Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[zer0]

On 6/28/2024 at 8:27 AM, DavePelz4 said:

A course I don't remember ever seeing anyone mention is Minnie Monesse.  Anyone with experience playing there?

 

One of everyone's all time favorite White Sox players.  ONce saw him sitting in a bar in Wrigleyville while I was walking by with my family.  My dad had us stop in and say hello.  He couldn't have been nicer.  After a few minutes of talking he walked us out to his car, popped the trunk and had a box of his authobiographies in there.  Pulled one out, signed it to me personally and gave it to me.

[ldchristopher]

3 hours ago, zer0 said:

 

One of everyone's all time favorite White Sox players.  ONce saw him sitting in a bar in Wrigleyville while I was walking by with my family.  My dad had us stop in and say hello.  He couldn't have been nicer.  After a few minutes of talking he walked us out to his car, popped the trunk and had a box of his authobiographies in there.  Pulled one out, signed it to me personally and gave it to me.

Minnie Minoso >>>>>>>>Minne Monesse Golf Club

Find me a golf course equivalent of a guy who played in four decades. Go ahead. I’ll wait. 

[MountainKing]

On 6/30/2024 at 1:22 PM, ldchristopher said:

My concern is not with the dumb Covid golfer or the clueless Junior. My concern is when they procreate and their kids grow up thinking this brand of stupid and ignorant is both normal and acceptable. GET THE F&$% OFF MY LAWN!!!

 

 

I'm all for the get off my lawn.  One thing I failed to mention about my round at Springbrook, but I have mentioned becoming a regular thing is guys hitting into us or at us without yelling fore.  On hole 11 I was by the left water dropping (because I suck) and as the norm, golf ball lands about 5 feet in front of me and bounces on in.  The shot came from 12 tee, I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt about not seeing me (despite me being fat, wearing bright colors, and clearly able to see them).  I was sort of hoping whoever hit it did come my way, but nope, they stayed on their hole.  Got to 12 tee and from what I could see they had a clear view of me.  The dumb and clueless need to get removed from the game or I'm gonna end up getting hit with something.

[zer0]

2 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

Minnie Minoso >>>>>>>>Minne Monesse Golf Club

Find me a golf course equivalent of a guy who played in four decades. Go ahead. I’ll wait. 

 

 

I can't answer that, but I'm calling it now....Waters Edge is the Mark "the Bird" Fidrych of golf courses.    Had one great  season when it first opened and then went to crap just like The Bird.

[DavePelz4]

3 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

Minnie Minoso >>>>>>>>Minne Monesse Golf Club

Find me a golf course equivalent of a guy who played in four decades. Go ahead. I’ll wait. 

 

How about I'll give you 3 players who WON in 4 different decades.  That would be Sam Snead (had some range time with him), DL3 (arranged for a client of mine to golf with him), and Raymond Floyd.  Uniquely, Floyd was the first to win on the PGA and Senior tour in the same season.

 

[ldchristopher]

4 hours ago, DavePelz4 said:

 

How about I'll give you 3 players who WON in 4 different decades.  That would be Sam Snead (had some range time with him), DL3 (arranged for a client of mine to golf with him), and Raymond Floyd.  Uniquely, Floyd was the first to win on the PGA and Senior tour in the same season.

 

Speaking of Floyd, anyone played Redtail Run in Decatur? It was designed by Raymond Floyd. Bear and I are looking for some new Central IL courses to play later this summer. 

[ldchristopher]

Thunderhawk this afternoon. The course is in excellent shape tee to green, as usual. The greens were smooth but basically the same pace as Countryside. The bunkers had plenty of sand and the tee boxes for the tips were in great shape. The ones at the Brass boxes were pretty chewed though. 
 

I couldn’t get my game going today. Spinny off the tee and missed some easy greens. 9 fairways and 9 greens isn’t awful but compared to how I’ve been playing lately I just felt off most of the day. I swung it a little better on the back and only had two bogies on 13 and 17 but I didn’t even sniff a birdie and limped to a 40 on the front. 78. Headed to Wisconsin tomorrow. 

[thedunedain]

I have some work tomorrow up by McHenry County College and am curious if anybody has any good recommendations for courses out that way.  I'm based in the city so I haven't looked at many options that far out.  Ideally I'd be walking unless the humidity is super high.  After a preliminary search I'm thinking maybe Turnberry?

[DavePelz4]

31 minutes ago, thedunedain said:

I have some work tomorrow up by McHenry County College and am curious if anybody has any good recommendations for courses out that way.  I'm based in the city so I haven't looked at many options that far out.  Ideally I'd be walking unless the humidity is super high.  After a preliminary search I'm thinking maybe Turnberry?

 

Turnberry is ok...you could play Blackstone or drive a bit further north and play 17 great holes at Oak Grove and the worst hole in IL, too.

[ldchristopher]

Crystal Woods is a fun course that’s well-maintained. Whisper Creek has a walking rate that isn’t advertised on their site. Decent layout but the bunkers are junk and the greens are meh. Golf Club of Illinois is a boring layout but it’s easy to get on and cheap. The aforementioned Oak Grove and Blackstone. Pinecrest is decent. You won’t be far from Cary, so Foxford Hills, Chalet Hills and Prairie Isle are all solid. The only course in that area that doesn’t allow walking is Redtail. They’re now on my permanent s—- list. 

[TheBear95]

3 hours ago, thedunedain said:

I have some work tomorrow up by McHenry County College and am curious if anybody has any good recommendations for courses out that way.  I'm based in the city so I haven't looked at many options that far out.  Ideally I'd be walking unless the humidity is super high.  After a preliminary search I'm thinking maybe Turnberry?

 

Crystal Woods or Prairie Isle would be my recommendation. Both are kept in nice shape and have a walking rate.

[Springsteennut]

6 hours ago, thedunedain said:

I have some work tomorrow up by McHenry County College and am curious if anybody has any good recommendations for courses out that way.  I'm based in the city so I haven't looked at many options that far out.  Ideally I'd be walking unless the humidity is super high.  After a preliminary search I'm thinking maybe Turnberry?

I would play Redtail or Crystal Woods before Turnberry.

[DavePelz4]

5 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

Crystal Woods is a fun course that’s well-maintained. Whisper Creek has a walking rate that isn’t advertised on their site. Decent layout but the bunkers are junk and the greens are meh. Golf Club of Illinois is a boring layout but it’s easy to get on and cheap. The aforementioned Oak Grove and Blackstone. Pinecrest is decent. You won’t be far from Cary, so Foxford Hills, Chalet Hills and Prairie Isle are all solid. The only course in that area that doesn’t allow walking is Redtail. They’re now on my permanent s—- list. 

 

LD, when did they say no walking?  We've been bitched at about walking, but they always let us, we still have to pay the cart fee though.  We're playing there the 13th and I'm planning on getting the miles in. Maybe I need to start bitching now.

[Springsteennut]

Redtail yesterday and Elgin Country Club today. Wet day yesterday at Redtail. We were rained on half the time we were out there. Conditions were good even with the rain. There were walkers out there. There is a sign on the register but they seem to let people out if they are insistent. I was invited as a guest at Elgin CC.  Very nice place. I was last out there 2 years ago and it was a treat again. Greens were very fast and tricky. A lot of interesting topography on that course which makes it fun and challenging. Traps were even first rate. Yesterday my game was hit or miss with the rain. Today I got off to a slow start but things got better on the back nine.

[Argonne69]

12 hours ago, Springsteennut said:

Redtail yesterday and Elgin Country Club today. Wet day yesterday at Redtail. We were rained on half the time we were out there. Conditions were good even with the rain. There were walkers out there. There is a sign on the register but they seem to let people out if they are insistent. I was invited as a guest at Elgin CC.  Very nice place. I was last out there 2 years ago and it was a treat again. Greens were very fast and tricky. A lot of interesting topography on that course which makes it fun and challenging. Traps were even first rate. Yesterday my game was hit or miss with the rain. Today I got off to a slow start but things got better on the back nine.

 

Courses that reluctantly allow walking, and make you feel like a 2nd class citizen, really tick me off. I've had too many bad encounters with pro shop staff and starters to count. 

 

What's so difficult about the rule that everyone should keep pace? Lord knows every 5+ hour round I've played I've been stuck behind groups of Bozos in carts.

 

[MountainKing]

An adventure today at Old Oak.    Good chat with the starter who said we should get through in about 3 hours (yeah right).   Of course we end up behind a group that has zero hurry.  One  guy I swear was holding Ted talks on every tee box.   On 8 I finally saw a ranger and told him he needs to get them moving,  and he told me they're right on top on the group in front of them (who was at least 2 holes up).   2:30 to play the front.   The group all went in for food so we ran right to 10.  Didn't catch the group in front of them until 17, got through the back in 90 minutes. 

 

As with tradition this year,  on hole 14 were on the green and there's a ball that lands right by us from the 10th tee.  The clowns said they didn't see us, I don't but it,  but even at that i was always taught to yell if you're that off line. I was about ready to drop the guy since he kept running his mouth making it seem like it was our fault.   I may be old and fat now,  but as an ex hockey player I can still throw a punch that will knock you out.

 

 

Anyway,  course was in great shape,  greens were moving nice at a 10ish.  Steady rain for about 10 holes as well.   Always forget how good of course it is.

 

My game on the other hand was awful.  A lot of high right off the tee which is not normal for me, and couldn't get my alignment straight on irons.   A lot of bogies,  no birds for a 79. 

[ldchristopher]

On 7/2/2024 at 4:39 PM, DavePelz4 said:

 

LD, when did they say no walking?  We've been bitched at about walking, but they always let us, we still have to pay the cart fee though.  We're playing there the 13th and I'm planning on getting the miles in. Maybe I need to start bitching now.

They now only allow their members to walk during the summer. 

[jimwgt26]

19 hours ago, MountainKing said:

  One  guy I swear was holding Ted talks on every tee box.  

That's funny:)

[MountainKing]

5 minutes ago, jimwgt26 said:

That's funny:)

 

Every tee box on the front 9, one guy would stand there and be going on about something while the other three were hanging onto every single word.  I wouldn't care if they were hitting tee shots, but come on, if you want to socialize to this extent just go sit at a bar or somebody's garage.  I will give them credit for at least playing the right tee box, sort of, they should have been on the forward tees vs one back from forward.    On hole 3 we were waiting on our tee box while this guy was going on about something 50 yards up, they decided to play once they realized we were back there waiting.   I could go on but whatever - Bull Valley on Sunday so at least moving over to a private course for a day should hopefully improve the nonsense. 

[jimwgt26]

Did he have an earpiece microphone and a Patagonia puffy vest? 

Edited July 5, 2024 by jimwgt26
grammar

[MountainKing]

27 minutes ago, jimwgt26 said:

Did he have an earpiece microphone and a Patagonia puffy vest? 

 

No but he a giant towel stuffed into his belt

[ldchristopher]

I played a smattering of average Southern Wisconsin courses. No award winners or resort courses. You all know me. Kettle Hills and Old Hickory on Wednesday with Bear. Kettle Hills is better than I remember and my recall of courses is pretty good. Guessing they sunk some Covid money into the course. It’s 15 good holes and 3 gimmicky ones. The facility uses the topography well and it’s not an easy walk. I tried a heavier driver shaft to replace the wet noodle I’ve been playing and hit some excellent drives. I also woke up with terrible lower back pain. Back to the noodle. 77. 
 

Old Hickory sent us an email saying only the “high” holes were open for carts while the whole course was open for walking. We played a route of 1-5 and 15-18 (high holes) followed by 10-14 and 6-9. After waiting on every shot for the first 9, we expected to cruise. Two cart guys got a push cart at the turn though. No big deal. We play quickly and they’ll slide in behind us, right? Wrong. They walked ahead, skipped 10 and 11, and jumped us. Okay, it’s a twosome walking. Shouldn’t be awful, right? You know how this ends. For the capper, they also parked their push carts on every green. Let me save these courses that don’t have paths some trouble. If it rains a lot and low holes are swamps, just make it walking only. Sigh. Another 77. 
 

Delbrook yesterday at twilight. I needed a nice quiet round void of stupid and Delbrook delivered. The course was completely empty (gotta get liquored up and blow off fingers!!!), I was able to work out some kinks in my iron game, I made a couple of birdies and had several more looks. 74. FYI for anyone in the Delavan area, the South nine is now a par 37. Both 480 yard 4’s are now short 5’s. Some teeth were lost. But conditioning was excellent. 
 

Bonnie Brook today. Almost no one was there. We played with a lady who was a long hitter. Very pleasant. The greens hadn’t been rolled with the overnight rain but it was still in excellent shape. Mother Nature did some tree removal on 12. I only hit 9 greens but my wedge play was excellent. 75. 

[DavePelz4]

Trekked to PrairieView on Friday.  That course is always worth the drive.  In wonderful conditions and only had to fix 1 ball mark the entire round.  The greens are amazing and thinking they're top 5 of the best greens in Chicago. Paired up with 2 new, female golfers.  The starter told us to "have extra patience." While there were regularly 3 whiffs and a 7 yard shot, they were very aware of pace and several times picked up and advanced their ball to an appropriate spot, in their minds.  They also stopped at 9 holes and offered to buy us a drink for the patience, which was appreciated, but declined.

 

Playing like total crap and if it wasn't for a boatload of one putts, it would have been an ugly round.  Going through severe cranial rectitus to the point of thinking of getting a lesson or two.  Or going to see a sports psychologist.  Maybe I just care too much.

 

Getting out sometime today or tomorrow and then comp round at Redtail next Saturday.

Edited July 6, 2024 by DavePelz4

[thedunedain]

On the topic of walking—is prairie bluff walkable/ walker friendly? I booked a tee time for next weekend but there was no option to take the cart charge off in the total. Won’t be charged till I get to the course so I’m hoping they’ll just ring it up accordingly but I would prefer not to show up and have them tell me I can’t walk. 

[Argonne69]

4 minutes ago, thedunedain said:

On the topic of walking—is prairie bluff walkable/ walker friendly? I booked a tee time for next weekend but there was no option to take the cart charge off in the total. Won’t be charged till I get to the course so I’m hoping they’ll just ring it up accordingly but I would prefer not to show up and have them tell me I can’t walk. 

 

Very walkable, but not sure about their current policies. 

 

[stasek]

Morning round at Whitetail Ridge…. The good, the bad, and the ugly…. I guess I’ll go in order.  The good - course conditions.  Fast, actual sand in bunkers, and  by far the best greens I played all year.  Started out (teed off at 6:38am) around 11 and only got faster.  The bad - $108 to play.  Yes, it’s a nice course… but, come on… $100+… wtf 🤬🤬🤬. The ugly… my game.  Shot 77 from the sporty blues (we had 2 foursomes and couple guys were high handicappers).  In a nutshell, it was a microcosm of my entire season.  Complements of the Grint - 32 putts (surprisingly no 3 putts), 85% fairways (4 iron was money), 56% GIR.  1 double, 1 triple (chunking an 5i into the lake on an the long par 3), and 3 birdies🤦‍♂️.  
Next week - Harborside Port.  

[DavePelz4]

14 minutes ago, thedunedain said:

On the topic of walking—is prairie bluff walkable/ walker friendly? I booked a tee time for next weekend but there was no option to take the cart charge off in the total. Won’t be charged till I get to the course so I’m hoping they’ll just ring it up accordingly but I would prefer not to show up and have them tell me I can’t walk. 

 

If you walk, they'll take off the cart cost. PB is one of the best run courses in Chicagoland.  They actually monitor pace and won't hesitate to tell stragglers to get it in gear.

[chisag]

13 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Very walkable, but not sure about their current policies. 

 

 

 

... True dat. I have well over 500 rounds at Prairie Bluff and I have always walked and never taken a riding cart. But I don't play in the mornings. And as others have said, well run course and they enforce a pace pf play even for twilite golfers which is very rare these days. 

[chisag]

14 minutes ago, stasek said:

 The bad - $108 to play.  Yes, it’s a nice course… but, come on… $100+… wtf 🤬🤬🤬.

 

... That's insane. I am not fan of the front 9 and other than #4 and #8, I find it flat and visually boring. The back 9 is like a completely different course and I always enjoyed playing it. But about $50 is my limit and I figure that's $1 for the front and $49 for the back. 🤪

[Holy Moses]

Got my second hole-in-one today on the 3rd at Prairie Landing and shot 69. Hard to beat that for a day on the course!