Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round2)

[jimwgt26]

Sandy Pines looks very nice.

Let's pick from:
Blackthorn
The Warren Course
Sandy Pines

Balmoral is great, we play there a lot, looking for something different?

[Chicago Lefty]

SW Michigan isn't that much further from 18th Street. Btw, awesome brewery

You'd really enjoy Blackthorn.

[apprenti23]

I'd be very happy with any of those three !

Blackthorn is actually Aberdeen's "sister course"

[zer0]

6.5 hour round at Willow Crest in my work comp lawyer's outing. We got screwed cause apparently one group slowed the whole thing down and we were basically last in the traffic jam. Saw one friend driving off after his group had finished..we still had 4 holes to go in bumper to bumper traffic.

Started at noon and finished at 6:30, totally blew my original plan of skipping the dinner and just staying on the course and trying to squeeze in a quick 18 with my own ball. I actually played really well, something I never do in these outings. But, unfortunately my team was awful. The two other guys who can play a little both really struggled, probably used 2 of their shots each all round. The 4th guy was a great guy who was a lot of fun to hang out with, but he only plays once a year and has probably played 3 times in his life. Needless to say, he didn't help out too much. I think we did actually use two of his shots though. We had a great time though so didn't really sweat too much over our 3 under score. But man, was it stressful at times...I batted clean up and i'd say about 75% of the time the other 3 were out of play or in jail. It became a running joke how many times they'd be like alright no pressure but its all on you.

But, the MVP went to one of the other guys in the group since he works for a physical therapy place and the entire round all the drinks from the cart girl were on the company card.

And if the question is, exactly how much weed can you smoke during six and a half hours of golf the answer is "all of it."

[MountainKing]

Finally got our round in at Arrowhead. We did West to South, have not played the course since I was a kid so I've always been a bit reluctant to check it out since then it was a boring course in poor condition. They did a great job with the course, almost to the point where I'd call it Cantigny light. Greens were in great shape some of the best I've played on all year. Pace of play was great for a Friday until we hit a 3some on the back that consisted of a Dad, Wife and kid. The Dad was teaching the kid and wife the game and was having them hit multiple tee shots. If you want to do this do it at the end of the day as the last group out, so we sat behind them for 6 long holes but otherwise it was a fun Friday.

[Argonne69]

Got back to Wilmette for a pleasant round today. The course has shaped up nicely. It's probably in the best condition I've ever seen it. Greens rolled speedy, but not crazy. The bad patches of fairway have finally grown in after all these years.

I had a great experience playing with a gentleman today who is recovering from a stroke. After a year of rehab, he still doesn't have much use of his left arm/hand, and so he played with one arm. This was great to watch, as he wielded his 9 wood and putter like a lightsaber. Forget 3 club golf. He managed it with two. He was hitting the ball 100 to 125 yards with each stroke, and probably missed the fairway 3 times. When you think you've got it bad, you need to see someone like this to bring you back to reality. We had a fun round on a very nice day.

I played the front nine in 2 over, but started bogie, bogie, bogie on the back. 'Thought the wheels had come off, but righted the ship by shooting even for the remaining six holes.

Off to Buffalo Grove tomorrow for a first time visit. I'm not expecting much, but with possible storms in the area, I don't want to wander to far from home.

Oh, I used a pair of sun sleeves for the first time today. I got to say, they weren't bad at all. They pull the sweat off your arms, so there's almost a cooling sensation. I thought they might be a bit restrictive, but after a few holes I didn't even notice them.

[jimwgt26]

Argonne, nice story.

I've been playing Wilmette a lot this year, it's 15 minutes from my house. Don't feel bad about the rough start on the back nine. 10 and 11 are tough holes.

I played Stonewall today. It's really nice, I wish it was a little closer to home. I played 16 of the holes in 2 over. Unfortunately, I had a 7 on the par 3 5th and a 8 on the par 3 17th. Ouch.

[Argonne69]

[quote name='jimwgt26' timestamp='1439078037' post='12102730']
Argonne, nice story.

I've been playing Wilmette a lot this year, it's 15 minutes from my house. Don't feel bad about the rough start on the back nine. 10 and 11 are tough holes.

I played Stonewall today. It's really nice, I wish it was a little closer to home. I played 16 of the holes in 2 over. Unfortunately, I had a 7 on the par 3 5th and a 8 on the par 3 17th. Ouch.
[/quote]

Yeah, I've played it dozens of times, and #10 doesn't set up well for a draw off the tee. I would up in the left rough, and hit a quality shot to the green, but it rolled just over the back. A decent chip gave me a chance at par, but I missed the 5 footer. I've been playing #11 fairly decently since the redo, but I hooked an ugly drive into the left trees, and had to lay up short of the pond. I couldn't get a wedge close enough to the back left pin location to save par.

Overall I'm very pleased with the redo of the course. The greens are still a bit firm, but they'll settle in over the next few years.

[Buddha]

Its not quite Chicago (Rockford area), but has anyone played Lost Nation? I am trying it out with a friend on Tuesday.

[jimwgt26]

[quote name='Argonne69' timestamp='1439088102' post='12103488'][quote name='jimwgt26' timestamp='1439078037' post='12102730']
Argonne, nice story.

I've been playing Wilmette a lot this year, it's 15 minutes from my house. Don't feel bad about the rough start on the back nine. 10 and 11 are tough holes.

I played Stonewall today. It's really nice, I wish it was a little closer to home. I played 16 of the holes in 2 over. Unfortunately, I had a 7 on the par 3 5th and a 8 on the par 3 17th. Ouch.
[/quote]

Yeah, I've played it dozens of times, and #10 doesn't set up well for a draw off the tee. I would up in the left rough, and hit a quality shot to the green, but it rolled just over the back. A decent chip gave me a chance at par, but I missed the 5 footer. I've been playing #11 fairly decently since the redo, but I hooked an ugly drive into the left trees, and had to lay up short of the pond. I couldn't get a wedge close enough to the back left pin location to save par.

Overall I'm very pleased with the redo of the course. The greens are still a bit firm, but they'll settle in over the next few years.[/quote]

I think they did a great job with the renovation. The only hole I haven't figured out is 17. The lay up area is really narrow, and the green is so shallow. I've been hitting two 4 irons and 6 iron in.

[DZ1454]

Thinking about playing broken arrow at 3 if this weather holds off

[Argonne69]

[quote name='jimwgt26' timestamp='1439129519' post='12104794']
[quote name='Argonne69' timestamp='1439088102' post='12103488'][quote name='jimwgt26' timestamp='1439078037' post='12102730']
Argonne, nice story.

I've been playing Wilmette a lot this year, it's 15 minutes from my house. Don't feel bad about the rough start on the back nine. 10 and 11 are tough holes.

I played Stonewall today. It's really nice, I wish it was a little closer to home. I played 16 of the holes in 2 over. Unfortunately, I had a 7 on the par 3 5th and a 8 on the par 3 17th. Ouch.
[/quote]

Yeah, I've played it dozens of times, and #10 doesn't set up well for a draw off the tee. I would up in the left rough, and hit a quality shot to the green, but it rolled just over the back. A decent chip gave me a chance at par, but I missed the 5 footer. I've been playing #11 fairly decently since the redo, but I hooked an ugly drive into the left trees, and had to lay up short of the pond. I couldn't get a wedge close enough to the back left pin location to save par.

Overall I'm very pleased with the redo of the course. The greens are still a bit firm, but they'll settle in over the next few years.[/quote]

I think they did a great job with the renovation. The only hole I haven't figured out is 17. The lay up area is really narrow, and the green is so shallow. I've been hitting two 4 irons and 6 iron in.
[/quote]

#17 is indeed tough, as the landing area is quite narrow. That said, I birdied it yesterday after hitting the best drive of the day. I was 240 out, and was considering a layup to 90 yards, but figured there was less trouble long and right. A perfect 5 wood left me 30 yards out, and a little quarter sand wedge gave me a 6 footer for birdie. 'Doesn't happen often on that hole, as I often find the trees on the left.

I know very few people miss it, but I do miss the long par 3 12th. With the hole now playing at 125 yards, along with the short par 3 16th, there are no longer any long par 3's on the course. I'd like to see one play 190+.

[Argonne69]

'First visit to Buffalo Grove today, and it turned out to be just about what I expected. The fairways a generous by any standard, and the greens are huge. The fairways were quite shaggy with a number of GUR areas, and the greens were inconsistent. The looked good, but some were speedy, and others not so much. I have to say I really liked the look of the bunkers. I can't say I've seen bunkers that big on any muni course. Heck, they even had some sand in them. Pace of play was a tad slow, but not unbearable. It didn't help that a twosome jumped in front of our threesome at the turn, and we had no idea where they had come from.

We got a few sprinkles on the front nine, but otherwise the weather was acceptable, and the sun eventually poked out.

Had another great round, shooting 2 over. I started with a birdie on #1, holing out a sweet flop shot from hardpan behind the green. I was simply hoping to get the ball close, as the pin was in the back, and sloped away fairly quick. A bogie on #2 was my only blemish on the front, as I parred my way to the turn. The 2nd best shot of the day, which was *this* close to being the best shot of the day, was my 9 iron tee shot on the par 3 17th. The ball landed 3 feet right of the pin, spun left, and hit the flag stick. Of course it didn't go in, but bounced 12 inches away from the hole for a kick in birdie. So close.

Overall it was a nice round at a decent muni. I can't argue over $41 (non-resident) to walk 18 on a Sunday morning. The course is fairly straightforward, with no gimmicks, and OK conditioning. I can't say I'd go out of my way to play it again, but if I lived in the area, I would certainly play there on occasion.

[DavePelz4]

Played Blackstone today. Excellent condition as always, a bit slow pace but enjoyable. There was a 5 hole stretch on the back where the mosquitoes and ticks were really bad.

And no Adam, I wasn't in the woods but shockingly in the fairway during that stretch. Think a pint of blood was donated. Although it's a great track, won't go back until after a hard frost.

[jimwgt26]

So, we called an audible today. Our original plan was to play in Indiana, and hit the 18th Street Brewery in Gary on the way home. Mother Nature didn't cooperate, so we went WI, and played Brown Deer instead. After golf, we enjoyed our fair share of Spotted Cows at a few of Milwaukee's finest establishments. The day started a little hazy and humid, but by the 7th or 8th hole, the sun came out, and the weather was perfect. For $75, Brown Deer is an amazing deal. It's a great layout, and in really good shape. The greens are as good as any. If BD was within an hour of Chicago, it would easily get $125.

[Chicago Lefty]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1439164504' post='12107140']
Played Blackstone today. Excellent condition as always, a bit slow pace but enjoyable. There was a 5 hole stretch on the back where the mosquitoes and ticks were really bad.

And no Adam, I wasn't in the woods but shockingly in the fairway during that stretch. Think a pint of blood was donated. Although it's a great track, won't go back until after a hard frost.
[/quote]

Did you post?

[Chicago Lefty]

Played Gleaneagles in a scramble yesterday. That's about all I have to say about that place.

[stasek]

Oh, come on! What's not to like about the site of 2014 Ryder Cup????

[apprenti23]

Big fan of Brown Deer- lived there for a year with the wife on the border of brown deer and whitefish bay. We really enjoyed Milwaukee north area. Tons of fun courses, restaurants, and night life including brown deer (past host of the GMO) and Milwaukee CC is definitely in my top 10 GOAT.

[Chicago Joe]

[quote name='Chicago Lefty' timestamp='1439172242' post='12107768']
Played Gleaneagles in a scramble yesterday. That's about all I have to say about that place.
[/quote]
Played in that scramble too. It's actually my Union golf outing.

[zer0]

Hockey team outing at lake Bluff yesterday, just 8 of us. They had their club championship the same day so the course was in great shape. Unfortunately they also decided to not have a beverage cart for some idiotic reason. Not a good idea with a bunch of thirsty hockey players on the course. We finally went on strike on #7 and refused to move until someone from the clubhouse drove a case of beer on ice out to us. 5 minutes later we had our beer and all was good. We had a blast, two man teams, rotated 4 somes every 6 holes so you played with everyone. Each person had a handful of beat up balls we started calling "people hitting balls" and it only took till hole #4 before those started flying back and forth between the two groups. It gets a little unnerving standing over a putt and balls are raining in from the group behind you...just like its hard to hit a tee shot with a group on an adjacent tee launching wedges at you from 100 yards away. Didn't help that I made a rule this year that you could take a stroke off your score if you hit someone. Nothing topped hole 18, right next to the driving range. the second group must've felt like they were storming the beaches at Normandy with all the high speed projectiles flying over their heads. We were lucky to be the only ones out there so thankfully no one except ourselves were exposed to our shenanegins.

Had a lesson this morning with old high school buddy who's a golf pro. Trying to get this driver thing figured out. He's got me with a new grip which feels like the club is gonna fly out of my hand and I have no control over it. Also decided I bought the wrong driver. Turns out my driver swing speed has gone down about 10-12 mph in the past couple years and Im at about 85 mph. My current driver is stiff, I need to start looking at regular flex. Gonna try and pick up a used driver for cheap and see how I do with it before making the plunge.

Aftewards took the wife to Deerfield, $30 on Golfnow. Weather held up, caught a little rain for all of 5 minutes towards the end of the round. Randomly got paired up with a former hockey teammate and his wife so that worked out well. I decided to keep the driver in the bag, play the blue tees (6200) and just hit hybrids. Results were so so. Shot an 84 with my usual triple bogey blowup on #7. Hit some really nice iron shots, but most of my day was spent hitting hybrids as usual. 21 hybrid shots, 13 of them good. Pretty inconsistent. some really bad misses...topped one 12 feet left into a pond. Highlight of the round was the wife holing out from 70 yards with a full PW. That was one of her two goals going into the season, the other being she wants to beat a buddy of mine who isn't very good.

5 straight days of golf including a 5 hour round at Ruffled, a 6.5 hours scramble on Friday and then a scramble s*** show yesterday. I was dragging a bit on the course today, definitely gonna take a day or two off.

[Chicago Lefty]

[quote name='Chicago Joe' timestamp='1439176874' post='12108130']
[quote name='Chicago Lefty' timestamp='1439172242' post='12107768']
Played Gleaneagles in a scramble yesterday. That's about all I have to say about that place.
[/quote]
Played in that scramble too. It's actually my Union golf outing.
[/quote]

Nice, I played with my father in law and brother who are both in local 9. The ribs were ridiculous!

I won the long drive and my brother in law won a 40" Samsung. There was an insane amount of raffle prizes.

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='Chicago Lefty' timestamp='1439171002' post='12107664']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1439164504' post='12107140']
Played Blackstone today. Excellent condition as always, a bit slow pace but enjoyable. There was a 5 hole stretch on the back where the mosquitoes and ticks were really bad.

And no Adam, I wasn't in the woods but shockingly in the fairway during that stretch. Think a pint of blood was donated. Although it's a great track, won't go back until after a hard frost.
[/quote]

Did you post?
[/quote]

Yes sir...37 mosquito bites, 2 ticks, 1 embarrassing drive and too many strokes.

[VNutz]

[quote name='Chicago Lefty' timestamp='1439172242' post='12107768']
Played Gleaneagles in a scramble yesterday. That's about all I have to say about that place.
[/quote]

I played that course often as a kid, I think it was a popular place for outings with the 2 18s. So I always have a certain appreciation for that course, playing it somewhat recently it seems so short and easy now, nothing like it was as a kid. Pretty sure that's the first course I broke 80 on, can't remember for sure though.

[quote name='jimwgt26' timestamp='1439168415' post='12107466']
So, we called an audible today. Our original plan was to play in Indiana, and hit the 18th Street Brewery in Gary on the way home. Mother Nature didn't cooperate, so we went WI, and played Brown Deer instead. After golf, we enjoyed our fair share of Spotted Cows at a few of Milwaukee's finest establishments. The day started a little hazy and humid, but by the 7th or 8th hole, the sun came out, and the weather was perfect. For $75, Brown Deer is an amazing deal. It's a great layout, and in really good shape. The greens are as good as any. If BD was within an hour of Chicago, it would easily get $125.
[/quote]

I went to the GMO, or whatever it was at the end of its life (Maybe the US Bank Championship) when they put it opposite the British Open. Seemed like a really fun course with lots of trees, beautiful setting. I've always wanted to get back but it's just that far away that I haven't done it yet.

[Chicago Lefty]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1439211346' post='12109228']
[quote name='Chicago Lefty' timestamp='1439171002' post='12107664']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1439164504' post='12107140']
Played Blackstone today. Excellent condition as always, a bit slow pace but enjoyable. There was a 5 hole stretch on the back where the mosquitoes and ticks were really bad.

And no Adam, I wasn't in the woods but shockingly in the fairway during that stretch. Think a pint of blood was donated. Although it's a great track, won't go back until after a hard frost.
[/quote]

Did you post?
[/quote]

Yes sir...37 mosquito bites, 2 ticks, 1 embarrassing drive and too many strokes.
[/quote]

Only 1 embarrassing drive? Sounds like your game is coming around...

[dhartmann34]

Playing The Ravines at Cog Hill Saturday and then the Club at Strawberry Creek next Wednesday. Should be a good couple of rounds.

[jimwgt26]

[quote name='VNutz' timestamp='1439215492' post='12109584'][quote name='Chicago Lefty' timestamp='1439172242' post='12107768']
Played Gleaneagles in a scramble yesterday. That's about all I have to say about that place.
[/quote]

I played that course often as a kid, I think it was a popular place for outings with the 2 18s. So I always have a certain appreciation for that course, playing it somewhat recently it seems so short and easy now, nothing like it was as a kid. Pretty sure that's the first course I broke 80 on, can't remember for sure though.

[quote name='jimwgt26' timestamp='1439168415' post='12107466']
So, we called an audible today. Our original plan was to play in Indiana, and hit the 18th Street Brewery in Gary on the way home. Mother Nature didn't cooperate, so we went WI, and played Brown Deer instead. After golf, we enjoyed our fair share of Spotted Cows at a few of Milwaukee's finest establishments. The day started a little hazy and humid, but by the 7th or 8th hole, the sun came out, and the weather was perfect. For $75, Brown Deer is an amazing deal. It's a great layout, and in really good shape. The greens are as good as any. If BD was within an hour of Chicago, it would easily get $125.
[/quote]

I went to the GMO, or whatever it was at the end of its life (Maybe the US Bank Championship) when they put it opposite the British Open. Seemed like a really fun course with lots of trees, beautiful setting. I've always wanted to get back but it's just that far away that I haven't done it yet.[/quote]

The drive back and forth isn't too bad. Took us an hour and a half.

[Dpuneil]

Played The new Prospect Golf Club on Friday and was pleasantly surprised.

There are others surely more qualified than me to comment specifically on a before/after for some of the holes, but I thought Esler did a great job. The course is challenging without feeling claustrophobic (several fairways were widened) and the greens were in fine shape all the way around. The varied length of the par 3s and 4s was well received (a couple of 440+ and 200+). Lots of places to grip and rip, but also a few to employ some strategery. No tricked up or stupid holes Out there either (paging Art Hills). There were a few ground under repair spots in the fairways but I expect those to be temporary.

Most importantly, they are currently doing 10 minute intervals with tee times and only charging $41 for non residents to walk on a Friday afternoon. If that keeps up, it will surely become a go to for me given its location near my office.

I play at Schaumburg quite a lot, which I like, but this is closer and comparable in quality.

[Argonne69]

[quote name='Dpuneil' timestamp='1439220285' post='12110082']
Played The new Prospect Golf Club on Friday and was pleasantly surprised.

There are others surely more qualified than me to comment specifically on a before/after for some of the holes, but I thought Esler did a great job. The course is challenging without feeling claustrophobic (several fairways were widened) and the greens were in fine shape all the way around. The varied length of the par 3s and 4s was well received (a couple of 440+ and 200+). Lots of places to grip and rip, but also a few to employ some strategery. No tricked up or stupid holes Out there either (paging Art Hills). There were a few ground under repair spots in the fairways but I expect those to be temporary.

Most importantly, they are currently doing 10 minute intervals with tee times and only charging $41 for non residents to walk on a Friday afternoon. If that keeps up, it will surely become a go to for me given its location near my office.

I play at Schaumburg quite a lot, which I like, but this is closer and comparable in quality.
[/quote]

How receptive were the greens? When Wilmette reopened last year the greens were like pool tables. They've softened a bit this year, and should be very nice by next season.

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='Chicago Lefty' timestamp='1439218046' post='12109834']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1439211346' post='12109228']
[quote name='Chicago Lefty' timestamp='1439171002' post='12107664']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1439164504' post='12107140']
Played Blackstone today. Excellent condition as always, a bit slow pace but enjoyable. There was a 5 hole stretch on the back where the mosquitoes and ticks were really bad.

And no Adam, I wasn't in the woods but shockingly in the fairway during that stretch. Think a pint of blood was donated. Although it's a great track, won't go back until after a hard frost.
[/quote]

Did you post?
[/quote]

Yes sir...37 mosquito bites, 2 ticks, 1 embarrassing drive and too many strokes.
[/quote]

Only 1 embarrassing drive? Sounds like your game is coming around...
[/quote]

The embarrassing drive was the one to the course.