Economically struggling Michigan city hopes golf course will help pull it out of the rough
By Mike Householder, APWednesday, September 1, 2010
Michigan city pinning hopes on new Nicklaus course
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — A city on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan that is beset with troubles is looking for hope from an unlikely source.
It’s a huge luxury golf course.
Violent crime, racial strife, steep unemployment, and neighborhoods dotted with vacant homes and businesses may make Benton Harbor, Mich., an unlikely vacation destination.
But supporters say the Golf Club at Harbor Shores could bring a steady stream of well-heeled tourists, along with jobs, housing and tax revenue. Opponents are skeptical.
The centerpiece of the project is a new Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
Adding to the improbability of the project is the matter of race. The resort dedicated to an overwhelmingly white sport is taking shape in a town that’s more than 90 percent black.
