Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round2)

[B-Man]

Village Linksy.

Goose stuff everywhere. Wet in patches and no roll. Good day with no wind and walking in just over 4 hrs.

 

 

[DavePelz4]

> @B-Man said:

> Village Linksy.

> Goose stuff everywhere. Wet in patches and no roll. Good day with no wind and walking in just over 4 hrs.

>

>

>

 

74 or 75?

[Teetoogrn]

But we have to give the Links credit for going grass for the range! I was there this afternoon and finally getting off mats was nice!

[PureGolf313]

Had an hour and a half and it was either go hit balls at Foxford Hills or play a speedy nine at Cary Country Club, decided to play nine at Cary Country Club. I had not played here since high school golf team days which was 18 years ago. The course has some great elevated tees but that is really it, now granted it is opening day but I would still expect if you are opening the course put in tee markers and rakes in the bunkers. Might give it another chance this summer as I played 10 holes in just a hair over and hour and it is about 5 minutes from my new bourse but at $20 dollars I still feel cheated.

[ldchristopher]

I played Cinder Ridge and Heritage Bluffs today. My feet are a little sore since walking 36 in last year's shoes was tougher than I expected but I got around Cinder in 3 hours and Bluffs in 3.5. Cinder is pretty bare bones right now. All the tee markers are on the same box and the greens were stimping at about 3. However, they're still on Winter rates so I can't complain. Besides, I know where the blue tees are supposed to be. My ball striking was inconsistent but I made up for expected March bogies with birdies on 2, 8, and 18 to shoot a 73. The novelty of super soft greens is approach shots can all just be thrown right at the pin.

Heritage Bluffs was tougher and I got off to a rocky start with bogies on two of the first three holes. However, I made long birdie putts on 5 and 9 and put my tee shot on 13 inside two feet. The bunkers were pretty bad and the greens still had punch marks from last Fall but they rolled smooth. With the great weather the course filled up pretty fast, but we played through a couple of groups. 75.

[Jc0]

Looking for some recommendations near Evanston. Moved to the area at the beginning of the year and trying to figure out where to play. Seems to be a lot of golf around me, but all private or short courses. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[ldchristopher]

There are a bunch of decent municipal courses along 41/94 (Glencoe, Sunset Valley, Winnetka) that are pretty similar. All are flood plain courses that play around 6500 yards. Further north on 41, Shephard's Crook in Zion is solid and Thunderhawk is excellent for the five months a year it's open. There's other munis up north, but Bonnie Brook, Willow Glen, and Willow Glen are a step down. When 94 splits, the course quality improves a bit. Steeple Chase and Bittersweet are interesting munis, Deerfield is okay but gets lots of play, Stonewall Orchard and The Glen Club are excellent semi-privates, and Pine Meadows is great tee to green but the greens are hit or miss. White Deer Run is alright but overpriced. Of the par 70's, Sportsman's gets a lot of love on here, Glenview Park is so-so, Wilmette is very well-maintained, and Chick Evans is objectively bad. That's a small sampling but there's tons more. Southern Wisconsin opens up more doors.

[jimwgt26]

Im back. After almost a year of no golf, I played first 2019 round yesterday at Mt Prospect. The course was in pretty good shape for March.

[jimwgt26]

> @Jc0 said:

> Looking for some recommendations near Evanston. Moved to the area at the beginning of the year and trying to figure out where to play. Seems to be a lot of golf around me, but all private or short courses. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

I pretty much agree with idchris, I'm not too far from you in Forest Glen/Sauganash. My local close range go to's are: Glencoe, Wilmette, Sunset Valley and sometmes Lake Bluff. These are always in decent shape, and are cheap weekday twilight rounds. On weekends when I'm willing to expand my radius and want something nicer I'll play Stonewall Orchard, Shepherds Crook or Pine Meadow. The Glen Club is really nice, but expensive. I never play Winnetka, Chick Evans or Highland Park CC, too crowded, poor layouts and usually bad conditions. I also play a lot on the other side of O'Hare: The Preserve and The Highlands of Elgin. I'm close to 90, so these are convenient, getting to 90 from Evanston might be a pain. There's a range on Oakton in Skokie, that's not too far away. If you want grass, Willow hill is probably your best bet.

[@_the_crook]

I was running around all of Saturday and really missed being able to play.

Made a point of being at Sportsmans range today at 6:15.

Had the place pretty much to myself. Cloudy and cool. Brought a set of irons I had redone over the break. No distance magic but dispersion was right on. If only the big stick had been as reliable. Greens had been heavily dressed and the ball rolled very slow.

It can only get better.

 

[stasek]

Just finished at Cog 3. Course is in rough shape (understandably). Got around in 3:45 as a 5-some. The greens are rolling solid 5 - couldn’t hit the ball hard enough and almost every tee ball was plugged in fairway/rough. Only 1 birdie, few loose shots here and there resulted in 76.

[mci711]

Seven bridges as the first round Chicago round of the year. Quite the contrast from a few days ago in Palm Springs. But i'll take it. Course was fine for March, could have been much worse. Joined their membership program, love walking in and just telling them I'm going out.

[Ish]

Played Highlands of Elgin yesterday. Course was in great shape all things considered. A little wet in some spots but not as bad as I would have thought.

[Holy Moses]

> @Ish said:

> Played Highlands of Elgin yesterday. Course was in great shape all things considered. A little wet in some spots but not as bad as I would have thought.

 

Is the range open?

 

 

[Holy Moses]

Bowes Creek was in pretty good shape for the spring. Not too wet, greens weren't fast, but not terribly slow either. The bunkers weren't raked and there were no rakes in them, but what do you expect for late March? I played in just over 3 hours. One thing that I'm not a fan of, but they took the GPS out of the carts at Bowes. That makes for quicker rounds when you can get your yardage quickly. Bowes and Highlands of Elgin have their own apps now so it looks like they are using that for GPS instead.

[Ish]

> @"Holy Moses" said:

> > @Ish said:

> > Played Highlands of Elgin yesterday. Course was in great shape all things considered. A little wet in some spots but not as bad as I would have thought.

>

> Is the range open?

>

>

 

Open but off mats.

[VNutz]

Snuck out to Village Links 9 holer Saturday afternoon for a quick round by myself. Was hoping for a bit cheaper than $20 at 5pm but I'll take it. A little soft in spots but better than I expected so far.

[Argonne69]

Wilmette is opening this week, walking only. The weekend looks iffy, but the tee sheet is wide open at this point. 'Gotta finish my taxes on Saturday, so Sunday looks very likely.

[dhartmann34]

Played 9 holes this morning and that wind was whipping! Wish I could have waited until now to play because the sun is shining and it's much nicer. But you gotta get it when you can I suppose. Looks like we'll have a nicer day tomorrow temp and wind wise. Just trying to get in a few rounds and get ready for the season before Baby H shows up!

 

Seems the first week of April we'll get some steadier, better weather...but I'm sure someone on here will be playing in the rain/snow mix on Saturday :-)

[Argonne69]

Sheesh. We can't seem to catch a break. Sunday morning looks iffy, as it likely won't get above freezing until late in the morning. I guess I'll wait until Sunday morning, and then make a few calls.

[DavePelz4]

> @dhartmann34 said:

> Played 9 holes this morning and that wind was whipping! Wish I could have waited until now to play because the sun is shining and it's much nicer. But you gotta get it when you can I suppose. Looks like we'll have a nicer day tomorrow temp and wind wise. Just trying to get in a few rounds and get ready for the season before Baby H shows up!

>

> Seems the first week of April we'll get some steadier, better weather...but I'm sure someone on here will be playing in the rain/snow mix on Saturday :-)

 

We have round 2 of our season at the HIlls of Bartlett tomorrow. Looking to be a BEAUTIFUL day!

[mci711]

> @Argonne69 said:

> Sheesh. We can't seem to catch a break. Sunday morning looks iffy, as it likely won't get above freezing until late in the morning. I guess I'll wait until Sunday morning, and then make a few calls.

 

We are at that point where the final days of the 10 day forecast always look decent but with each passing day, the projected temp drops a few degrees until you get to those that were supposed to be decent days and they are no good.

 

[@_the_crook]

> @Argonne69 said:

> Sheesh. We can't seem to catch a break. Sunday morning looks iffy, as it likely won't get above freezing until late in the morning. I guess I'll wait until Sunday morning, and then make a few calls.

 

we have the 6:42 at Sportsman's Arg.....might be good to go at 9.

 

[AUTIGER07]

Have yet to make it up to Lake Geneva but looking to do so with a group in mid-May. For those that have played the courses up there how would you rank best / worst between the offerings at Grand Geneva, Geneva National, Abbey Springs, and Hawks View?

[Argonne69]

My rankings would be 1) Grand Geneva Brute, 2) Abbey Springs, 3) Geneva National Player, 4) Grand Geneva Highlands, 5) Geneva National Trevino, 6) Geneva National Palmer, and 7) Hawks View.

[DavePelz4]

My preference would be GN Player, GN Trevino, Hawks View, GN Palmer, Abbey Springs and you can have the Brute and HIghlands for that matter. Not a fan.

[B-Man]

The Brute is a terrible golf course. One of the worst layouts I've ever played.

[jimwgt26]

Geneva National, Hawks View, Abbey Springs. Grand Geneva two thumbs down.

[Jack_Lucke]

> @dhartmann34 said:

> Argonne69 wrote:

>

> Ravisloe is open Wednesday - Sunday. $15 to walk.

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> Coyote Run also opens Wednesday. $23 to walk weekday, and $30 weekend.

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> I have not played Ravisloe as it's pretty far from me. Their Facebook says $25 to walk on weekdays and $35 on the weekends right now as their opening due to the warm weather.

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> I might head down this weekend depending on how much rain we get.

 

This is one of my top courses in Chicago. Awesome track that will eat you up if you're not in the fairway.

[ldchristopher]

Bear made his return to golf following his injury by joining me for a round at beautiful Highland Woods. Despite the overnight rain it drained pretty well and only had standing water in a couple of spots. With low 40's temps, not too many people were on the course and we got around in under 3 hours. I had lots of birdie looks but didn't make any. Instead I burned edges or misjudged the speed (or lack thereof at Woods) all day. That was aggravating but I still shot a 75.