martin of Martin Design Partnership Ltd. described as “a long and challenging process.”

According to the documents provided in the agenda packet for Tuesday’s meeting, construction of the driving range could start as soon as August and the range completed by October of this year.

The new driving range is planned to be located north and east of the first hole at Settler’s Hill. It will face west to east and will be at least 250 yards long with target greens at appropriate distances.

Plans call for a large, natural grass tee area and an “all-weather tee” for purposes of use in bad weather. Lighting for the range will not be included in this phase of improvement.

“(The plan) has been reviewed by Waste Management and had preliminary approval for construction,” Martin said. “There are some minimal aspects to the landfill that should be addressed, but nothing that seems to have a significant affect on the location or design as shown.

“This new location will provide a short-term operational challenge,” he added. “However, in the long term, this location will serve the Forest Preserve District, and Settler’s Hill Golf course in a very positive manner.”

SOURCE: Forest Preserve Commission of Kane County agenda packet