Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[mci711]

My problem isn't fairway trees or trees blocking out shots that weren't great. I agree with much of what your saying. My problem is trees that are under managed and now are over grown and hanging over tee boxes or block the fairway out and trees that hang over greens. When every single player on the tee box tees off and has to have the exact same plan off the tee because of a tree that is problem and boring hole in my opinion. Its less about design more about not properly managing the course and thinking a bad tree that makes the hole hard is helping the overall course.

Example. The tree circled is there for design reason and probably so you do not kill someone in 4 fairway, no real problem with it. The trees on the right of the tee box weren't designed to be in play. But since they are not managed properly they are now in play. With those trees on the right you now can not play a draw, you can not hit a straight shot over the fairway tree, you can't hit driver if you carry it 250 because you'll run through the fairway into a bunker. The tree on the left removes a fade. So you are now left hitting an iron or hybrid out there, if you don't hit that 225 you're blocked out by the center trees. By removing the trees on the right of the tee you bring driver into play and a bunch of options. It also slows play down because most people don't think about this and try to it driver and end up smoking the tree on the left or aiming away from it and not carrying it enough and are in the center trees.

[DavePelz4]

Thanks for the plug LD but respectfully that is the actual name of the hole. I'd have called it something like "WTH were you thinking?" Here's the link: http://www.oakgrovegolfcourse.com/hole11/hole11.htm

Known as "The Anaconda," no. 11 will inspire many adjectives, but "easy" will never be one of them even though this par 5 plays only 451 yards. The double-dogleg snakes its way through wetlands and across the creek to a deep, heavily bunkered, cloverleaf-shaped putting green with several "rooms."

"The Anaconda" demands three carries over water. The tee shot is critical: play to the right spot, and getting home in two shots and recording an eagle is possible. Try to take too much off the tee, and expect to card a 6--at best.

The first carry is 185 yards from the Professional tees; aim it at the middle of the fairway bunker. The second shot requires a tough decision. Feeling good, hitting the ball well, and need some shots to get back to par? Then go for it. Or, play conservatively and hit a short iron to the second landing area, leaving a 120-yard approach over bunkers to the green. Again, pin placement can dictate club selection.

[taylorx300]

AUTiger

i hear you on that after 35 years of marriage. Thankfully my bride knows this is my only annual tourney I I play in.

[Apindara]

Also known as the dumbest hole in golf.

[MountainKing]

I always thought the 15th at Ruffled would be a better/tougher hole if they took those trees out and made it a long par 4.

Also agree on Seven Bridges. As a drawer of the golf ball I dread holes 5 and 7 tee shots.

[TheBear95]

Yep. Just a god-awful hole. Yesterday, I had to hit a half pitching wedge from the fairway on my second shot in order to lay-up in the correct spot. On what other par 5 would such a shot be considered not only good, but the correct play? None.

[DavePelz4]

How many holes have you played where you basically need to lay up twice?

[ldchristopher]

Just the 4th at Lost Marsh. At least Oak Grove only has one super dumb hole.

[GSDriver]

The Anaconda, 490 Par 5, http://www.oakgrovegolfcourse.com/hole11/hole11.htm

Doesn't seem requires 3 layups, player's choice, clearly the architect shows line of play, 2 shot risk/reward reach in two shots.

I guess it's in the eyes of the beholder.

[Shriner]

It is definitely reachable in two if you put your tee shot on the right side. If you want to get real risky, you can play over the trees. I hit 3 wood, 3 iron from back tees last time. Great 3 wood, terrible 3 iron. It is definitely risk reward, but I don't mind the hole that much. I am more bothered by hole 6 since there is an enormous tree in the middle of the fairway. If you hit your tee shot down the middle, you can get real screwed on that hole. Alas, I love Oak Grove.

 

Fox Run #4 requires two layups, unless you are a risk taker. I hit 7i, 7i, 9i last time. That is silly.

[mci711]

Looking at the scorecard, I'd play the blues. That hole plays 460, it is hybrid - hybrid 3 putt par.

[TheBear95]

The tee shot isn't the problem.

It is the second shot and the odd angle you are put into on the fairway. I can't be the only guy that gets out on that fairway and is just uncomfortable. Also, the risk of taking that second shot on is not worth the reward, IMO. Sure, you can miss left (slightly), but if you miss right, you're in the bunkers and you don't want to be in the bunkers at Oak Grove. They are currently in full-out disrepair. Frankly, if you want to play the bunkers as "ground under repair", I would have no qualms. They are that bad.

 

[DavePelz4]

The challenge is the line you'd have to play as the right side of the fairway slopes down to the marsh. If you hit it at the right edge of the bunker you can only go about 200 yards before your second shot is blocked by the trees on the left. The only 2 times I hit that green in two were with faded 5W's off the tee and truthfully, I got fortunate bounced both times. If you're far enough up on the right hand side, you have a decent shot at getting home in 2 but anything left and long almost always is a 75 yard chip lay up.

[TheBear95]

I have no problems with #6. The lines to play around the tree for your second shot are extremely clear from the tee-box. Even as crappy as the bunkers are, I do enjoy Oak Grove.

[Shriner]

I love all the different perspectives on that hole. Unique hole for sure, but Oak Grove has a bunch of those. How about the 445 yd par 4 (hole 13) with the dogleg left and you better go left if you want to have a comfortable shot in over the creek. That and hole 2 are the most difficult for me.

[Argonne69]

Yeah, I guess you could consider LM laying up twice. I usually hit a 3W off the tee, and then a 7 or 8 iron for the 2nd shot. 'Not quite the pitching wedge. I did get a hold of my drive once when it was playing downwind, and wound up just short of cross-cutting PA. I really had no choice but to go for the green, but I choice a distance to the front of the green, knowing that short was not going to hurt me.

[DavePelz4]

One of the things that makes Hole 2 a challenge is the front to back slope of that green. It's great when the pin is in the back and much tougher when it's front/middle.

We've been playing Oak Grove for probably 15 years now and in those days, the greens were of the caliber of Medinah #3. Since GolfVisions has taken over, the investments they've made to keep the course up have lessen regularly. It was probably Jimmy who shared that they have new range balls now which probably hasn't happened since they opened.

[Apindara]

Totally agree about #6. That is the other reason why I won’t go back. But did I see somewhere that it was hit by lightening?

[St Jimmy]

FYI

-They lost the tree on #7 not 6. And a few more, but none as noticeable.

-They mixed the old range balls with the new, so yeah... that sucks.

 

[Argonne69]

Nice day at The Preserve. I was expecting Cart Path Only, but only holes 1 and 7 were CPO. The course was wet, and getting little rollout, but still very playable. Sand in the bunkers was wet, but one could still splash a shot out. The greens were very receptive, but only rolling 9 at best. The pace was slower than I would like at 4:15. The group in front of us was very slow getting off the tee. 'Just don't understand how they can walk off the green, drive to the next tee, and then still be on the teebox when we've hit our approaches, chipped on to the green at times, putted out, and then walked to the next tee. Pfffttt.

Nice day driving the ball with 11 fairways. 13 greens, 1 birdie and 4 bogies. Best shot of the day was my approach on the 7th. A little too much of a fade left me with an overhanging branch on my line to the back center flag. I struggle to hit a cut shot with an iron, but I managed a nice high cut with a 7 iron that barely missed the tree, and wound up four feet from the pin, setting up my only birdie of the day.

So much for playing smart on the 9th. I went with less than driver today, but managed to hit too much of a draw, and found the penalty area 200 yds out. Gack. Going forward I'm just going to stick with driver. If I'm going to find the PA I may as well get as much distance as I can out of it. I was chatting with the starter before the round, and he said there was talk about removing the fairway bunkers on the 9th. Not sure if that's just idle chatter, but taking out the leftmost one wouldn't bring a tear to my eye.

Coyote Run tomorrow.

 

[Argonne69]

Delete.

[DeeBee30]

Hello brothers (and sisters?). Been a bit discombobulated over the last few months and neglected to check in once the season got going. Glad to see everyone getting lots of rounds in. I won’t try to play catch-up on rounds played so far, but had a nice treat at Naperville CC the other day. I’d like to see more variation in hole layouts, but it had more elevation changes than I anticipated (for Naperville), has some challenging holes and was in great shape

This weekend brings Stonewall Orchard (first time) and Veteran’s Memorial. Hoping Veteran’s gives me a chance to feel really good about my game before next week’s annual trip to Boyne Highlands MI.

[ldchristopher]

If you’ve never played Veteran’s Memorial, it’s not easy. It has some really long par 4’s, notably 6, 10, 14 and 18. There are some easy holes, none of the par 5’s are challenging and you could theoretically finish the front with three birdies on 7, 8 and 9 but the course plays a stroke-and-a-half over par for a reason.

[Argonne69]

Another very nice day out on the links. Coyote Run today. Same old, same old. The course was a little wet, but still getting some rollout. Bunkers were in very nice shape. I picked up an old Ping Eye2+ sand wedge to try out the grind, and it was wonderful out of the bunkers. The greens were quite speedy. At least 10 and possibly pushing 11. Too many unrepaired ball marks though. What's with all the lazy a--es lately? Pace was 4 hours. No complaints.

Couldn't get the driver working on the front nine. Only managed one fairway to start the round. The back was much better, but wound up with 6 in the short grass. Only 10 greens, but a handful of good scrambles helped. One birdie and four bogies on the day. No real highlights today. Just grinding it out.

[DeeBee30]

@ldchristopher Veterans is in my league’s course rotation almost every year, so it’s a familiar course. While there are a few holes that can be problematic, for some reason the course suits me pretty well and I feel like I can play bomb and gouge more than many other tracks. Of course, the short irons and wedges have to be on point. We’ll see tomorrow...

[Justmuckit]

Any decent courses in the area that offer a 36 hole rate or a replay rate?

Looking at the websites of places I've heard of like Cantigny, Prairie Landing, Arrowhead, Highlands at Elgin etc. and coming up empty.

[Symphonize]

Bowes used to have a member for a day rate (not sure if they still do) for like $80-$110. Also can try calling courses to see what the replay rate is, feel like it isn’t normally posted on the site. Last year I played Highland of Elgin and just asked what the replay rate was for that day and I want to say it was like $25 or $35, so pretty reasonable.

[Justmuckit]

Looking to come up in Late August. Two guys flying into Midway and one driving from STL. Looking to play 36/36/18 Fri-Sun and looking for three courses that are within a reasonable drive of each other. Bowes and Highlands of Elgin seem the obvious choice from reading the thread. Is there a third course your recommend out there, or another set of three courses somewhere else in the city?

[Argonne69]

I'd put Blackstone on the list. It's only a few miles northwest of Bowes off of I-90. Marengo Ridge is a good pairing with it, albeit not in the same class.

Whisper Creek, Randall Oaks, and Pinecrest are in the area. They won't win any awards, but are decent courses to fill out the weekend.

If you're looking for more high end courses, then head south/southeast to play Cantigny, Prairie Landing, and/or Arrowhead.

 

[chisag]

... Nothing in the city so you have a 45 - 60 minute drive wherever you play. Bowes and Highlands are a great choice with Blackstone relatively near. Looking southwest there are quite a few options depending on how much you want to spend. Higher end you have Mistwood, Cantigny and Cog Hill #4. On a budget some really nice courses for the money you have Prairie Bluff, Cog Hill #2 and Bolingbrook GC. Of course you could mix and match too.