On May 24, 2021, the community celebrated the grand opening of the new Youth Golf Development Center at Sunset Valley Golf Club. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Parks Foundation, over $200,000 was donated by Amateur Golf Hall of Famer and Highland Park native Joel Hirsch, with additional contributions from other golfers. Hirsch, a longtime tournament player, wanted to give local youth the chance to learn and love the game of golf.

The one-of-a-kind Youth Golf Center features practice areas for pitching, chipping, and putting, as well as long-shot hitting bays. It expands opportunities for the club to carry on its tradition as the area’s premiere public course for golfers of all ages and abilities. The Center hosts summer camps, junior lessons, the Highland Park High School boys and girls golf teams, and youth tournaments. When not in use for youth golf instruction, the area serves as a practice facility for all Sunset Valley golfers.

Strong character, passion for being outdoors, good manners, strategic thinking, friendship are just a few of the valuable benefits golf can provide a person beginning at an early age and throughout life.