Golf Trip to Chicago...suggestions?

[YoungJedi]

Hello all,

 

I know it's a long ways away, but one of my good friends and I are planning on going down to the Bettinardi Social in 2016 (usually around Father's day). Looking to get things straight so we know how much to save up :)

 

We plan on coming down a few days early from Minneapolis, MN to play some sweet tracks! Looking to see if any of you have some solid suggestions.

 

We have some connections, so we can get on some sweet courses, and we are looking to play some elite courses, but definitely looking for a balance, because we want to be able to spend some cash at the Social on a putter, or some head covers, tools, etc...

 

Looking to play 3 days...

 

Here are some thoughts that we have originally, but completely open to suggestions!

Probably coming from the SW of Chicago, and hoping to keep it close. We'll likely be staying in Wheaton one night, then end up crashing near Tinley Park.

 

 

List so far:

TPC Deere Run

Cantigny

Medinah ...#3?

Possibly Chicago Country Club (seeing if we have a connection or not)

Probably Olympia Fields North (apart of the social)

 

Anything good or bad to say about these? Better suggestions?

 

Thanks all!

[Argonne69]

Can't go wrong with that list, especially CCC. TPC is 3 hours west, so it's a tad out of the way. I'm a fan of Cog Hill's Dubsdread. Others will likely suggest Highlands of Elgin. Since there are private clubs on your list, Chicago Highlands may be worth checking out.

[DavePelz4]

Depending on your route, you might consider playing a great course or two in Wisconsin, possibly the Lake Geneva area. You could then go a bit south into Illinois and play Oak Grove which is an Audobon preserve and one of the nicest, unknown courses in IL. If you come down on the western part of IL and play Deere Run, you could stop in Galena before and play the General which is one of the best courses in IL and the scenery is awesome. That's a nice day or two right there.

No offense, but without the right connection, you're not likely to get on Chicago Golf Club. That membership list is limited to about 125 or so. If you can get on Medinah, you might consider the re-done course #1. We played it for the first time since the redesign and it was awesome.

[VNutz]

I assume by Chicago Country Club you mean Chicago Golf Club? If so, that's about as elite as you can get and is in Wheaton so that would be perfect for that night. Otherwise there are some great private clubs out that direction but without as big of a name, like Rich Harvest Farms, and Blacksheep, if you have connections. For public out that way Cantigny is beautiful. I like the setting more than the course, but it's a good play. Butler is also a great private course if you can get on it. I've heard differing opinions on Chicago Highlands, some purists I know weren't big fans.

On the SW side there are a ton of fantastic private clubs if you have access to them. Beverly, Ridge, Flossmore, Idlewild, Midlothian, Crystal Tree, etc. You almost have to start with what you've got access to and narrow it down from there.

As to public, there are loads of good public courses, but it sounds like private is more to your liking.

[VNutz]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1447260448' post='12584334']
No offense, but without the right connection, you're not likely to get on Chicago Golf Club.
[/quote]

And even with the right (paid) connection, you might not actually get on...

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='VNutz' timestamp='1447261176' post='12584392']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1447260448' post='12584334']
No offense, but without the right connection, you're not likely to get on Chicago Golf Club.
[/quote]

And even with the right (paid) connection, you might not actually get on...
[/quote]

Agreed. But I'm looking at this with Chicago Golf Club, The Old Course at St. Andrews and a few rounds at Medinah as being a nice foundation to a 2016 golf season. Now i just need to figure out how to hit a golf ball less times per round.

[Argonne69]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1447261904' post='12584446']
[quote name='VNutz' timestamp='1447261176' post='12584392']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1447260448' post='12584334']
No offense, but without the right connection, you're not likely to get on Chicago Golf Club.
[/quote]

And even with the right (paid) connection, you might not actually get on...
[/quote]

Agreed. But I'm looking at this with Chicago Golf Club, The Old Course at St. Andrews and a few rounds at Medinah as being a nice foundation to a 2016 golf season. Now i just need to figure out how to hit a golf ball less times per round.
[/quote]

Play 9 holes. 'Problem solved.

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='Argonne69' timestamp='1447262313' post='12584480']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1447261904' post='12584446']
[quote name='VNutz' timestamp='1447261176' post='12584392']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1447260448' post='12584334']
No offense, but without the right connection, you're not likely to get on Chicago Golf Club.
[/quote]

And even with the right (paid) connection, you might not actually get on...
[/quote]

Agreed. But I'm looking at this with Chicago Golf Club, The Old Course at St. Andrews and a few rounds at Medinah as being a nice foundation to a 2016 golf season. Now i just need to figure out how to hit a golf ball less times per round.
[/quote]

Play 9 holes. 'Problem solved.
[/quote]

As compared to last year, it wouldn't help.

[UCBananaboy]

If you can play Chicago Highlands, I would highly recommend it. #10 is such a unique short hole.

Also - color me jealous that you could get on Medinah!

[apprenti23]

Medina #1 may possibly be a better golf course than #3 now...

Good luck with Chicago Golf! Hope you can play there, I've always wanted to. But since you mentioned that you may as well try to get on other big name courses such as Bob O'Link, Black Sheep, Old Elm, Shore Acres, and Butler.

Definitely some great lists mentioned, can't really go wrong with anything posted above nor the other 100 private clubs in the area.

[YoungJedi]

Thank you all for the suggestions! We'll definitely take them into account and see what we can do!

Appreciate your comments!

[geochitown]

for public between Wheaton and Tinley Park, maybe consider Mistwood, but Cog #4 is worth a play if you haven't played it before...
I've heard Flossmoor is pretty amazing on the private side

same architect involved in Flossmoor renovation and Mistwood, Ray Hearn

[Hack1]

I have a connection to Olympia Fields and Chicago Highlands, but it requires an interview first.

Seriously though, what type of courses suit your eye?

I second Mistwood as a must play.

[apprenti23]

[quote name='Hack1' timestamp='1447296284' post='12587134']
I second Mistwood as a must play.
[/quote]

Strongly disagree! Good course and nice facility but NOT a must play! Probably 25 courses better than Mistwood.

[HighSpeedScene]

If you have connections, get on any of these:

Shoreacres
North Shore
Beverly
Olympia Fields
Knollwood
Medinah
Chicago Golf
Butler
Exmoor
Bobolink
Old Elm

Of those, special nods to Chicago Golf, shoreacres, north shore, bobo

[YoungJedi]

It's a little of a toss up, but my buddy and I both love a challenge. He is a member out at Windsong Farm in Minnesota. We play from the tips out there and they are currently renovating to get it up to 7800 from the tips.

I'm a member at Thumper Pond in northern minnesota. Course was carved out of a pine tree farm, so the course is lined by pine trees, and has many water hazards.

We both hit the ball far, and He actually was training for long drive contests.

so basically, anything challenging and beautiful

We have connections because of his membership at Windsong....

[Thunder Dan]

Chicago Golf Club might be one of the hardest course to get on it the country, if not the hardest. I've lived in Chicago for nearly 6 years and have yet to meet a member, or someone who knows a member to that place. I've met only one person who has played it and it was only because of a circumstance that most of us will never be afforded (he is a PGA pro) From what I hear, there are only like 50 something members to that club that are in the Chicago area. Just saying that if you really wanted to play it, you better start now with the networking

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='Thunder Dan' timestamp='1447785820' post='12611034']
Chicago Golf Club might be one of the hardest course to get on it the country, if not the hardest. I've lived in Chicago for nearly 6 years and have yet to meet a member, or someone who knows a member to that place. I've met only one person who has played it and it was only because of a circumstance that most of us will never be afforded (he is a PGA pro) From what I hear, there are only like 50 something members to that club that are in the Chicago area. Just saying that if you really wanted to play it, you better start now with the networking
[/quote]

A couple of us actually won a silent auction to play it for a very reasonable cost. However, the member hasn't been available to play since June. The good news is we should be able to play it in 2016 right before or after a trip to Scotland to play St. Andrews.

[devey07]

Obviously a mojority of the best golf in chicago is private, but if you need a filler course, check out thunderhawk up north.

[businessclass]

Chicago Golf Club might be one of the hardest course to get on it the country, if not the hardest. I've lived in Chicago for nearly 6 years and have yet to meet a member, or someone who knows a member to that place. I've met only one person who has played it and it was only because of a circumstance that most of us will never be afforded (he is a PGA pro) From what I hear, there are only like 50 something members to that club that are in the Chicago area. Just saying that if you really wanted to play it, you better start now with the networking

 

A couple of us actually won a silent auction to play it for a very reasonable cost. However, the member hasn't been available to play since June. The good news is we should be able to play it in 2016 right before or after a trip to Scotland to play St. Andrews.

 

Just curious, what auction was it?

[scott19]

Give Harborside International a look. Worth the twilight price for sure.

[DavePelz4]

Chicago Golf Club might be one of the hardest course to get on it the country, if not the hardest. I've lived in Chicago for nearly 6 years and have yet to meet a member, or someone who knows a member to that place. I've met only one person who has played it and it was only because of a circumstance that most of us will never be afforded (he is a PGA pro) From what I hear, there are only like 50 something members to that club that are in the Chicago area. Just saying that if you really wanted to play it, you better start now with the networking

 

A couple of us actually won a silent auction to play it for a very reasonable cost. However, the member hasn't been available to play since June. The good news is we should be able to play it in 2016 right before or after a trip to Scotland to play St. Andrews.

 

Just curious, what auction was it?

Apologies for the slow response. It was an auction for burn victims put on by an industry association.