Chicago Golf Trip - Summer 2022 - Advice Needed

[tharpst]

Hello everyone,

 

Heading to Chicago from St. Louis the weekend after Father's Day with a group of 8. I read the last 25 pages of the Chicago thread in this forum but wanted some clarity on course conditions and any recommendations WRXers have for this trip.

 

We are planning on getting an AirBNB southwest of downtown, most likely in the Bolingbrook area. Plan is to play 18 Thursday, 36 Friday, anything (18, 27, 36) for Saturday, and then 18 on the way home Sunday. Here is what we came up with for public courses based on reading the forums:

 

Thursday - 18 @ Mistwood

Friday - 36 @ Cog Hill - Dubsdread and which other course???

Saturday - 27 @ Cantigny

Sunday - 18 @ WeaverRidge or Weibring on way home

 

We are very open for any changes or recommendations you guys have. Would you switch any of the courses we have and add something else? Handicaps of our group range from 1.2 to 10.6, so difficulty of course isn't a concern. Obviously looking for stuff in that general vicinity that isn't too far of a drive. Thanks so much for any advice you all can give.

[mci711]

15 minutes ago, tharpst said:

Hello everyone,

 

Heading to Chicago from St. Louis the weekend after Father's Day with a group of 8. I read the last 25 pages of the Chicago thread in this forum but wanted some clarity on course conditions and any recommendations WRXers have for this trip.

 

We are planning on getting an AirBNB southwest of downtown, most likely in the Bolingbrook area. Plan is to play 18 Thursday, 36 Friday, anything (18, 27, 36) for Saturday, and then 18 on the way home Sunday. Here is what we came up with for public courses based on reading the forums:

 

Thursday - 18 @ Mistwood

Friday - 36 @ Cog Hill - Dubsdread and which other course???

Saturday - 27 @ Cantigny

Sunday - 18 @ WeaverRidge or Weibring on way home

 

We are very open for any changes or recommendations you guys have. Would you switch any of the courses we have and add something else? Handicaps of our group range from 1.2 to 10.6, so difficulty of course isn't a concern. Obviously looking for stuff in that general vicinity that isn't too far of a drive. Thanks so much for any advice you all can give.

 

I like the list, love Dubs, Mistwood and Cantigny.  I wouldn't play Weibring. WeaverRidge or Metamora Fields is definitely the way to go. WR is a crazy fun layout. Totally depends on WR's conditioning though - the past few years it has been rough. But Metamora bought it and I have heard it has been better. Metamora Fields is a really good course though in central Illinois not too far from WR. 

 

Dubs to me is the only course worth playing at Cog. I'd maybe play that twice? But course #2 is at least playable and a fun layout. 1 and 3 are cow pastures with flags. Honestly, if it were me I would play Dubs and Ruffled Feathers - both in Lemont 5 min from each other. Ruffled Feathers is a fun Pete Dye course, but has conditioning issues at times. 

Edited January 5, 2022 by mci711

[mci711]

duplicate, deleted sorry. 

Edited January 5, 2022 by mci711

[tharpst]

Thanks MCI!!! Metamora Fields and Ruffled Feathers were both actually on our initial research list as well. I am going to look into 18 at Dubs and then 18 at Ruffled Feathers. We were just thinking they may give us some sort of replay rate at Cog Hill, so might as well play 36. 

 

 

We didn't really want to play Weibring but it was literally a minute off the interstate for the drive home to where Peoria is about a 30 minute detour.

[TheBear95]

Unless you get a reply rate at Cog, I would play Mistwood and Dubs on the same day. Doing so, would open up a day to play either Bowes Creek or Highlands of Elgin in Elgin. Not too far from Bolingbrook and worth the drive. Of the two courses, I like Bowes more, but both are very good.

 

I agree with MCI on Weibring. Weibring is a very meh course. The options around Peoria are better. However, if you have to play something right off I-55 in the Bloomington area, I would go with The Den at Fox Creek. While not a personal favorite of mine, it is definitely a better course than Weibring or Prairie Vista (the other Bloomington option).

Edited January 5, 2022 by TheBear95

[MountainKing]

What Bear said.  I would 100% pass on Ruffled and any of the other 3 Cog courses.   Also consider Thunderhawk, bit of a drive but one of the best in IL.

[mci711]

5 hours ago, TheBear95 said:

Unless you get a reply rate at Cog, I would play Mistwood and Dubs on the same day. Doing so, would open up a day to play either Bowes Creek or Highlands of Elgin in Elgin. Not too far from Bolingbrook and worth the drive. Of the two courses, I like Bowes more, but both are very good.

 

I agree with MCI on Weibring. Weibring is a very meh course. The options around Peoria are better. However, if you have to play something right off I-55 in the Bloomington area, I would go with The Den at Fox Creek. While not a personal favorite of mine, it is definitely a better course than Weibring or Prairie Vista (the other Bloomington option).

 

This is a great option. I didn't think about playing Mistwood and Dubs the same day and being able to add another high end course like Bowes or HoE. I'd probably play Blackstone over them but that is a bit further.

 

This option obviously doesn't work if you are coming up on Thursday and jumping off 55 directly to Mistwood from St Louis the day of your travel. 

[tharpst]

Thanks guys!!!

 

After some discussion with the group, we are probably leaning towards 36 at Cog Hill. We would consider Dubs and Mistwood on the same day if there was a better option than Cog Hill Ravines closer to the area we are staying. I appreciate the Elgin, Bowe's, and Thunderhawk suggestions, but I don't think anyone wants to drive an hour plus to get to a course. 

 

MCI, we are probably driving up early (leave around 6) Thursday morning but could also swing Wednesday night. We are about 45 minutes east of St. Louis, so it should only be about 3 hours and 15 minutes to get to Bolingbrook area. 

[MountainKing]

Cog 2 is not a destination course, it'll be a huge let down when paired with Dubs.  If it has to be a course in that area,  I would go with a second round on Dubs, Ruffled or Bolingbrook over #2,  and I don't like either of those last two courses.

 

Another option if your trying to limit driving, hit up Heritage Bluffs on the way in,  then do Mistwood and Dubs the next day.

Edited January 8, 2022 by MountainKing

[tharpst]

Thanks Mountain! Going to look into Heritage Bluffs and Ruffled Feathers to decide if we want to choose one of them over Cog Hill #2. 

[eagle2838]

Kankakee Elks on the trip back down would be a decent option as well, not too far out of the way. Old school Langford and Moreau greens that are really cool, interesting routing for most of the holes. Conditioning isn't spectacular but it is just fine, and one of the most fun public courses I know of in the area. 

[ldchristopher]

If you're playing in a cart, I'd probably suggest playing Bolingbrook over the others. Feathers is very ho hum. It's smashed into a housing development and from the middle tees the back is under 3000 yards. It's officially listed as a Pete Dye course but don't let the branding fool you. It was designed by P.B. Dye and they stuck the old man's name on it. From the tips it's a different course so I don't know if that changes things. Also, maintenance is not consistent. Bolingbrook is set up to be played in a cart, which...barf. The glaciers came through here twice and the terrain shows that. However, it's an Arthur Hills design (my least favorite of his courses in the Chicagoland/Southern Wisconsin/Southwest Michigan area but still better than most) and it has some very good holes. It acts like an upper-tier Chicagoland course when it's not on the level of Dubs and Mistwood but it's better than the other I-55 options, in my opinion. Heritage Bluffs is okay but conditioning varies and the greens get very, very slow. It's always the course with the most unrepaired craters on greens and lots of clientele have no concept of golf etiquette. Kankakee Elks would be a hard pass for me. It's super cheap though. So there's that. I think it's worth the extra drive to play the Elgin courses (Highlands of Elgin and Bowes Creek) or you could pair Cantigny with Arrowhead or Village Links of Glen Ellyn. 

[Shriner]

I agree with literally everything above from ld, but would add Prairie Bluff.  Great conditioning and good layout...you cannot go wrong with this course and right in the area.

[TheBear95]

To circle back on this thread (and sorry OP, this is somewhat off-topic)... It is a true indictment of the Jemsek's that no one is recommending (I don't recommend it either) playing Cog #2 for a group looking to play Dubs on a 36 hole day. Just from a convenience stand-point, think about how bad that is.

 

The other part that makes this sad is that in my opinion Cog #2 has good bones. Elevation is in short-supply in our area, but Cog #2 has some. The ravine that cuts through the course, especially on the back 9, is a good feature. Nice mature trees on many holes. Decent size greens. All-in-all, a lot to work with.

 

However, they maintain #2 like the goat tracks that are #1 and #3. Don't get it. In particular, the greens are brutally SLOOOWWWW. I think the greens have good features, but it is difficult to tell when they are running at a 7. Finally, pretty sure the course hasn't been touched since it hosted '97 US Amateur. A few holes could definitely use some additional bunkering to add a little spice. But, that certainly isn't happening.

 

[MountainKing]

Let's not forget on Cog #2, you have to play 3 holes before you get to hole #4 (the first worthwhile hole).  Then the ever so amazing 18th hole.   For every great hole on #2, there's 2 snoozers.

 

On top of all that,  you'll be out there a minimum of 5 hours.   

Edited January 13, 2022 by MountainKing

[TheBear95]

20 minutes ago, MountainKing said:

Let's not forget on Cog #2, you have to play 3 holes before you get to hole #4 (the first worthwhile hole).  Then the ever so amazing 18th hole.   For every great hole on #2, there's 2 snoozers.snoozer.

 

On top of all that,  you'll be out there a minimum of 5 hours.   

No doubt. That's where the additional bunkering in my opinion could come in. 

 

I realize that won't make them good holes, but maybe not total snoozers.

[MountainKing]

On 1/11/2022 at 2:58 PM, ldchristopher said:

If you're playing in a cart, I'd probably suggest playing Bolingbrook over the others. Feathers is very ho hum. It's smashed into a housing development and from the middle tees the back is under 3000 yards. It's officially listed as a Pete Dye course but don't let the branding fool you. It was designed by P.B. Dye and they stuck the old man's name on it. From the tips it's a different course so I don't know if that changes things. Also, maintenance is not consistent. Bolingbrook is set up to be played in a cart, which...barf. The glaciers came through here twice and the terrain shows that. However, it's an Arthur Hills design (my least favorite of his courses in the Chicagoland/Southern Wisconsin/Southwest Michigan area but still better than most) and it has some very good holes. It acts like an upper-tier Chicagoland course when it's not on the level of Dubs and Mistwood but it's better than the other I-55 options, in my opinion. Heritage Bluffs is okay but conditioning varies and the greens get very, very slow. It's always the course with the most unrepaired craters on greens and lots of clientele have no concept of golf etiquette. Kankakee Elks would be a hard pass for me. It's super cheap though. So there's that. I think it's worth the extra drive to play the Elgin courses (Highlands of Elgin and Bowes Creek) or you could pair Cantigny with Arrowhead or Village Links of Glen Ellyn. 

 

This is also good advice.  I'd still rather play HB over Bolignbrook even if conditioning is spotty.  Bolinbrook is pretty boring and reptative, although the practice facility might be worth a trip.  I would pretty much do whatever to not play Ruffled, but I would play Ruffled over Cog 2.  Also agree about the trek to Elgin, Cantigny/Arrowhead/Village Links, all great options. 

[hammergolf]

On 1/5/2022 at 11:16 AM, tharpst said:

Hello everyone,

 

Heading to Chicago from St. Louis the weekend after Father's Day with a group of 8. I read the last 25 pages of the Chicago thread in this forum but wanted some clarity on course conditions and any recommendations WRXers have for this trip.

 

We are planning on getting an AirBNB southwest of downtown, most likely in the Bolingbrook area. Plan is to play 18 Thursday, 36 Friday, anything (18, 27, 36) for Saturday, and then 18 on the way home Sunday. Here is what we came up with for public courses based on reading the forums:

 

Thursday - 18 @ Mistwood

Friday - 36 @ Cog Hill - Dubsdread and which other course???

Saturday - 27 @ Cantigny

Sunday - 18 @ WeaverRidge or Weibring on way home

 

We are very open for any changes or recommendations you guys have. Would you switch any of the courses we have and add something else? Handicaps of our group range from 1.2 to 10.6, so difficulty of course isn't a concern. Obviously looking for stuff in that general vicinity that isn't too far of a drive. Thanks so much for any advice you all can give.

Play Dubs twice…. You’ll want another crack at it after the round. Not too demanding off the tee, but definitely a second shot course. You need to be very precise with your irons.

[T-MAC]

Sorry to bring back an old thread but I just wanted to say how disappointed I am to hear about Cog #2 as well as Ruffled Feathers being talked about so poorly.  When I lived in Chicago (Naperville) full time I used to love playing those tracks, but that was in the 90's and early 2000's.  Have they really gone down hill that much?
To the OP, there was a course right off the highway that I used to enjoy playing called Cinder Ridge.  Maybe some of the guys here could speak to it's conditioning lately but it used to be in pretty good shape and a fun course to play.
I'm down in Hilton Head SC pretty much full time now but I still own property in Naperville (White Eagle) and when we get back I usually just play our home course, but I still enjoy getting out to Cantigny when I can.  I think it would be worth your drive to head there.  I would also recommend Weaver Ridge.  I have family in Peoria and when we don't play at his Club (Mt Hawley CC) we go to Weaver Ridge.  As others have mentioned, conditioning had gone down over the years but my brother in law said that it has improved recently.  Hoping it makes a big comeback this summer because it is an awesome layout.
Have fun!

[eagle2838]

On 2/17/2022 at 11:44 AM, T-MAC said:

Sorry to bring back an old thread but I just wanted to say how disappointed I am to hear about Cog #2 as well as Ruffled Feathers being talked about so poorly.  When I lived in Chicago (Naperville) full time I used to love playing those tracks, but that was in the 90's and early 2000's.  Have they really gone down hill that much?
To the OP, there was a course right off the highway that I used to enjoy playing called Cinder Ridge.  Maybe some of the guys here could speak to it's conditioning lately but it used to be in pretty good shape and a fun course to play.
I'm down in Hilton Head SC pretty much full time now but I still own property in Naperville (White Eagle) and when we get back I usually just play our home course, but I still enjoy getting out to Cantigny when I can.  I think it would be worth your drive to head there.  I would also recommend Weaver Ridge.  I have family in Peoria and when we don't play at his Club (Mt Hawley CC) we go to Weaver Ridge.  As others have mentioned, conditioning had gone down over the years but my brother in law said that it has improved recently.  Hoping it makes a big comeback this summer because it is an awesome layout.
Have fun!

 

Cinder Ridge used to be a solid spot for state am qualifiers, agree it was a pretty fun track. I haven't played it in ages so not sure about conditioning these days. 

[MountainKing]

On 2/17/2022 at 11:44 AM, T-MAC said:

Sorry to bring back an old thread but I just wanted to say how disappointed I am to hear about Cog #2 as well as Ruffled Feathers being talked about so poorly.  When I lived in Chicago (Naperville) full time I used to love playing those tracks, but that was in the 90's and early 2000's.  Have they really gone down hill that much?
To the OP, there was a course right off the highway that I used to enjoy playing called Cinder Ridge.  Maybe some of the guys here could speak to it's conditioning lately but it used to be in pretty good shape and a fun course to play.
I'm down in Hilton Head SC pretty much full time now but I still own property in Naperville (White Eagle) and when we get back I usually just play our home course, but I still enjoy getting out to Cantigny when I can.  I think it would be worth your drive to head there.  I would also recommend Weaver Ridge.  I have family in Peoria and when we don't play at his Club (Mt Hawley CC) we go to Weaver Ridge.  As others have mentioned, conditioning had gone down over the years but my brother in law said that it has improved recently.  Hoping it makes a big comeback this summer because it is an awesome layout.
Have fun!

 

Ruffled has gotten better,  Cog is just a cash cow at this point.  If you live in the area,  they're fine courses.  If you're coming in for a golf trip from elsewhere,  they're a waste of money and time. Neither  are destination courses IMO.

[ldchristopher]

Cinder Ridge is a fun course but it’s not something I’d go out of my way to play. Maintenance is okay, the green speeds vary based on time of year, and bunkers get fresh sand every few years. The front has some tough holes by the back is very easy. And the closing hole is kind of a wet fart. It should be a good risk/reward short par 5 (there’s water at about 150 yards out) but the turf between the water and the green is always sopping wet. Last year we had a pretty long drought but that section of the course was still like walking on a sponge. 

[tharpst]

Update from OP

 

Thank you so much for the suggestions everyone!!! It has really helped in putting the trip together. Here is what we came up with for the itinerary:

 

We are staying in an AirBNB half mile from the Mistwood golf dome. Seems to be centrally located for the courses we are playing.

 

Thursday:

     - Leave at 7 AM, 3.5 hour drive up, go straight to Mistwood

     - Eat lunch and play an afternoon round at Mistwood (Roughly 1:00 tee time)

 

Friday

     - 18 at Cog Hill Number 4

     - 18 at Ruffled Feathers

     - Our order for these rounds don't really matter to us, does it matter which we play first? Any suggestions?      Which place has better lunch?

 

Saturday

     - 27 at Cantigny

     - 9:00 tee time for first 18, eat lunch, then 9 more

     - Casino night (Harrah's in Joliet most likely? Any decent restaurants at Harrah's or other suggestions?)

 

Sunday

     - 18 at WeaverRidge on way home

     - Probably shoot for a 10:00 tee time

 

Any suggestions based on the current itinerary? Anyone know when we can start booking tee times? Thanks again everyone!

Edited March 11, 2022 by tharpst

[mci711]

I'd play RF first then Cog just to get warmed up. I think RF has better food. I've never had anything at Cog that wasn't a candy bar or hotdog though. 

 

If going directly to the casino of Cantigny I believe the Hollywood in Aurora is closer. I've spent a lot of time at both, Harrah's is overall nicer. 

 

I think the itinerary looks good. 

[MountainKing]

Better food by Aurora too.  The food at Mygrain brewing is decent bar food. Doc Watson's in Romeoville or Firewater in Crest Hill are solid for bbq.  Fat Ricky's in Romeoville has good pizza.

[njspence]

Thanks for the info, heading to Chicago in Late May, looking into some of the courses mentioned.  

 

Is it possible to get on any of the private clubs with reciprocal from my club in Michigan?

[eagle2838]

3 hours ago, njspence said:

Thanks for the info, heading to Chicago in Late May, looking into some of the courses mentioned.  

 

Is it possible to get on any of the private clubs with reciprocal from my club in Michigan?

Probably. This is a good question for the staff at your club - who do they know, etc.