Darien Residents 'Panicked' With Golf Course Plan: Officials

ELMHURST, IL – For months, the owners of the Carriage Greens Country Club in Darien have warned they'll put up a fence to stop crime.

The course's neighbors don't want a fence sectioning off their properties from the course.

Recently, though, the club got a permit to put up a six-foot, chain-link fence near the third hole, according to the city.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Alderwoman Mary Sullivan said "panicked" residents have called her about the fence plan, which would affect those in the Carriage Way West neighborhood.

"I have residents wanting to ask and plead for an altered fence, maybe a corral-style fence like they have along Bailey Road, that wouldn't be so obtrusive," Sullivan said. "They were even willing to put some of their own money in it."

The owners, Brian and Adriana Broderick, have bought the material and plan to proceed with fencing that area, she said.

Mayor Joseph Marchese agreed that it looked as if the fence would go up.

This year, vandalism and trespassing have become increasing problems at the golf course, officials say.

In May, Brian Broderick told Patch that the neighbors have turned a "blind eye" to vandals and trespassers. He warned at the time that the club might put up a fence.

He said the homeowners were "incredibly fortunate" to have the course in their backyards.

At Monday's meeting, Sullivan said the Brodericks have made clear that they have no choice but to put up a fence to avoid more damage to the course.

"I don't think the reality is that it is going to stop it," she said. "If people want to get on the course, they'll just walk down the block and get on it in a different way."

"I just hope it's cared for and maintained," Sullivan said. "I just really feel like we could have gotten a better resolution for the residents."

In an email to Patch on Tuesday, Adriana Broderick comfirmed the plan.

"Yes we will be installing a fence," she said. "The city has approved and permitted the installation of 1,000 linear feet of fencing on our third hole. We will monitor ongoing vandalism to assess which sections of the course may require additional fencing in the future."