Bill Murray Is Seeing His Childhood Golf Course Get Resurrected
Long before he came to Hollywood and starred in what ESPN called “the funniest sports movie ever made,” Bill Murray worked as a golf caddie at Canal Shores Golf Course in Illinois. It might have been from this very golf course that Murray drew inspiration to play Carl Spackler, an eccentric and mentally unpredictable golf course greenskeeper in the 1980 critically acclaimed golf movie Caddyshack. Now, Bill Murray’s childhood golf course is getting a facelift, with a $5.9 million renovation set to be completed next summer.
As teenagers, Bill Murray and his brothers spent their summers caddying at the Canal Shores Golf Course located just outside of Chicago. For more than 100 years, this quirky par-60 gem has been inviting golfers onto the green and now Sports Illustrated says it’s undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation to both enhance the facility and revitalize its role in the community by preserving this unique resort’s unorthodox character.
The primary catalyst for this significant overhaul was the pressing need for an irrigation system. Before the renovation, the Canal Shores lacked this essential feature, leading to frequent flooding and drainage issues that jeopardized the course’s future. The renovation became a crucial step to ensure the longevity of the golf course, a place that holds sentimental value for comedian Bill Murray and his brother, who spent their formative years both working there and learning to play the ancient Scottish sport.
While the need for an irrigation system is extremely important for golf courses, that’s not the only reason this resort is willing to dig deep into its pockets to renovate. Beyond being a 3,600-yard course, Bill Murray’s childhood resort boasts a commitment to youth golf. Branded as a course for “juniors, seniors, and poor golfers,” Canal Shores aims to become a hub for aspiring young golfers by establishing a First Tee–Greater Chicago training center.
This center, officially sponsored by the widely recognized youth development program, aligns with the course’s mission to be inclusive and accessible to all. Additionally, a caddie training program for those looking to follow in Bill Murray’s footsteps will provide opportunities for young caddies through the Evans Scholarship, which has been offering full college tuition to youth caddies since 1930.
The renovation will not remove any distinctive features that Bill Murray or other members might miss from the course. However, many areas across the resort will be thoughtfully upgraded. Notably, all greens will be enlarged, and a new 30,000-square-foot practice putting green, replacing the original first hole, will serve as a central location for caddie training and golf practice.
Despite initial concerns from some community members about losing the course’s charm, Canal Shores remains dedicated to preserving its character through the people who contribute to its unique atmosphere. Vice President of Construction Chirs Charnas notes, “The place is just grass and ground, and the people are what make it cool and quirky.” As the renovation nears completion, golfers can look forward to experiencing the new upgrades at the golf course tied to Bill Murray’s past as soon as next summer.
