Ten years ago the culmination of years worth of planning, research, hard work, the massive reconfiguration and re-use of 550 acres straddling the Paw Paw River in Michigan’s Great Southwest and overlooking the majestic shores of Lake Michigan was being celebrated as the triumphant arrival of the Harbor Shores Resort complex.
Marked by news of a long-running agreement that would bring one of the most historic championships in the game of golf to the resort’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Club every other year, even-numbered years witnessed a great new tradition over the Memorial Day weekend in the form of what has become the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
The transformation that has reverberated across the region has resulted in $900-million in strategic investments led by the Whirlpool Foundation and its major benefactor, Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool Corporation.
This year’s KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship was being designed as a kick-off to the 10th anniversary of the entire Harbor Shores Resort complex at the center of the community. Unfortunately, like countless other celebrations large and small, this year’s Championship was derailed by the shelter-in-place orders from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and canceled like multiple events from 4th of July Fireworks to the summer season of the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra and beyond.
In a recent piece for online golf publication MorningRead.com author Kevin Frisch writes, “When Whirlpool Corp. and community leaders made the critical decision to develop Harbor Shores Resort and transform its hometown in Southwest Michigan, it was unknown how a development of this magnitude with golf as its anchor could help turn a city around. Now a full decade later, Harbor Shores has far exceeded its original masterplan. That vision, to transform a once-thriving manufacturing hub into a beautiful and robust residential and recreational development that would serve and promote the local community, has yielded immense economic impact to the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, as well as the surrounding villages and townships.”
Frisch continues, “More than 3,200 new jobs have been created by the community partners, including the Cornerstone Alliance and Berrien County economic development organizations in the area, since 2010. The economic impact from area tourism revenue has increased each of the last five-years, and Harbor Shores is committed to maintaining the public parks and beaches that were opened as part of the community development. Jean Klock Park, which failed to generate any revenues prior to the renovations, today has the Harbor Shores golf course maintenance staff maintaining the entire park. The park now generates over $150,000 annually for the city of Benton Harbor treasury from rentals and visitors.”
Frisch includes comments from Jeff Noel, Vice President of Communication & Public Affairs for Whirlpool, as saying, “Before construction of Harbor Shores began, the area was in need of a monumental project that could have the scale to bring about real change, especially in Benton Harbor,” and adds, “While the golf course may generate most of the publicity, this community is consistently working on projects to ensure a better quality of life for everyone. Using golf to bring people together to give back remains an ongoing mission and is the proud center of the Harbor Shores story.”
Had things proceeded this year on schedule, the 2020 Championship would have wrapped up last evening with the crowning of a new champion. Instead, the record books will have one of those inevitable asterisks on the 2020 line marking a year with no Championship at all. But, the event returns to Harbor Shores in 2022, and an army of volunteers will be ready to welcome the world to the shores of Lake Michigan once again.
In the meantime, minus the major golf event this year, fans of the game were actually able to play the Jack Nicklaus course themselves to celebrate the 10th Anniversary, and reminisce about their favorite Championship memories and everything else that is the Harbor Shores Resort.
A brief video has been assembled, and you can watch that right now by clicking the link below:
