Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round2)

[DavePelz4]

What do you guys think of Galena? Thinking of taking a Labor day weekend trip there with the wife. I know they have 3 courses, are they all good? Can you get good stay and play packages there?

 

Also, if we combine it with a trip to some surrounding areas on the way back are there any courses worth playing or areas worth seeing?

 

Big fan of Galena. We've rented a huge house numerous times and played the 4 courses (the East is a 9 hole). The General is one of the best courses in IL (designed by Andy North and Roger Packard) but the South course is the toughest IMO. As Arg noted, some very tight driving holes. I'd disagree with him though as I think they're all way above average from a design and visual acuity standpoint.

 

Downtown Galena has one of the best old time steak houses/supper clubs around. It's called the Log Cabin and it's just fun with great food and non-Chicago prices. There's also some great shops including one that has flavored olive oils. A bit different but interesting.

 

Great call to stop at Deere Run or Aldeen on the way to or from Galena.

[preiter20]

Anyone interested in playing Bittersweet in Gurnee on Sunday morning? I've wanted to get on this course for several years now, but they don't take tee times for singles. 'Looks like it's $55, and not sure if that includes cart.

 

I live right around the corner from Bittersweet. My opinion is the back nine is much better than the front nine. I'm up for a round Sunday morning. Let me know.

[games]

What do you guys think of Galena? Thinking of taking a Labor day weekend trip there with the wife. I know they have 3 courses, are they all good? Can you get good stay and play packages there?

 

Also, if we combine it with a trip to some surrounding areas on the way back are there any courses worth playing or areas worth seeing?

 

Big fan of Galena. We've rented a huge house numerous times and played the 4 courses (the East is a 9 hole). The General is one of the best courses in IL (designed by Andy North and Roger Packard) but the South course is the toughest IMO. As Arg noted, some very tight driving holes. I'd disagree with him though as I think they're all way above average from a design and visual acuity standpoint.

 

Downtown Galena has one of the best old time steak houses/supper clubs around. It's called the Log Cabin and it's just fun with great food and non-Chicago prices. There's also some great shops including one that has flavored olive oils. A bit different but interesting.

 

Great call to stop at Deere Run or Aldeen on the way to or from Galena.

 

Got to the Log Cabin on my last business trip. Unfortunately, no golf on that trip due to a blinding snowstorm... :angry22:

[geochitown]

Anyone interested in playing Bittersweet in Gurnee on Sunday morning? I've wanted to get on this course for several years now, but they don't take tee times for singles. 'Looks like it's $55, and not sure if that includes cart.

 

I'd be up for playing, but not available this Sunday.

[B-Man]

7th round of the season 7:30 this Saturday at GDN. We may have 1 open spot for anyone interested.

[Argonne69]

7th round of the season 7:30 this Saturday at GDN. We may have 1 open spot for anyone interested.

 

Ouch. I played 7 rounds this past holiday weekend. :golfer:

[Scratch2Plus]

J Money did you have a post-round libation? We hung for a bit and had a Coors Light as I was hoping to hear the story of your birdie on 1.

 

No sir, I had to pick up my daughter from my neighbors lakehouse in McHenry.

Had a few while I was there though.

 

Had a nice practice session today. Figured it out. Ball position got too far forward.

All fixed, all good...we'll see on Saturday at the HoE. ?

[Argonne69]

I made my first (and last) trip down to Wicker Park Memorial in Highland, IN. The course is a basic, flat parkland muni with small greens, and few bunkers. The course is quite wooded, although they apparently cleared out quite a number of trees recently, and planted new ones. Course conditions were tolerable, with shaggy fairways, and spongy soft greens. For $35 I was expecting much, and they delivered in spades. 'Nice little course for the family or occasional player, but otherwise very forgettable. The day didn't start on a good note, as I got into a heated argument with the Pro Shop about the carts-only-before-11 policy. It was a nice morning for a stroll, but they wouldn't let me pay the cart fee and walk. Heck, even Water's Edge took my money and let me walk. That left a sour taste in my mouth, and is grounds alone for not returning. For crying out loud, it's a cheap muni, not a high end resort course.

 

I had an OK day ball striking, but when I did hit them well, they were close. Four birdies on the day, and 3 scrambles offset the six bogies.

[2Tall4Golf]

carts-only-before-11 policy.

 

 

One of the stupidest policies in golf no matter if its a resort course, muni, or whatever. I fully understand if its one of those courses where it a mile walk between holes, but those are few and far between around here. Furthermore, walking has no impact on the pace of play, and in some cases is faster than taking a cart.

[propman]

Played Nettle Creek late yesterday afternoon. $27 with cart and hardly anyone on the course. After completing 18, played the back nine. - all in 4:15. Not a bad course from the tips.

[zer0]

Coyote Run tomorrow with the wife on a $28 hot deal. $62 with service charges. Solid price for 2 at Coyote Run.

 

 

Any suggestions on a good place to get a quick bite to eat near Homewood or between Homewood and Chicago for dinner after our round? Any good bbq places in the area?

[2zlinks]

Flossmoor Station Restaraunt and Bar is just north of Flossmoor CC iirc. Really good food.

[Woodridge]

I play Inwood and Wedgewood in Joliet quite a bit. Both are around 15 minutes from my house. Not championship level courses, but great bang for the buck and Wedgewood is usually wide open after 5pm during the week.

[Argonne69]

Coyote Run tomorrow with the wife on a $28 hot deal. $62 with service charges. Solid price for 2 at Coyote Run.

 

Any suggestions on a good place to get a quick bite to eat near Homewood or between Homewood and Chicago for dinner after our round? Any good bbq places in the area?

 

I love me some Aurelio's Pizza in Homewood.

[Rob G 89]

I made my first (and last) trip down to Wicker Park Memorial in Highland, IN. The course is a basic, flat parkland muni with small greens, and few bunkers. The course is quite wooded, although they apparently cleared out quite a number of trees recently, and planted new ones. Course conditions were tolerable, with shaggy fairways, and spongy soft greens. For $35 I was expecting much, and they delivered in spades. 'Nice little course for the family or occasional player, but otherwise very forgettable. The day didn't start on a good note, as I got into a heated argument with the Pro Shop about the carts-only-before-11 policy. It was a nice morning for a stroll, but they wouldn't let me pay the cart fee and walk. Heck, even Water's Edge took my money and let me walk. That left a sour taste in my mouth, and is grounds alone for not returning. For crying out loud, it's a cheap muni, not a high end resort course.

 

I had an OK day ball striking, but when I did hit them well, they were close. Four birdies on the day, and 3 scrambles offset the six bogies.

This was my high school course now my school has lost marsh.

In nwi golf wicker and Gleason are the place to go if you can't play anywhere else. Personally we rather drive to tucksway or joe Louis then play wicker

[Argonne69]

I made my first (and last) trip down to Wicker Park Memorial in Highland, IN. The course is a basic, flat parkland muni with small greens, and few bunkers. The course is quite wooded, although they apparently cleared out quite a number of trees recently, and planted new ones. Course conditions were tolerable, with shaggy fairways, and spongy soft greens. For $35 I was expecting much, and they delivered in spades. 'Nice little course for the family or occasional player, but otherwise very forgettable. The day didn't start on a good note, as I got into a heated argument with the Pro Shop about the carts-only-before-11 policy. It was a nice morning for a stroll, but they wouldn't let me pay the cart fee and walk. Heck, even Water's Edge took my money and let me walk. That left a sour taste in my mouth, and is grounds alone for not returning. For crying out loud, it's a cheap muni, not a high end resort course.

 

I had an OK day ball striking, but when I did hit them well, they were close. Four birdies on the day, and 3 scrambles offset the six bogies.

This was my high school course now my school has lost marsh.

In nwi golf wicker and Gleason are the place to go if you can't play anywhere else. Personally we rather drive to tucksway or joe Louis then play wicker

 

Joe Louis? Lol. This was the site of my infamous 6 hour round in 103 degree heat that led me to give up golf for 15 years. I still play it on occasion, but only when the weather is really bad, and I know that the place will be most empty.

 

The pace of play at Wicker Park was excellent for a Saturday morning. I was part of an 8:15 am threesome, and we finished in 3:30. I only played it because I'm trying to play all the public courses in the Chicago area, and the remaining courses on the list are getting small. I'm sure I'll be playing a handful of other marginal courses this summer.

[disk]

Ah the perils of mid day golf. I'm currently sitting on the 8th tee at coyote run behind two twosomes who "are doing our own thing" and the ranger is just driving around shooting the sh!t with people. Tee time was 12:24 so slow play was expected, but this looks like 6:30 hours.

 

Edit: turns out there is an outing today, would have been nice if the pro shop let us know before booking.

[preiter20]

Great meeting Argonne69 at Bittersweet for 18 this morning. The course was a little shaggy, likely from all of the rain. I think my game had a negative impact on Argonnes round but I had a great time. I've now met two members of the board, Zero and Argonne69 and they are both great guys.

 

I'm volunteering for the Web.com event next week at Ivanhoe in Mundelein. Never worked s golf tournament before and I'm looking forward to that.

[Argonne69]

This turned out to be a beautiful day, no? I made my first trip up to Bittersweet GC today. What a wonderful surprise. For whatever reason I thought this was a barren, prairie style course, but it's more of a woodlands course with lots of marshland. Heck, makes Lost Marsh seem like a desert. The front nine has a few homes around it, but they never seem to encroach on the course. The back nine routing is fantastic, with some tough holes. The course has some tricky, short par 4's, and a decent variety of par 5's and 3's. Course conditioning was very good, albeit it was a little wet in some low spots, and the greens could use a cutting. How this isn't a top 20, or maybe top 10 course, is beyond me. Maybe the difficulty puts off some players?

 

I got a chance with fellow WRXer preiter20, and we had a great time on the course. Neither of us had our 'A' game, but it was a great time nonetheless. We'll definitely have to get out on one of the other northern courses before the end of summer.

 

I had a great day off the tee today, hitting 11 fairways. However, I had trouble holding the greens. I think I rolled off the back 6 times. The wind was certainly a factor, but not the sole cause. Unfortunately, my trusty putter and wedges took the day off. I was 0 for 12 in scrambling today. Brutal. I simply could not get a feel for the greens, and missed way too many makeable putts for birdie and par. Oh well. it happens.

 

I'm still on my quest to play all the public courses in the Chicago area, so I probably won't get back to the course soon, but it certainly on the list when I start revisiting courses.

[disk]

Holy cow what a round at Coyote Run this afternoon! I saw a couple groups of 5, one group of 6 with 4 carts, a couple singles, and I don't think any twosomes were paired together, piss poor course management that resulted in a round just under 6 1/2 hours.

 

All of that waiting and I still managed my first round in the 70's. Normally my game is making pars and bogies, but I had 4 birdies today that pushed me under 80 and finished with a 77! It was the weirdest yet best round of my life haha

[zer0]

I also played in the Coyote Run death march this afternoon. 2:32 tee time, made the turn at 5:00, but then thankfully it lightened up and we finished at 7:00. Played from the tips (only 6500) but it was quite a challenge in the 2 club wind. Having all that extra time allowed me to really focus on every shot and I ended up breaking 80 for the first time this year, finishing with a 78. Only hit 7 fairways, but 9 greens. Birdied 1 and 9. The one I want back is #12. drive of the day, ends up 275 in the middle. PW out, chunk it 50 yards in the water. Fattest shot I've hit this season, haven't had one even close. Looked like a solid 3 inch deep divot lol. Chipped on from 75 yards to 12 feet and then 3 putted for a triple. Only score above bogey all day.

 

to top off the round we managed to make it to Hog Wild 10 minutes before they closed! PORK CHOPS!

[WindyCitySPN]

Holy cow what a round at Coyote Run this afternoon! I saw a couple groups of 5, one group of 6 with 4 carts, a couple singles, and I don't think any twosomes were paired together, piss poor course management that resulted in a round just under 6 1/2 hours.

 

All of that waiting and I still managed my first round in the 70's. Normally my game is making pars and bogies, but I had 4 birdies today that pushed me under 80 and finished with a 77! It was the weirdest yet best round of my life haha

 

Congrats on breaking 80! I've played CR twice and the experience was just as you described both times so I haven't been back since.

[saggysag]

Wood side / lakeside at cantigny yesterday.

 

These courses just don't suit my eye. I don't think there's 1 good hole on lakeside. Maybe hole 9 is ok.

I know a lot of People love cantigny, but I don't have much interest going back.

 

 

 

 

[VNutz]

Village Links yesterday afternoon. Beautiful day for golf, wind was tricky when you got above the tree line. Course was in fine shape considering the rains, greens were about what you'd expect from VL, not great, bumpy and slow. But the way they tucked the pins on several holes, right in front of or behind ridges, anything quicker would have been really difficult.

[Argonne69]

I'm starting to make plans for the 4th of July weekend. I'll be heading up to the McHenry/Lake County area, and have an initial list of courses: Brae Loch CC, Bonnie Dundee GC, Boone Creek GC, Palatine Hills GC, Pinecrest GC, Antioch GC, and Twin Lakes CC (WI).

 

Any thoughts? I know I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel here, but I assume they're playable at a minimum. 'Seems like a handful don't allow singles to book online, so it may be tough getting on the courses.

[PuttCurseRepeat]

Village Links yesterday afternoon. Beautiful day for golf, wind was tricky when you got above the tree line. Course was in fine shape considering the rains, greens were about what you'd expect from VL, not great, bumpy and slow. But the way they tucked the pins on several holes, right in front of or behind ridges, anything quicker would have been really difficult.

Did you partake in any of the "Have 1 On Us" festivities over the weekend? Weather was perfect on Friday and I fed my family for $9. Free range balls Fri. night and all day Saturday, $1 draft beer and several tournaments and competitions too.

[stasek]

I'm starting to make plans for the 4th of July weekend. I'll be heading up to the McHenry/Lake County area, and have an initial list of courses: Brae Loch CC, Bonnie Dundee GC, Boone Creek GC, Palatine Hills GC, Pinecrest GC, Antioch GC, and Twin Lakes CC (WI).

 

Any thoughts? I know I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel here, but I assume they're playable at a minimum. 'Seems like a handful don't allow singles to book online, so it may be tough getting on the courses.

Of these, I've only played Palatine Hills, and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Argonne69]

Apparently, Cog Hill and Gleneagles were annexed by Palos Park. One of the main reasons would be access to Lake Michigan water when development (eventually) begins. Seems there was quite a brew ha ha over the annexation with nearly Lemont.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-palos-park-annexation-st-0210-20160209-story.html

 

http://www.theregionalnews.com/index.php/newsx/160-local-news/top-news-story-2/34840-palos-park-takes-cog-hill

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-kadner-lemont-palos-st-0823-20150821-story.html

[TheBear95]

I'm starting to make plans for the 4th of July weekend. I'll be heading up to the McHenry/Lake County area, and have an initial list of courses: Brae Loch CC, Bonnie Dundee GC, Boone Creek GC, Palatine Hills GC, Pinecrest GC, Antioch GC, and Twin Lakes CC (WI).

 

Any thoughts? I know I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel here, but I assume they're playable at a minimum. 'Seems like a handful don't allow singles to book online, so it may be tough getting on the courses.

 

I've played Twin Lakes before. Not bad. Your typical small town, country course. Conditions depend on the weather, small greens, limited bunkers. The course has a split personality though, as the side east of the clubhouse is actually quite interesting. Elevation changes, mature trees, some blind shots. The west side is blah.

[VNutz]

Did you partake in any of the "Have 1 On Us" festivities over the weekend? Weather was perfect on Friday and I fed my family for $9. Free range balls Fri. night and all day Saturday, $1 draft beer and several tournaments and competitions too.

 

I did not. I've done the food there before, but from what I remember it was extremely busy. With 2 younger kids, especially one with a peanut allergy, that becomes troublesome. They did have some sort of high school graduation parties for entire senior classes there yesterday, the parking lot was completely full and people were parking at the school next to the 9 hole course.