Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[Holy Moses]

So it’s a golf course pride issue to be long? You’re not a “real” course if you aren’t near 7,000 yards? Courses don't want to lose 5% of revenue if longer players think it’s too short and won’t play it? Architects recommend 7,000 yards?

[mci711]

Golf doesn't have an amateur distance problem. I have never met an amateur that thought a course was too short, heIl most pro don't think it is a problem. The "problem" is a problem for a small % of the best 1% of all golfers in the world. I think 6500-7000 yards though probably is a standard starting point and a comfortable place for them to create a course that has everything they want. It also open possibilities for future events and what not.

[@_the_crook]

when Sportsman's was laying out their current renovation, consideration was given to stretching the course from the current 6300 to 6800 to bring tournament qualifying rounds to the area.

it was determined that there was either insufficient space or budget.

 

[ldchristopher]

The original question someone asked was something along the lines of “Why aren’t there more 7200-7500 yard courses in the area?” Maybe he was suffering from Wisconsin and Indiana envy (must...resist...jokes) since we don’t really have an Erin Hills, Kohler, Purgatory, or French Lick monstrosity. There are plenty of reasons why, but one is because it’s not really necessary. Erin Hills was designed to host a US Open, in part because there aren’t any private courses in Southern Wisconsin that have the teeth to host a Major. That’s just not the case here. Olympia Fields, Butler, Medinah all either have or could. Even Butterfield proposed a 7700 yard layout after it’s drainage renovation. No public course around here is going to measure up in terms of difficulty and aesthetics to those courses.

 

[Symphonize]

Anyone heard of or know anything about Sub70 Golf based out of Sycamore? https://www.golfsub70.com/

 

Thinking of getting some new irons this year, and would be very interested in getting something local.

[chisag]

... Sub70 is pretty popular on another forum I frequent. FWIW, I have only seen glowing reviews about management as well as the equipment.

[mci711]

There are some reviews on my golf spy and they include them in the yearly testing as well. They faired decent, though for half the price of other new clubs I'd say better than decent.

[DavePelz4]

Tour Edge is HQ'd in Batavia and makes a quality product. Dave Glod used to work at Village Links and will stand behind his clubs. Not too many other companies give you the opportunity to meet with the CEO/lead designer!

[B-Man]

There's no chance of me playing their clubs. Discrimination I tell you!

[DavePelz4]

So it appears Pheasant Run Resort is closing March 1 but the course will attempt to stay open. Didn't realize there was enough local play on that track to be financially worthwhile.

https://www.shawmediaillinois.com/2020/02/17/pheasant-run-resort-set-to-take-its-last-reservations-on-feb-29/aksc4h/?utm_medium=DCFacebook&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0kxGoXgSmaBG-NIEUCPySFZ2hPq8iBjSPqfNguW7dZvG0WXBDVeepO3mk#Echobox=1581971953

[Eagleman]

I saw that earlier today. It’s a shame. I played there when I was 15 when my aunt and uncle got married and we all stayed there. It’s a good memory.

[Shriner]

Interesting. Considering most golf courses are loss leaders and don't generate a profit; I wonder why the owners of the property would choose to keep that portion of the business open.

[geochitown]

just north of Prairie Landing and east of Settler's Hill...

Writing on the wall maybe with the closure of Indian Lakes a few years back?

(although that area was probably a lot more valuable real estate with its location)

[DavePelz4]

Actually, KHov pulled out of their redevelopment plan for IL in late summer of last year after they were delisted from the stock exchange. There was also a very concerted effort by the residents of Bloomingdale to cancel the development. Not sure if anyone knows their intention moving forward.

[Shriner]

Yes, I had played Indian Lakes and had basically no complaints with the course, was really enjoyable. That land is just worth so much more as housing, but then again, you can say that for ALOT of courses. I guess this explains why so many of the courses near me are not privately owned (Bloomingdale, Schaumburg, Poplar, Oak Meadows, Fox Run, etc.) The only one I can think of would be Hilldale and I am going to make the wild assumption that they lose money so who knows how long they remain as a course...

[geochitown]

From this November article from last year, it seems the airport had to purchase the course and maintenance building to block a residential development. St. Charles leaders on Pheasant Run: 'We'd like to be a partner' in efforts 'to reinvent that space'

"In 2016, the DuPage Airport Authority filed a condemnation lawsuit to block a residential development proposed for the resort's golf course. As part of a settlement agreement, the airport paid Pheasant Run $8.9 million for the nearly 94-acre course and maintenance building to "prevent incompatible development adjacent to the airport," Executive Director Mark Doles said."

edit to add a later quote:

"Pheasant Run, which still owns the hotel and a majority of the frontage along Route 64, has continued operating the golf course since the land deal was finalized. The two parties agreed in September to extend the arrangement through October 2020, Doles said."

[Shriner]

Myself and two buddies committed to playing "the top" 100 public courses in Illinois in the next 7 years, and created a list. We are also ranking each of the courses bases on certain weighted criteria (conditions, aesthetics, etc). We understand the list is subjective but where we could use help is possibly modifying our list of 100. We don't want to miss any "must play" courses in the area that should obviously knock out one of the courses we have listed.  We also understand that we will not play most muni's outside Chicago, but will play a bunch that are local to us. Again, this list is intended to be diverse, but are there any complete waste of times that are on the list below, or any courses that you would highly suggest we add? The first list we have already played and ranked, so they CANNOT be removed, and should not be added. The second list can be modified. Thanks for any help!Already played / cannot remove or add

Arrowhead, Bartlett Hills, Bloomingdale, Boone Creek, Bowes Creek, Buffalo Grove, Carraige Greens, Chalet Hills, Cinder Ridge, Eaglewood, Glendale Lakes, Golf Club of Illinois, Heritage Bluffs, Highland Woods, Highlands of Elgin, Hilldale, Itasca Golf Course, Kankakee Elks, Klein Creek, Makray Memorial, Maple Meadows, Marengo Ridge, Mistwood, Mt Prospect, Northbrook (Sportsmans), Oak Brook, Oak Grove, Palatine Hills, Pine Meadow, Poplar Creek, Prarie Landing, Preserve at Oak Meadows, Schaumburg Golf Club, St Andrews, Stonewall Orchard, Tamarack, Tanna Farms, Thunkderhawk, Waters Edge, Whisper Creek, White Pines, Whitetail Ridge Golf Club, Willow Crest

Have not played / can be modified

Aldeen Golf Club

Annbriar

Arboretum

Balmoral Woods

Big Run

Bittersweet

Blackstone

Bolingbrook Golf Club

Broken Arrow

Cantigny

Chevy Chase

Cog Hill #4

Coyote Creek

Eagle Ridge General

Edgewood Golf Club

Fox Run

Foxford Hills

Fyre Lake

George Dunne

Glen Club

Harborside (Port)

Harborside Starboard

Hickory Point

Indian Oaks Golf Club

Ironhorse GOLF Club

Lanark Golf Course

Ledges Golf Course

Links at Carillon

Lost Nation

Naperbrook

Old Oak

Orchard Valley

Pheasant Run

Pinecrest

Prarie Bluff Golf Course

Prarie View

Quail Creek

Randall Oaks

Ravisloe

Red Tail Run

Ruffled Feathers

Senecas Oak Ridge

Settlers Hill

Seven Bridges Golf Club

Shady Oaks Country Club

Shepards Crook Golf Curse

Springbrook

Sunset Valley

The Sanctuary

TPC Deere Run

Turtle Run

U of I Golf Coure

Village Greens of Woodridge

Village Links of Glen Ellyn

Weaver Ridge

White Deer Run

Wolf Hollow Golf Course

 

[bobbo621]

Cog Hill #2 should definitely be on there. It easily beats out several others listed

 

[VNutz]

You can take Pheasant Run and probably Village Greens of Woodridge off that list. Not worth it IMO.

[mci711]

Gateway National near St Louis is, in my opinion, 1 of the top 10 courses in Illinois. If you are going to go down and play Annbriar knock them both off and play Gateway. Gateway is the better of the 2. Metamora needs to be on the list as well. Red tail Run and Hickory Point in Decatur.

 

Edit - you already have the last 2.

[Shriner]

Excellent, these are awesome suggestions.

This is the list below I had compiled that I do not have, any worth including as a top 100 IL course?

Glencoe, Crystal Woods, Wilmette, Hughes Creek, Prairie Isle, Harrison Park, Silver Ridge?

 

[geochitown]

Shriner,

I think you mean Coyote Run in Flossmoor, not Coyote Creek in Bartonville ???

[Shriner]

Good question. It was definitely meant to be Coyote Creek but is Coyote Run worth adding as a top 100 course?

[geochitown]

Prairie Isle seems to get some love around here. Played it once a long time ago.

Wilmette should be on it.

Probably can leave off Crystal Woods and Glencoe IMO.

Not familiar with the others.

I guess there is a Coyote Creek, might want to add Coyote Run in Flossmoor.

[geochitown]

consider adding Redtail in Lake in the HIlls?

[VNutz]

I've only played Crystal Woods and Hughes Creek of these, you can skip them.

[Shriner]

Perfect, good to know on those two Vnutz.

 

Geo - That is a good one, I have driven by many times and it looks pretty nice. I will add that one.

[chisag]

... Let's try this one. I imagine opinions will vary greatly but what are your Top 10 Favorite courses to play. Considering cost, which can be important to many of us, which courses do you play over and over again? If a course is one of your favorites to play and you only play it a couple times a year that would work too. Just your Top 10 personal favorites to play, not Best. Maybe we uncover a fun course or two we haven't played? These are all close to home in Bolingbrook and I almost always play twilite and walk every round if possible so that factors heavily into my list:

 

Prairie Bluff Cog Hill #2Naperbrook Cog Hill #1White Tail RidgeLinks of CarrilonCog Hill #1MistwoodPrairie Landing George Dunne

[DavePelz4]

If you're playing the General, you should add both the North and South course at Eagle Ridge as they are T-100 courses.

And I'm with VNutz on Hughes Creek (except have a drink in the bar) and Village Greens in Woodridge and definitely add Bowes Creek and Highlands of Elgin.

[Shriner]

Thanks Chisag...I had all those courses on our top 100 except Cog #1, #2. We were trying to avoid having 3 or 4 different courses from the same golf facility but that is probably a mistake, so I will add some of these.

DP4 - Thanks - That is another example of a golf facility having numerous top 100 courses (Eagle Ridge). Will add. To confirm, Hughes Creek is no good? We definitely have Bowes and Highlands, those are already in our top 3 actually! For what it is worth, using our rating system, the current top courses and scores are below but there will obviously be a few left that probably enter the list such as Blackstone, for instance:

Highlands...9.24Mistwood...9.01Bowes Creek...8.95Pine Meadow...8.75Stonewall...8.70Oak Grove...8.63