what are the 5 best public courses in the midwest?

[adamjstl]

So many publications out there with so many varying opinions have me scratching my head lol.... golf digest, golf magazine, and golfweek all have their annual or semi-annual reports of the best courses you can play... lots of similarities, but many, many differences too!

 

Example TPC DEERE RUN is ranked 74th by golf digest in the country, while golfweek only has it 7th in the state?????? another example is weaverridge in peoria, il... very nice course. worth the playing at least once for the $80 they charge.... but it's in the top 100 courses list most every time???? I just don't see it.... there are obviously going to be varying opinions, as reviewers play the courses at different times of the year, with different weather, and different playing partners, which of course could enhance or hurt that day of golf....

 

Bottom line is what do you think? If you've played around the Midwest a fair amount, what are your top 5-10 public courses, factoring in just the golf course itself.... a combination of design (offering options on many holes instead of hole after hole of 440-460 par 4s), scenery(including WOW factor), and conditioning?

 

thanks.

[kcmh]

I've not played yet but Forest Dunes has to be right there. Ask me after May 15th

[zonacats23]

Whistling Straits
Erin Hills
Blackwolf Run
Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort
Cog Hill Dubsdread

[mcheye]

[quote name='zonacats23' timestamp='1297520015' post='2970574']
Whistling Straits
Erin Hills
Blackwolf Run
Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort
Cog Hill Dubsdread


[/quote]

+1

What about Arcadia Bluffs??

[zonacats23]

Good call with Arcadia Bluffs.

[odshot68]

[b]Public tracks:
[/b]Arcadia Bluffs
Forest Dunes
Pete Dye's French Lick
Whistling Straights

[tonyt3524]

Arcadia Bluffs
Dye @ French Lick
Whistling Straights
Forest Dunes
Cog Hill


Honorable Mention:
Lakewood Shores - Gails Course
Erin Hills
Blackwolf Run

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='tonyt3524' timestamp='1297703078' post='2976301']
Lakewood Shores - Gails Course
[/quote]
I don't understand the love for this course. It's decent, but it's just a faux links in a flat patch of land.

I haven't played much in the Midwest outside of Michigan, but my top 5 are:
Forest Dunes
Arcadia Bluffs
Eagle Eye
Black Lake
Cedar River

I'm sure if I ever make it to French Lick, Cog Hill, or Whistling Straits, some of those would change.

[odshot68]

[quote name='Tiger Jr.' timestamp='1297708456' post='2976595']
[quote name='tonyt3524' timestamp='1297703078' post='2976301']
Lakewood Shores - Gails Course
[/quote]
I don't understand the love for this course. It's decent, but it's just a faux links in a flat patch of land.

I haven't played much in the Midwest outside of Michigan, but my top 5 are:
Forest Dunes
Arcadia Bluffs
Eagle Eye
Black Lake
Cedar River

I'm sure if I ever make it to French Lick, Cog Hill, or Whistling Straits, some of those would change.
[/quote]

No way is Black Lake in the top 5...the course is ridiculously tough. Nowhere near the top 5 though.

[odshot68]

either is the gailes either!!

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='odshot68' timestamp='1297733240' post='2977821']
[quote name='Tiger Jr.' timestamp='1297708456' post='2976595']
[quote name='tonyt3524' timestamp='1297703078' post='2976301']
Lakewood Shores - Gails Course
[/quote]
I don't understand the love for this course. It's decent, but it's just a faux links in a flat patch of land.

I haven't played much in the Midwest outside of Michigan, but my top 5 are:
Forest Dunes
Arcadia Bluffs
Eagle Eye
Black Lake
Cedar River

I'm sure if I ever make it to French Lick, Cog Hill, or Whistling Straits, some of those would change.
[/quote]

No way is Black Lake in the top 5...the course is ridiculously tough. Nowhere near the top 5 though.

[/quote]
I'm trying to think of better public courses I've played. I almost put Hawk's Eye in that spot. I haven't played Bay Harbor or much on the West side of the state. Like I said, there's a lot of the Midwest where I haven't played.

[Bobbers]

Whistling Straits
Erin Hills
Blackwolf Run

[adamjstl]

thanks for the feedback guys! michigan is getting ALOT of love on this question, as I expected.... is forest dunes in an area with alot of other nice/very nice courses? we would be coming from st louis, so what about on the way? anything noteworthy?

[I_HATE_SNOW]

I'm still trying to understand how the midwest can be east of the Rockies?

[hoganfan924]

[quote name='dirtyboy' timestamp='1297785569' post='2979121']
I'm still trying to understand how the midwest can be east of the Rockies?
[/quote]

Probably because it was named that when the Mississippi defined the Western boundry of US territory.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

[quote name='hoganfan924' timestamp='1297787460' post='2979193']
[quote name='dirtyboy' timestamp='1297785569' post='2979121']
I'm still trying to understand how the midwest can be east of the Rockies?
[/quote]

Probably because it was named that when the Mississippi defined the Western boundry of US territory.
[/quote]

Why does it include Nebraska, Kansas and the Dakota's?

[itw419]

[quote name='dirtyboy' timestamp='1297789939' post='2979296']
[quote name='hoganfan924' timestamp='1297787460' post='2979193']
[quote name='dirtyboy' timestamp='1297785569' post='2979121']
I'm still trying to understand how the midwest can be east of the Rockies?
[/quote]

Probably because it was named that when the Mississippi defined the Western boundry of US territory.
[/quote]

Why does it include Nebraska, Kansas and the Dakota's?
[/quote]

I would consider those states in the great plains region

[hoganfan924]

[quote name='dirtyboy' timestamp='1297789939' post='2979296']
[quote name='hoganfan924' timestamp='1297787460' post='2979193']
[quote name='dirtyboy' timestamp='1297785569' post='2979121']
I'm still trying to understand how the midwest can be east of the Rockies?
[/quote]

Probably because it was named that when the Mississippi defined the Western boundry of US territory.
[/quote]

Why does it include Nebraska, Kansas and the Dakota's?
[/quote]

Because the definition changed as the country grew westward.

These states are in the midwest according to the US Census bureau

[itw419]

[quote name='hoganfan924' timestamp='1297812416' post='2980353']
[quote name='dirtyboy' timestamp='1297789939' post='2979296']
[quote name='hoganfan924' timestamp='1297787460' post='2979193']
[quote name='dirtyboy' timestamp='1297785569' post='2979121']
I'm still trying to understand how the midwest can be east of the Rockies?
[/quote]

Probably because it was named that when the Mississippi defined the Western boundry of US territory.
[/quote]

Why does it include Nebraska, Kansas and the Dakota's?
[/quote]

Because the definition changed as the country grew westward.

These states are in the midwest according to the US Census bureau
[/quote]

Thats funny the census bureau considers them the midwest but the department of the interior says they're great plains. The great plains research HQ is at the university of Nebraska.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

If Nebraska is included, Wild Horse at Gothenburg and the Prairie Club at Valentine deserve consideration.

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='adamjstl' timestamp='1297366856' post='2966285']
So many publications out there with so many varying opinions have me scratching my head lol.... golf digest, golf magazine, and golfweek all have their annual or semi-annual reports of the best courses you can play... lots of similarities, but many, many differences too!

Example TPC DEERE RUN is ranked 74th by golf digest in the country, while golfweek only has it 7th in the state?????? another example is weaverridge in peoria, il... very nice course. worth the playing at least once for the $80 they charge.... but it's in the top 100 courses list most every time???? I just don't see it.... there are obviously going to be varying opinions, as reviewers play the courses at different times of the year, with different weather, and different playing partners, which of course could enhance or hurt that day of golf....

Bottom line is what do you think? If you've played around the Midwest a fair amount, what are your top 5-10 public courses, factoring in just the golf course itself.... a combination of design (offering options on many holes instead of hole after hole of 440-460 par 4s), scenery(including WOW factor), and conditioning?

thanks.
[/quote]

The General in Galena, IL also deserves some consideration. Consistently rated as the top public course in the state.

Edit...just found this fly over routing of the course...give you some insights into what the course is all about. It doesn't show the elevation changes such as on 14 where you can see 4 states or 17 which is 100% uphill but it does represent the layout of the course.

[url="http://www.bestapproachflyovers.com/ERDG_eagleridgegeneral/"]http://www.bestapproachflyovers.com/ERDG_eagleridgegeneral/[/url]

[whysguy]

Lives in the midwest most of my life. Mostly my home state of Minnesota. Really wanna find at least one from here as my list would be:

Whistling
Forest Dunes
Arcadia,
Cog Hill
and Wilderness at Fortune Bay?
Or Classic at Maddens?
They are top notch tracks..

[herbst20]

I would not put the General in the mix at all......I used to be an Asst Pro there. The course is too much of a gimic. The South is a much better golf course at Eagle Ridge. I would put The Harvestor in Rhodes Iowa.

Scott

[jjbee614]

Anyone ever played Washington County golf course in Hartford, WI? I don't get outside of WI much for golf, but I would put it just a step below the Irish or Blackwolf. Fantastic views, excellent course conditions, challenging layout. Rated the top municipal course in the state and #35 in the country for muni's.