The 2025 golf season ended with a new record of rounds played at Coyote Run Golf Course in Flossmoor.

The course, at 800 Kedzie Ave., is part of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District. Manager Tom Denklau told H-F Park Board members at the Jan. 6 meeting that staff recorded 41,031 rounds played in 2025 compared to 40,237 played in 2024.

Golf has been on an upswing since the COVID-19 pandemic. Denklau said between 2017 and 2019, about 30,000 rounds was an average. Then in 2020, the country shut down in March, no rounds were played in April. 

When residents were told it was safe to be outdoors without masking, Denklau’s numbers show a steady jump from 2,617 golfers on the course in May 2020 to 7,259 playing golf in August. The total for 2020 was 36,172, a noticeable jump from 2019’s 30,162.

Coyote Run set a record with 39,140 rounds in 2021. That record was shattered in 2024 with 40,237 rounds and again in 2025 with 41,031 rounds.

Denklau credited Phil Knight, golf course superintendent, and his staff for the work they do to keep the course in excellent playing condition.

“I tell everyone it’s easy to sell a good product when you’ve got a good product. This is my 14th year here and I don’t think I’ve had more than five complaints on course condition,” he said. “It’s absolutely amazing the product that is out there.  And that’s why our numbers are so good.”

Denklau said the course revenue was $1,676,186 in 2025.

Weekends are the busiest times on the course. Weekdays he sees golfers return week after week. Denklau said use of the course drops when carts aren’t allowed due to soggy conditions after rain. His numbers also reflect a drop-off when football season starts.

More golfers are booking ahead for tee-times. Denklau said he is investigating a new payment system that could making collecting greens fees easier.

Denklau said several pieces of maintenance equipment need to be replaced. He will present park commissioners with his proposal for capital purchases at the Jan. 20 meeting.