Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[bobbo621]

I just got an email from Cog Hill saying they've added TopTracer to their range. Their bays are heated, so they're great in everything except extreme cold. I always heard Mistwood had an exclusive deal with TopTracer for their dome, but looks like it expired. I'm excited for TopTracer on a full range

[Holy Moses]

Can Top Tracer be used on a grass driving range? That would be great!

[mci711]

Yes, it is just ball tracking data.

[Holy Moses]

I should have clarified. It would be great if someone did have one set up on grass tees, but not sure if it could with the monitors.

[ldchristopher]

Bear and I played Sanctuary today. After a long frost delay we teed off at about 10:30. The course was moderately busy considering the real feel temp was 29 degrees (about 12 cars in the lot) but we didn’t stop once. They waited until the last possible moment to aerate the greens and it shows because there’s still quarter-sized punch marks all over. That’ll likely still be the case when the season starts again in the spring. Another reason to only play Sanctuary in the winter. Despite the shaggy greens, it’s tough to beat $15 for 18 holes. I made a long birdie off the fringe on 14. My ball just missed a dead vole so going around the animal corpse proved to be the correct line. Shot a 75. Based on the forecast, that’s probably it for me this year. Today got me to 80 rounds.

[mci711]

I know it has been brought up a few times in the past about fitting but I thought I'd share my experience today. I went to club champion in Schaumburg this morning and did an hour and a half iron fitting. I thought the process was overall very good. I worked with Alex Praeger and he was awesome. He had a ton of knowledge and didn't try to push anything or sell me anything extra. I told him straight up I had a credit to the PGA Superstore and wanted to get all of the specs and go there and custom order them. Anyway, we hit a handful of clubs and different shafts. The shaft I currently play was one of the worst shafts I could be using for my swing and what I was suggested to play at the PGA Store. My irons were also bent a degree flat at the suggestion of the PGA Superstore but in the fitting today it was determined they needed to be 2 degrees upright from standard.

 

Long story short, never buy clubs from PGA Superstore without proper fitting because they are terrible at it. Secondly, highly recommend Alex at Club Champion.

[@_the_crook]

+1 for you and Alex.

[@_the_crook]

Anyone else sign up for, and already receive an email from their 2020 BMW committee this weekend ?

 

[DavePelz4]

Played what will most likely be the final round of 2019 yesterday at Maple Meadows. Haven't played there in at least a year or possibly two and they have cleaned out a lot of the trees and shrubbery which changes the look of a few holes dramatically and positively. The course was in December conditions, tons of goose ****, very slow greens, about a 5 foot forward movement from where you drive hit the fairway and most surprisingly, the course was extremely wet. Need to invest in some waterproof shoes for next year.

All the blue tees were covered up and you played from the most forward tees on nearly all of the par 3's. I'd like to thank the 5 some two groups in front of us, for refusing to let anyone play through. What should have been a 3-3.5 hour round was well over 4.5 thanks to those thoughtful guys.

[B-Man]

[B-Man]

Greens are running decently fast back home right now.https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=563221437794901

[DavePelz4]

Looks more like Tanna Farms.

[B-Man]

Only difference is no residences nearby.

[VNutz]

Tanna would have the green split in two with some rough in between.

[geochitown]

Fun to listen to Crenshaw talk about Royal Melbourne on pgaradio.

He just loves that course

Rightly so...

 

Warmish day here tomorrow...time for some outdoor putting practice maybe (full moon could mean "night putting)

[B-Man]

That's were the "Farms" in Tanna Farms comes from...

[tmw1582]

I was able to check out the Top Tracer at Cog last Saturday. I really enjoyed the experience. It was in the high 30s with a bit of wind but the heaters made it pretty bearable. I would probably not be out there if it was much colder than that.

If you are familiar with the layout they have the whole covered area to the left of the shop equipped with Top Tracer. I found it to be pretty accurate aside from the fact that it could not pick up my pitching or approach wedges. I hit a high ball and I think the flight was too high. I also find that Top Tracer really struggles with driver distances. It always has me much shorter then I am on the course. Other than that setup is a breeze and you pay the same price for a bucket, so no upcharge, but if you want to play 18 simulated holes you'll probably at least need a large bucket.

[dhartmann34]

It was chilly, but Bonnie Brook was nice on Sunday. Conditions were surprisingly good. Another beautiful day today, but I wasn't able to join my group at Bonnie Brook for another round today.

Florida around Christmas. So I'll be getting a few rounds in there. It's been a really hard few weeks for the family and I. Really looking forward to getting away...

Fingers crossed for everyone left here hoping to play! Hoping that system Monday/Tuesday goes way South.

[TheBear95]

Played the Lakewood course at St. Andrews today. The greens were frozen, but still ran pretty true. Dropped in a couple of birdies. I'll take it for December golf.

[@_the_crook]

attended the open house at Sportsman's. very good renderings of the new course specs, clubhouse and practice area.

must say, this is going to be nice.

a few tweaks to the 18 hole layout, plus all greens to be rebuilt with some redesign.

brand new clubhouse, proshop and restaurant.

practice area to be completely redone, both ends will be in use.

considerations for drainage on both courses, wildlife and wetlands, etc.

the park district ought to be getting this stuff online pretty soon.

[CMCSGolf]

Was a redo of Sportsman's really necessary? I played there often when I lived in Chicago and the course won't win any awards, but it was a very solid course with interesting greens (usually in good condition from 2013-2016). I didn't spend much time in the clubhouse so I can't comment on that, but it seems hard to believe this will dramatically change how much business they get. I have no doubt the work will be good, but this was not a bad course. Compared to Sunset Valley, which did need some sprucing up.

Curious to hear what everyone else thinks. But this seems like a bit unnecessary.

[geochitown]

Who’s the architect again?

 

sounds interesting

[@_the_crook]

Jacobson Golf Course Design is doing the golf course work.

much of the ground work, so to speak, will address drainage - how fast the course recovers. It was plainly stated, the more they can stay open - increased revenue.

improving the substructure of the greens on the 18 hole course is a win-win.

an improved practice area with bunkers and a short game area will add desirability and capacity.

full time restaurant - same. current clubhouse has a 70's ski chalet look and the eating area is one room. this will afford multiple seating areas plus patio.

they couldn't keep the nine hole course open during construction, since the plans also include drainage improvements on that side of the property.

[matt70286]

Same could be said for Schaumburg but the renovation turned out pretty nice. I think a lot of park districts are starting to wise up to the fact that they can extract a lot more revenue out of a public course by fixing drainage and putting in a nice restaurant people will want to spend time and money at versus a bare bones snack shack. Mt Prospect is a good example as well (although you could argue the course renovation was far more extensive).

[WAB]

I feel the same. Small enhancements..sure. 12M renovation though?

[@_the_crook]

I have no experience in commercial construction, so the clubhouse cost is foreign to me. the area has many specialty restaurants but general menu sites are limited in nature.

if the new Sportsman's cafe becomes a destination for small gatherings and banquets, PLUS the daily food service for players; it will bring enhanced earnings to the park district.

the food served there on Saturday was really good. I was told the new company currently staffs at BG, Palatine Hills, three places in the city and has a Michelin star for their breakfast service in either the Loop or River North.

planning for increased rainfall is smart. being open more increases earnings. better drainage improves turfgrass and greens.

BTW, this autodraft save is coming on a bit too often for my liking - it stops my keystrokes pretty often.

[B-Man]

Not me but my brother is playing Royal Melbourne next week. Lucky he lives less than a block from the 13th hole too. He can walk there. Asshat.

[geochitown]

The Preserve at Oak Meadows Clubhouse alone is $13 million

[geochitown]

Mt Prospect was $7 million for the course renovation alone, clubhouse had already been done before hand.

[mci711]

Have you played it or any of the other big name courses down there?