Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[ldchristopher]

31 minutes ago, zer0 said:

 

 

Arg you're a lot more courageous than me.  When I drive the Dan Ryan the last thing I'm looking to do is get off at an exit.   

The school I teach at is at 71st and South Chicago. It’s mostly harmless over there (Grand Crossing, Pocket Town, Park Manor, Chatham, South Shore) during the day. At night, different story. 

[@_the_crook]

34 minutes ago, zer0 said:

 

 

Arg you're a lot more courageous than me.  When I drive the Dan Ryan the last thing I'm looking to do is get off at an exit.   

when my tech route took me far south, we started at dawn and would try and knock off by 2pm so we could grab lunch and be back north before traffic got really stupid.

another reliable spot is LUME'S PANCAKE HOUSE, 11601 S Western Ave.

[Argonne69]

10 minutes ago, ldchristopher said:

The school I teach at is at 71st and South Chicago. It’s mostly harmless over there (Grand Crossing, Pocket Town, Park Manor, Chatham, South Shore) during the day. At night, different story. 

 

My oldest brother and sister graduated from Chicago Vocational (CVS). Much different area these days, but still relatively calm during the day. 

 

When I used to commute from the south suburbs to UIC I'd often take Stoney Island and Indiana Ave north when traffic on the Ryan was horrid. 

 

Also played many rounds at Jackson Park GC, and often had to travel east on 63rd when Lakeshore Drive was under construction. Breakfast at Daley's at 63rd and Cottage Grove under the El tracks was decent on a cold November morning before a round. 

 

[ldchristopher]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

My oldest brother and sister graduated from Chicago Vocational (CVS). Much different area these days, but still relatively calm during the day. 

 

When I used to commute from the south suburbs to UIC I'd often take Stoney Island and Indiana Ave north when traffic on the Ryan was horrid. 

 

Also played many rounds at Jackson Park GC, and often had to travel east on 63rd when Lakeshore Drive was under construction. Breakfast at Daley's at 63rd and Cottage Grove under the El tracks was decent on a cold November morning before a round. 

 

Mostly CVS is just woefully under enrolled these days. It has space for 10,000 students but has less than 700 right now. That’s not a typo. It’s not missing a zero. 637 students. When Simeon was under construction they moved the entire school inside CVS for a year. Not that many people live over there with the CHA effectively irrelevant. 
The Lake Shore Drive exit at Hayes for Jackson Park is excellent now. The construction made my commute from Woodlawn to the North side terrible for over a year but the Obama Library needed Cornell Rd. to be functional and it’s almost done. 
Food-wise, Baba’s Famous Philly Steak and Lemonade is awesome and contributes to my winter weight gain. Jerk Taco Man is amazing if you can handle the heat. 

[Scratch2Plus]

Played Bartlett Tuesday, playing Makray Thursday, and Randall Oaks on Friday...

[TheBear95]

2 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

Mostly CVS is just woefully under enrolled these days. It has space for 10,000 students but has less than 700 right now. That’s not a typo. It’s not missing a zero. 637 students. When Simeon was under construction they moved the entire school inside CVS for a year. Not that many people live over there with the CHA effectively irrelevant. 
The Lake Shore Drive exit at Hayes for Jackson Park is excellent now. The construction made my commute from Woodlawn to the North side terrible for over a year but the Obama Library needed Cornell Rd. to be functional and it’s almost done. 
Food-wise, Baba’s Famous Philly Steak and Lemonade is awesome and contributes to my winter weight gain. Jerk Taco Man is amazing if you can handle the heat. 

 

I thought the improvements were made for the redesigned Jackson Park GC by Tiger Woods, lol

[ldchristopher]

50 minutes ago, TheBear95 said:

 

I thought the improvements were made for the redesigned Jackson Park GC by Tiger Woods, lol

Did that project get pitched to Daley or Rahm? That means it was either 3 or 4 mayors ago. I wonder if Brandon Johnson even knows the Tiger JP “project” exists. 

[TheBear95]

10 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

Did that project get pitched to Daley or Rahm? That means it was either 3 or 4 mayors ago. I wonder if Brandon Johnson even knows the Tiger JP “project” exists. 

 

It was announced in 2016. 

[ldchristopher]

3 hours ago, TheBear95 said:

 

It was announced in 2016. 

After we didn’t get the Olympics. Needed another fake project to justify redeveloping parts of the south side. Timing checks out. 

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, ldchristopher said:

After we didn’t get the Olympics. Needed another fake project to justify redeveloping parts of the south side. Timing checks out. 

 

I played Jackson Park and South Shore CC more times than I can count, but damn, it would have been fantastic if they'd bulldoze both and build a Harding Park type layout in the city. 

 

I recall one of the big hurdles was getting the funding to build two tunnels under Lake Shore Drive. It's sickening to see the costs to build a lowly tunnel. 

 

[ldchristopher]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I played Jackson Park and South Shore CC more times than I can count, but damn, it would have been fantastic if they'd bulldoze both and build a Harding Park type layout in the city. 

 

I recall one of the big hurdles was getting the funding to build two tunnels under Lake Shore Drive. It's sickening to see the costs to build a lowly tunnel. 

 

That project is as real as the 1992 Chicago World’s Fair. That’s kind of what we do to foster urban development and renewal: pitch grandiose ideas as a way to rebuild and gentrify communities on the South side. As an urban planning strategy it’s…super effective. 

[ldchristopher]

On 7/24/2024 at 3:13 PM, Shriner said:

 

Wow, wow, wow.  Whittaker is the anchor course on our annual Michigan trip next month so we will have to swap it out.  That is brutal.  It was NOTHING like that last year, too bad.

Whittaker is a solid layout and it’s certainly closest to Chicago but even in pristine conditions, in my opinion it’s not on the same level as The Medalist, Angel’s Crossing, Hawkshead, Calderone, The Grande, Blackthorn (Michigan adjacent), or Heritage Glen. You could anchor your trip with any of those and finish the trip happy. 

[mikes919]

Played Old Orchard today and it was in great shape. Feel like it's a course that doesn't get a lot of love because of the funky layout with so many criss-crossing holes. But I think it's a fair test, there are a handful of fun/interesting holes, and it's hard to beat $65 riding on a Friday.

[ldchristopher]

Countryside Prairie and Pine Meadow today. We played Countryside with a friend from out of town. Prairie is a fun course to blast away with driver. Wayward misses can still be pretty easy par saves and there isn’t much nuance or strategy required. I did cough up a stroke on 9 because at first glance, the front pin looked very easy. However, the cup was cut right on a ridge and putts that missed low all rolled another 8 feet down the hill. Yeah, my putt missed low. I birdied 6 and 16 and bogied 5, 9, 10 and 12 for a 74. 
 

Pine Meadow…sigh. It could be so good. The layout is great if not particularly challenging, the greens are huge and SHOULD undulate a fair amount without getting silly. There’s some strategy involved in playing depending on where the holes are cut. But the greens are so slow and chewed up by footprints and unrepaired craters that nothing really moves as much as it should. We were out ahead of a bachelor party and thank God for that. Only one birdie (10) and 4 bogies (7, 14, 15 and 18) for a 75. 

[MountainKing]

Orchard Valley today.  It's been out of the rotation for years,  for obvious reasons.  Like a few other courses it's making a real comeback.   Tee to green it was in great shape.  Bunkers need a touch more sand, but still playable.  Pace was solid at 4 hours,  it's back in the rotation.

 

First round with my new Lab putter, didn't really sink anything outside of a birdie on 1, but I lipped out birdie putts on 2, 4. 9, 10, 11 and 16.  Feeling good on the greens for once.   One birdie,  a bogey and a double for a 74.

[orange14]

18 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

Pine Meadow…sigh. It could be so good. The layout is great if not particularly challenging, the greens are huge and SHOULD undulate a fair amount without getting silly. There’s some strategy involved in playing depending on where the holes are cut. But the greens are so slow and chewed up by footprints and unrepaired craters that nothing really moves as much as it should. We were out ahead of a bachelor party and thank God for that. Only one birdie (10) and 4 bogies (7, 14, 15 and 18) for a 75. 

I've only played Pine Meadow twice... but have thought both times their greens were in good shape and had quite a bit of speed, especially for early AM, dew-soaked rounds.

[DavePelz4]

2 hours ago, MountainKing said:

Orchard Valley today.  It's been out of the rotation for years,  for obvious reasons.  Like a few other courses it's making a real comeback.   Tee to green it was in great shape.  Bunkers need a touch more sand, but still playable.  Pace was solid at 4 hours,  it's back in the rotation.

 

First round with my new Lab putter, didn't really sink anything outside of a birdie on 1, but I lipped out birdie putts on 2, 4. 9, 10, 11 and 16.  Feeling good on the greens for once.   One birdie,  a bogey and a double for a 74.

 

MK...how were you fit for the LAB and which model did you get?

[MountainKing]

49 minutes ago, DavePelz4 said:

 

MK...how were you fit for the LAB and which model did you get?

 

I did their remote fitting, DF3.   There is something with it for sure,  the stroke feels more stable and easy.  I know putting is as simple as line and speed, but with how easy it makes the stroke it's almost cheating to get the ball on its line every time.   If I can get my reads just slightly better this thing might be a game changer.

[TheBear95]

16 hours ago, orange14 said:

I've only played Pine Meadow twice... but have thought both times their greens were in good shape and had quite a bit of speed, especially for early AM, dew-soaked rounds.

 

I find the green speed to really vary at Pine Meadow. 

[Shriner]

Oh boy, where to start.  Our annual Day in Heaven and it did not disappoint.  The 1st course is always Oak Grove, followed by a second course about halfway back to civilization.  This year we chose Randall Oaks which was a pleasant surprise.

 

Anyway, we normally do this in September and I must say, Oak Grove is completely different in the middle of the summer.  The distance doesn't hurt as much when the ball is flying further.  I hadn't played in two months, still putting the house back together after the fire during last years' day in heaven round....and it showed.  8 lost tee shots for a 43-46:89.  During the round, my friend made a comment that the back tees are borderline unplayable.  I laughed it off but then afterwards started to think he is right about a few of the holes.  Hole 2 is just a flat out brute and the view to the fairway is largely obscured.  I literally could not see the flag on the par 3 5th, that shouldn't happen.  10th hole is the only one that is flat out not right, the tee shot is now a clowns mouth shot.  The tree on the left is directly in front of you so you have to go under it or play to the right and draw the ball back.  Anyways, I don't care, at all, because this course is amazing.  The fairways were country club perfect.  Greens were smooth and largely free of any defects.  Yes, it is brutally difficult but that is what I love about golf...it's a challenge, but fair.  Sure the 11th is wacky and there is a large tree in the middle of the 6th fairway (that was directly in my way for my 2nd), but the segregation of holes and overall feeling out there is unmatched.  

 

By the way, tee'd off at 7:09 am and played in 3:50 minutes.  After the round, a couple of young guys came up to the bar and said they have some time at the turn because their six some is splitting into two threesomes's.  The bartender was bleeding on his arm.  Lol.  Only at Oak Grove.  Just amazing as usual...I hope this course never goes away.

 

Randall Oaks was in great condition and we would go back.  Nice layout, greens were FAST.  $43 on a Saturday!  I walked both, roughly 15.6 miles and I will be doing nothing today.  

[DavePelz4]

Anyone know if Ruffled Feathers allows walking?

[ldchristopher]

20 minutes ago, DavePelz4 said:

Anyone know if Ruffled Feathers allows walking?

They do. I think it’s a flat rate to walk or ride but it’s allowed. 

[DavePelz4]

3 minutes ago, ldchristopher said:

They do. I think it’s a flat rate to walk or ride but it’s allowed. 

 

Thanks LD.

[ldchristopher]

On 7/28/2024 at 9:52 AM, Shriner said:

During the round, my friend made a comment that the back tees are borderline unplayable.  I laughed it off but then afterwards started to think he is right about a few of the holes.  Hole 2 is just a flat out brute and the view to the fairway is largely obscured.  I literally could not see the flag on the par 3 5th, that shouldn't happen.  10th hole is the only one that is flat out not right, the tee shot is now a clowns mouth shot.  The tree on the left is directly in front of you so you have to go under it or play to the right and draw the ball back. 

The marsh on 2 creates an illusion that it’s a longer carry than it is, but it’s about 250 to clear it and you can miss a little right and be okay. I don’t like the 5th hole either, especially when the pin is back right. 10 and 18 are GolfVisions specials. If they did tree trimming the holes would be fine. But why take care of the courses you manage? 

[DavePelz4]

8 minutes ago, ldchristopher said:

The marsh on 2 creates an illusion that it’s a longer carry than it is, but it’s about 250 to clear it and you can miss a little right and be okay. I don’t like the 5th hole either, especially when the pin is back right. 10 and 18 are GolfVisions specials. If they did tree trimming the holes would be fine. But why take care of the courses you manage? 

 

Because Tim Miles Sr. and Jr. don't give a rat's arse about stuff like that.  They'd need to pay someone to do that which goes against the philosophy.  It's like their range balls from 1948. Never cleaned.

[MountainKing]

45 minutes ago, DavePelz4 said:

Anyone know if Ruffled Feathers allows walking?

 

 

I walked it years ago when I would actually walk golf courses and it's a shockingly long walk.

[DavePelz4]

22 minutes ago, MountainKing said:

 

 

I walked it years ago when I would actually walk golf courses and it's a shockingly long walk.

 

Haven't played it in years but went through Google Earth and followed the cart paths and definitely concur. While walking is always my preference, don't want to slow the groups down.

[MountainKing]

25 minutes ago, DavePelz4 said:

 

Haven't played it in years but went through Google Earth and followed the cart paths and definitely concur. While walking is always my preference, don't want to slow the groups down.

 

With the modern pace of play I highly doubt your walking would be the one slowing things down

[DavePelz4]

40 minutes ago, MountainKing said:

 

With the modern pace of play I highly doubt your walking would be the one slowing things down

 

Agree, but it does appear there's a hike between a couple of holes, like Bolingbrook. There were 2-3 times where it was probably a quarter miles between greens and tees.  I abhor slowing anyone down.

[mci711]

I used to walk Ruffled Feathers all the time. The front is quick. 3 to 4 somewhat of a walk and 8-9. The back is a little longer. 11 to 12, 14 to 15 depending on the tee, and then the longest is 16 to 17.