Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round2)

[chisag]

... Very first time I played Big Run I reached a par 5 in two and it took my best swings to get there. Arriving at the green, which was horseshoe shaped, there was a tree and rough between my ball and the hole. By the time I got to the road par 3 that I believe was even more slanted from side to side back then I vowed never to play there again. Thru the years I gave it a few more chances but I never changed my opinion of the course.

[saggysag]

Anybody play Carriage Greens in Darien recently? I played it ages ago, and don't remember a whole lot about it other than it's a rather forgetable layout. The teesheet for Saturday has one foursome booked from 6 am until 10:30 am. That should tell me something I guess.

 

Not recently. But played it several times years prior. No real reason to ever go back.

[saggysag]

Dubs is starting to to get desperate. If you play June 27 you get a free pair of shoes with ur greens fee.

[Argonne69]

Teeing it up tomorrow morning at Coyote Run. Hopefully the courses will be reasonably dry tomorrow morning. It looks like the rain is done until Sunday afternoon.

[Scratch2Plus]

Played HoE yesterday. Greens punched (with the tiny holes) so it was still slightly bumpy otherwise its in fine shape.

 

[propman]

I like to play Big Run couple times a year. I have a habit of shooting 10 to 15 strokes higher than my average. Not sure why :swoon:

[deadsolid...shank]

I've only played three courses in the area, but loved Big Run.

[VNutz]

I've only played it once, but I enjoyed Big Run. But I knew what I was in for going in, basically to get beaten up and have a good challenge. If I played it regularly I likely wouldn't feel the same way, but I'd still love that piece of property, total throwback.

[DavePelz4]

I've only played it once, but I enjoyed Big Run. But I knew what I was in for going in, basically to get beaten up and have a good challenge. If I played it regularly I likely wouldn't feel the same way, but I'd still love that piece of property, total throwback.

 

Well said Sir. It's a throwback to golf of yester-year. Everything says 1950's.

[Chicago Lefty]

I've only played it once, but I enjoyed Big Run. But I knew what I was in for going in, basically to get beaten up and have a good challenge. If I played it regularly I likely wouldn't feel the same way, but I'd still love that piece of property, total throwback.

 

Well said Sir. It's a throwback to golf of yester-year. Everything says 1950's.

 

Also known as the golden years for DP4

 

Not a Big Run fan. Could be an amazing course in that piece of property though.

[chisag]

I've only played it once, but I enjoyed Big Run. But I knew what I was in for going in, basically to get beaten up and have a good challenge. If I played it regularly I likely wouldn't feel the same way, but I'd still love that piece of property, total throwback.

 

Well said Sir. It's a throwback to golf of yester-year. Everything says 1950's.

 

Also known as the golden years for DP4

 

Not a Big Run fan. Could be an amazing course in that piece of property though.

 

... Amen, a wonderful piece of property. A good designer consultant could turn Big Run into an unbelievable course. Get rid of the circus greens and the blind shots, a little nip here and a tuck there, fix some drainage issues and I am playing there every week.

[DavePelz4]

I've only played it once, but I enjoyed Big Run. But I knew what I was in for going in, basically to get beaten up and have a good challenge. If I played it regularly I likely wouldn't feel the same way, but I'd still love that piece of property, total throwback.

 

Well said Sir. It's a throwback to golf of yester-year. Everything says 1950's.

 

Also known as the golden years for DP4

 

Not a Big Run fan. Could be an amazing course in that piece of property though.

 

That's back in the days of playing with Wilson Blue Ridge clubs with persimmon heads and aluminum shafts and 2 shoulders ago. Ah the glory days.

[chisag]

I've only played it once, but I enjoyed Big Run. But I knew what I was in for going in, basically to get beaten up and have a good challenge. If I played it regularly I likely wouldn't feel the same way, but I'd still love that piece of property, total throwback.

 

Well said Sir. It's a throwback to golf of yester-year. Everything says 1950's.

 

... I think one of my favorite throw back courses is Wedgewood. Straight forward what you see is what you get among 100 yr old oaks. Risk reward holes, a few easy holes and few really tough holes. Gentle slopes that are very challenging, especially if you are not familiar with them. #13 is no bargain and that green has some serious slope. If they are rolling quick, you better be below the hole on 14, a short par 4 that leaves you with a short iron in your hand to position low and right. But no silly mounds or tiers. Really love the par 5's. #2 is such an early challenge. Hit 3 good shots and you are looking at birdie, but miss any one of those 3 shots and bogie can be a struggle. And #6 is an awesome par 5 where you can card a 4 or 6 almost as easily. #11 is reachable for moderate hitters with two great shots and an easy green to accommodate an eagle or birdie. #15 is a 3 s*** hole for almost all but a very short wedge approach is offset by the fair but most severe green on the course. No tricks, all treats.

[Argonne69]

Refresh my memory, how many blind shots does Big Run have? I can only recall one on the back nine. Otherwise it's mostly elevated tees, no?

[chisag]

..,. Unless you are looking to hit a 7 iron of the tee, the very first shot is blind to the landing area. I walk the course so I imagine you could drive up in a cart and get some idea but if I remember correctly #11 second shot is over a hill and a guess as to where the green/pin is located.

 

Here is a course refresher: http://d2tbfnbweol72x.cloudfront.net/8381057/files/2014/05/BRG_Golf.pd

[Argonne69]

..,. Unless you are looking to hit a 7 iron of the tee, the very first shot is blind to the landing area. I walk the course so I imagine you could drive up in a cart and get some idea but if I remember correctly #3 second shot is over a hill and a guess as to where the green/pin is located.

 

Here is a course refresher: http://d2tbfnbweol72x.cloudfront.net/8381057/files/2014/05/BRG_Golf.pdf

 

I've always hit less than driver on the first hole, so it's never been an issue.

 

You must be thinking of #2 to an elevated green. The third hole is flat from the landing area to the green. Again, never had an issue with #2.

[chisag]

... A 3 iron puts you thru the landing area and again, if I remember correctly, you can't see where a 5 iron ends up. I hate starting my round with a 7 iron like BR and Cog Hill #3.

[VNutz]

IIRC the first hole you see everything laid out in front of you, but there's a ridge the ball falls down to a flat area, much like #10. You might not see where it ends up but you can see the shot itself. The only tee shot I recall being blind is #12 (aside from #17 around sunset) as you're going uphill and it doglegs down and right I believe.

[deadsolid...shank]

IIRC the first hole you see everything laid out in front of you, but there's a ridge the ball falls down to a flat area, much like #10. You might not see where it ends up but you can see the shot itself. The only tee shot I recall being blind is #12 (aside from #17 around sunset) as you're going uphill and it doglegs down and right I believe.

 

Yes. My memory is sketchy, but I thought #1 was a gentle dogleg to the right. downhill tee shot, then a bit uphill second shot. .

 

I don't remember ever really struggling to figure out where to hit to hit the ball.

[Argonne69]

IIRC the first hole you see everything laid out in front of you, but there's a ridge the ball falls down to a flat area, much like #10. You might not see where it ends up but you can see the shot itself. The only tee shot I recall being blind is #12 (aside from #17 around sunset) as you're going uphill and it doglegs down and right I believe.

 

Yes. My memory is sketchy, but I thought #1 was a gentle dogleg to the right. downhill tee shot, then a bit uphill second shot. .

 

I don't remember ever really struggling to figure out where to hit to hit the ball.

 

For some reason, I usually just pull the tee shot left into the trees. Doesn't matter which club I use, I'm punching out anyway, and scrambling to save par. Lol.

[deadsolid...shank]

IIRC the first hole you see everything laid out in front of you, but there's a ridge the ball falls down to a flat area, much like #10. You might not see where it ends up but you can see the shot itself. The only tee shot I recall being blind is #12 (aside from #17 around sunset) as you're going uphill and it doglegs down and right I believe.

 

Yes. My memory is sketchy, but I thought #1 was a gentle dogleg to the right. downhill tee shot, then a bit uphill second shot. .

 

I don't remember ever really struggling to figure out where to hit to hit the ball.

 

For some reason, I usually just pull the tee shot left into the trees. Doesn't matter which club I use, I'm punching out anyway, and scrambling to save par. Lol.

 

Sketchy memory or not, I do know for certain that I punched out on my second shot too.

[chisag]

... We were most definitely in the middle/left of the fairway on 3 and couldn't even see the green. But whatever, I hate the course and will not be playing it ever again. Too many really nice and or fun courses in the area to waste my time at Big Run or Glen Eagles playing Putt-Putt golf in a big field. Much more walkable and enjoyable to me courses including Broken Arrow, Mistwood, Carillon, Cog Hill, Wedgewood and Prairie Bluff, where I am headed now. Ymmv of course.

[deadsolid...shank]

... We were most definitely in the middle/left of the fairway on 3 and couldn't even see the green. But whatever, I hate the course and will not be playing it ever again. Too many really nice and or fun courses in the area to waste my time at Big Run or Glen Eagles playing Putt-Putt golf in a big field. Much more walkable and enjoyable to me courses including Broken Arrow, Mistwood, Carillon, Cog Hill, Wedgewood and Prairie Bluff, where I am headed now. Ymmv of course.

 

I liked Prairie Bluff a lot too.

[jimwgt26]

2nd shot on 2 is kinda blind. 2nd Shot on 3 would only be blind if you hit your tee shot behind the Trees on the right. Tee shot on 5 could be considered blind. The whole 9th hole is blind. 12 tee is kinda blind over the hill. 3rd shot on 18 is blind. If the bartender has a heavy hand, the ride home is definitely blind.

 

I love Big Fun!!!

[Scratch2Plus]

Last minute round at Bartlett Hills tomorrow...Groupon deal, comes out to $42.50 per guy. Cart, range balls and a draft beer 11:21 on a Saturday.

[ldchristopher]

... We were most definitely in the middle/left of the fairway on 3 and couldn't even see the green. But whatever, I hate the course and will not be playing it ever again. Too many really nice and or fun courses in the area to waste my time at Big Run or Glen Eagles playing Putt-Putt golf in a big field. Much more walkable and enjoyable to me courses including Broken Arrow, Mistwood, Carillon, Cog Hill, Wedgewood and Prairie Bluff, where I am headed now. Ymmv of course.

So basically, you like courses off of I 55 and 355. I like Broken Arrow but find the others to be overpriced (Mistwood, Cog) or uninspired, especially the new forum favorite Prairie Bluff. Heritage Bluffs is nice, though the layout is not friendly to walkers and I can see deathmarch potential there. I also enjoyed Cinder Ridge the one time I played it.

[chisag]

... I live in Bolingbrook so these are convenient but I was basically talking about courses near Big Run that I would rather play. We play Cog at twilight so that is a bargain in my book. But I could play Prairie Bluff every week and never get tired if it, especially if it is always in as good of shape as it has been this spring. I agree Mistwood is pricy but it is a once a year endeavor. Of course I drive to other courses but these are my staples.

[PuttCurseRepeat]

Refresh my memory, how many blind shots does Big Run have? I can only recall one on the back nine. Otherwise it's mostly elevated tees, no?

 

There are several partially blind shot on Big Run, but nothing drastic or unfair.

 

#1 I'd consider the tee shot partially blind. The farther down the hill and to the right, the harder to see your ball.

 

#2 Partially blind. Can't see the bottom of the stick on 2nd shot.

 

#3 Can't think of the blind shot here. Right rough off the tee?

 

#5 Long drive clears a ridge in the fairway so you may not see your ball resting on the short grass, and you might be a little uncertain the first time you play it, but it is a pretty straightforward affair.

 

#7 Par 3, can't see the bottom of the stick. The further back the pin, the harder to judge.

 

#9 Only the first 500 yards is blind.

 

#10 Tee shot is partially blind if you hit it just short of the green.

 

#12 Tee shot is blind.

 

#14 Like #5, big roll in the fairway conceals the landing area.

 

#18 Approach is partially blind. Can't see the bottom of the flagstick.

 

I fail to see how Big Run's layout is stupid. The topography is wonderfully exploited. That the criticisms are mostly vague/ambiguous is telling, to me.

 

Regarding the horseshoe green at the end of a par-5, I assume it is the 5th hole being criticized, though there is no tree blocking putts from one end to the other. Depending on the pin placement, it is possible to have a putt that needs to circumvent a bunker pinching into the middle-rear of the green, but it would mean your approach was about 30 yards off line. Shouldn't expect much sympathy there.

 

I think a lot of the criticism of Big Run comes from people who go in thinking they're going to get the Cog Hill 1&3 treatment - and instead, get a kick in the nuts.

[propman]

... We were most definitely in the middle/left of the fairway on 3 and couldn't even see the green. But whatever, I hate the course and will not be playing it ever again. Too many really nice and or fun courses in the area to waste my time at Big Run or Glen Eagles playing Putt-Putt golf in a big field. Much more walkable and enjoyable to me courses including Broken Arrow, Mistwood, Carillon, Cog Hill, Wedgewood and Prairie Bluff, where I am headed now. Ymmv of course.

 

We were out at PR yesterday as well. Teed it up around 3:45. Very slow round (in x/s of 4 1/2 hours. They apparently had a group outing out there and from what we saw many of them were hacks (we were 2nd group behind the group outing) Just curious, when did you tee it up?

 

Also, the wind on the 15th and 16th holes must have been blasting about 30 mph!

[chisag]

... We were most definitely in the middle/left of the fairway on 3 and couldn't even see the green. But whatever, I hate the course and will not be playing it ever again. Too many really nice and or fun courses in the area to waste my time at Big Run or Glen Eagles playing Putt-Putt golf in a big field. Much more walkable and enjoyable to me courses including Broken Arrow, Mistwood, Carillon, Cog Hill, Wedgewood and Prairie Bluff, where I am headed now. Ymmv of course.

 

We were out at PR yesterday as well. Teed it up around 3:45. Very slow round (in x/s of 4 1/2 hours. They apparently had a group outing out there and from what we saw many of them were hacks (we were 2nd group behind the group outing) Just curious, when did you tee it up?

 

Also, the wind on the 15th and 16th holes must have been blasting about 30 mph!

 

... The tee times were wide open on the website so I just went out as a single. I got there a few minutes before you teed off and was told I could not get out until 4:55!?! I said the website said you had open tee times and the young girl told me "they aren't always updated and we have also have an outing that wasn't on the website". LOL, thanks. I went to Naperbrook and just got in a practice round as they were pretty packed too and I had to bounce around some beginners. Yea, it got pretty windy at NB so I imagine Prairie was ruthless.