Chicago - Best Starting/Finishing Holes

[mci711]

I would nominate Makray. 1 is a pretty demanding start, mid length par 4. And 18 is a fun par 5 with water/trouble.

[OGrads13]

Might not be a popular opinion, but I really enjoy the 18th at Rolling Green. Dogleg right par 4, tight window off the tee and a long iron/hybrid into a guarded green.

[Shriner]

My favorite 1st: Foxford Hills. I like a nice, open tee shot to get into a round. Fairly open fairway with a green that is virtually unprotected by hazards.

 

My favorite 18th: Bowes Creek for all the reasons already mentioned. Sure is fun standing on that tee box.

[matt70286]

While it’s been a while since I’ve played it, I thought Palatine Hills 18th hole was a tough one. Some people hate it since it takes driver out of play but I find it challenging and interesting.

[DavePelz4]

While it's been a while since I've played it, I thought Palatine Hills 18th hole was a tough one. Some people hate it since it takes driver out of play but I find it challenging and interesting.

 

Not a huge fan of the 18th at PH but agree that it's tough. It's not the best green and hitting a layup on 18 seems a wacky way to finish a round. Finishing on 9 would be more appropriate with a difficult tee shot, protected green, etc.

[Argonne69]

What's the definition of best? Hardest? Most challenging risk/reward? Easiest (for starting a round)?

 

I'll start by nominating everybody's least favorite course, Lost Marsh, for best starting hole. The 1st is a short par 4 playing from an elevated tee with great views of the surrounding area. It temps you to hit a wood or driver, but the smart play is to simply poke a long iron out into the fairway, and play for par. Bite off too much, or pull/block a longer club, and you're in the pond. 'Not a good way to start the round with the tough front nine.

 

 

Lost Marsh #1 is a fine choice. However, this is the very first time I’ve seen the industrial wasteland surroundings described as a ‘great view’. Kinda like saying Harborside has great views. ;)

 

Lol. You have to keep in mind that this is the Midwest, one of the flattest places in the country next to Florida. I get excited by the views from the Chicago Skyway Bridge over the Calumet River. Anything over 20 feet high is noteworthy!

 

[Argonne69]

I got a chance to play the newly renovated Sunset Valley a few weeks back, and I have to say that the 1st hole is still pretty bad. I hit 3 wood off the tee, and still managed to find the pond on the left.

 

[geochitown]

IIRC, the 18th at Chalet Hills is no pussycat.

 

I'd say 18 at Chalet would be better as a par 4. (I think it's the lessor of the two nine's closing holes, as 9 is a better hole).

on the 9th, you have to choose how much water you should carry (gives one pause). On 18, there is an option to bail out right from water hazard on the left.

 

Changing 18 from a par 5 to par 4 would reduce the par on back 9 from 37 to 36 also!

[geochitown]

While it's been a while since I've played it, I thought Palatine Hills 18th hole was a tough one. Some people hate it since it takes driver out of play but I find it challenging and interesting.

 

Not a huge fan of the 18th at PH but agree that it's tough. It's not the best green and hitting a layup on 18 seems a wacky way to finish a round. Finishing on 9 would be more appropriate with a difficult tee shot, protected green, etc.

 

18 isn't ideal, but you can hit your drive right on 9 and still have a decent line into the green from right rough, 1st fairway.

 

At least on 18, if you aren't aggressive (foolish) on your drive and don't go for at little sliver of fwy before the creek, you'll have a mid iron, at least into that tough green (overhanging trees don't help).

 

I wish they'd have done something dramatic at Palatine Hills to redo, 1 and 9 (they could have made it a lot more special).

 

Tear out all of the trees between 1 and 9, push 9 fairway out into the 1st hole (change first hole so that it plays up what used to be a practice hole (now new practice area or foot golf, could have had a cool dogleg right par 4 for the opener.

 

Our company has had a league there which plays both nines, and the matches were always more dramatic with 16-18 as finishers rather than 7-9.

[TheBear95]

I got a chance to play the newly renovated Sunset Valley a few weeks back, and I have to say that the 1st hole is still pretty bad. I hit 3 wood off the tee, and still managed to find the pond on the left.

 

Agree. Its a nice hole, but a horrible opener. And, the fix is so easy. A simple re-routing, using the current #8 as the 1st and then proceed from there solves the problem. And, it makes the longer par 5, #7, the closer on the front, which I see as a positive as well.

[TheBear95]

IIRC, the 18th at Chalet Hills is no pussycat.

 

I'd say 18 at Chalet would be better as a par 4. (I think it's the lessor of the two nine's closing holes, as 9 is a better hole).

on the 9th, you have to choose how much water you should carry (gives one pause). On 18, there is an option to bail out right from water hazard on the left.

 

Changing 19 from a par 5 to par 4 would reduce the par on back 9 from 37 to 36 also!

 

A change to a par 4 would make that #18 at Chalet the toughest closing hole in Chicagoland, in my opinion.

[geochitown]

IIRC, the 18th at Chalet Hills is no pussycat.

 

I'd say 18 at Chalet would be better as a par 4. (I think it's the lessor of the two nine's closing holes, as 9 is a better hole).

on the 9th, you have to choose how much water you should carry (gives one pause). On 18, there is an option to bail out right from water hazard on the left.

 

Changing 19 from a par 5 to par 4 would reduce the par on back 9 from 37 to 36 also!

 

A change to a par 4 would make that #18 at Chalet the toughest closing hole in Chicagoland, in my opinion.

 

potentially...it would be a bit like Highlands of Elgin #11 then...but tougher because Chalet's 18 is narrower for the approach.

[DavePelz4]

IIRC, the 18th at Chalet Hills is no pussycat.

 

I'd say 18 at Chalet would be better as a par 4. (I think it's the lessor of the two nine's closing holes, as 9 is a better hole).

on the 9th, you have to choose how much water you should carry (gives one pause). On 18, there is an option to bail out right from water hazard on the left.

 

Changing 19 from a par 5 to par 4 would reduce the par on back 9 from 37 to 36 also!

 

A change to a par 4 would make that #18 at Chalet the toughest closing hole in Chicagoland, in my opinion.

 

potentially...it would be a bit like Highlands of Elgin #11 then...but tougher because Chalet's 18 is narrower for the approach.

 

I'm probably one of the few stupid people that really likes 11. Depending on the wind, you can play the hole very safely on the right or if you're hitting the ball well, be really aggressive. Walking off that green with a 4 is a win.

[Qball24]

I could do a top 5 for these. Think my #2 fav is prarie landings closer. Best finishing hole on an otherwise average course? Waters edge or poplar creek.

[Argonne69]

I'd say Prairie Landing is much more than an average course. It's not Top 10 in the area, but certainly top 20.

[DavePelz4]

I could do a top 5 for these. Think my #2 fav is prarie landings closer. Best finishing hole on an otherwise average course? Waters edge or poplar creek.

 

Hmmm...are you talking the current 18th at PC or before they flipped the 9's?

[ldchristopher]

I prefer an opener that makes par a very attainable score but really makes you work for birdie. Closing holes should be challenging but fair. In other words, void of gimmicks. I love the opener and closer at Highlands of Elgin because they both fit firmly in this criteria. I'm aware of the fact that the scorecard says they both are the exact same length. However, with one going downhill and the other uphill, they have about a 1.5 or two club difference on the approach shot. Now, are these my favorite opener and closer in the area? With a GEM like Lost Marsh in the area?

 

I also like the opener and closer at Blackstone. The first hole is pretty easy (maybe too easy) but I've never birdied it and 18 is, in my opinion, excellent. It's tough, long, but fair and with a very cool green complex.

[Qball24]

I'd say Prairie Landing is much more than an average course. It's not Top 10 in the area, but certainly top 20.

 

Yeah my comment referred to the other two courses in my post.

 

I prefer an opener that makes par a very attainable score but really makes you work for birdie. Closing holes should be challenging but fair. In other words, void of gimmicks. I love the opener and closer at Highlands of Elgin because they both fit firmly in this criteria. I'm aware of the fact that the scorecard says they both are the exact same length. However, with one going downhill and the other uphill, they have about a 1.5 or two club difference on the approach shot. Now, are these my favorite opener and closer in the area? With a GEM like Lost Marsh in the area?

 

I also like the opener and closer at Blackstone. The first hole is pretty easy (maybe too easy) but I've never birdied it and 18 is, in my opinion, excellent. It's tough, long, but fair and with a very cool green complex.

 

Agree with everything you said about Blackstone

[Gdane]

No votes for the opening hole at Tanna Farms??

 

Where's that sarcasm button?

[DavePelz4]

No votes for the opening hole at Tanna Farms??

 

Where's that sarcasm button?

 

Cue BMan...

[PuttCurseRepeat]

Interesting thread, kind of.

 

I have a harder time picking openers than closers. I used to like #1 and #18 at Mistwood before they changed #1 to the hole with the diagonal creek in the lz. I liked how approaching the tee area, it was tiered and everything nicely framed by ''fescue''. I didn't mind that the landing area was blind from the tee - it set the table nicely for the round ahead.

 

Other #1's:

 

Chicago Highlands - The uniterrupted ribbon of tee ground to the generous fairway. Tricky approach to a smallish, sloped green - especially as your drive goes further right.

 

GDN

 

#18's:

 

Butler

Dubs

Bowes

Heritage Bluffs

[ldchristopher]

Interesting thread, kind of.

 

I have a harder time picking openers than closers. I used to like #1 and #18 at Mistwood before they changed #1 to the hole with the diagonal creek in the lz. I liked how approaching the tee area, it was tiered and everything nicely framed by ''fescue''. I didn't mind that the landing area was blind from the tee - it set the table nicely for the round ahead.

 

Other #1's:

 

Chicago Highlands - The uniterrupted ribbon of tee ground to the generous fairway. Tricky approach to a smallish, sloped green - especially as your drive goes further right.

 

GDN

 

#18's:

 

Butler

Dubs

Bowes

Heritage Bluffs

I didn’t consider private clubs but, agreed, the opener at Chicago Highlands is excellent. The first four holes there are among my favorite ways to start a round, and I always thought 18 as a long 4 would be a killer way to close. As a short 5 it’s kind of pedestrian though.

[zer0]

I think my favorite opener is Shepherd's Crook. Great warm up hole for a course that doesn't have a range

 

Also like: HOE, Deerfield

 

Openers I don't like:

Glencoe

Waters Edge

[Argonne69]

Yeah, Glencoe's opening hole is tougher than the scorecard would indicate. It's only 382 yards, but plays uphill, and usually into a headwind. If one plays a draw, the slight bend to the right often means one is in the trees on the left. Someone playing a fade has to deal with the large evergreens on the right, and the range. The range doesn't allow one to hit more than an iron, so a driver on the 1st tee is the first one of the day. The green has an almost imperceptible slope back to front that can lead one to roll downhill putts off the front of the green. I know I'm imagining it, but I swear the green is always faster than any other green on the course.

 

I've played the course 40+ times, and I believe I have two birdies, and a whole lotta bogies.

[@_the_crook]

I think my favorite opener is Shepherd's Crook. Great warm up hole for a course that doesn't have a range

 

Also like: HOE, Deerfield

 

Openers I don't like:

Glencoe

Waters Edge

 

c'mon?

 

haven't you ever busted one across Green Bay Road just for fun?

 

or if you have the first tee time, hit number one tee box a half hour early with a small bag of practice balls just before sunrise and shoot a few down fairway one and pick 'em back up after your group tees off.

(have done just that)

[Argonne69]

I've stopped using the range at Glencoe after I got yelled at for hitting a 6 hybrid. Yeah, a 6h. The course worked screamed at me that fairway woods weren't allowed. I kindly told him it was a hybrid, the same as a 5 iron, but he was having none of that. He must have recently arrived from Pluto.

[Schley]

I like #18 at OFCC North Course.

[psygolf]

Great starting & finishing holes on both 9's at Big Run.

[Schley]

Great starting & finishing holes on both 9's at Big Run.

The legendary Big Run! Tough track and grew up in awe of it after my dad would scare the crap out of me with stories of the par 5 double dogleg 600 yards!

[Argonne69]

I didn't think there was much love for the 1st at Big Run. Without a range to warm up on, the 1st while shortish, is too tight. I don't recall ever hitting the fairway. Punch outs from the trees are no way to start a round.