Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[Shriner]

8 minutes ago, mci711 said:

 

Mt Prospect and Ravisloe may have the two best layouts of all the courses he mentioned. Conditioning wise they may be off but as far as design and the actual course they are great. 

 

I'm a little different in that I hate (strong word, I know) playing courses in subdivisions and/or surrounded by houses.  I guess that is what I meant by a different level of course.  I won't even play Mt. Prospect anymore, too much potential for disaster with the proximity of kids and houses on that course.  They just didn't have a lot of land to work with. 

 

Yes, Oak Meadows is excellent, good addition.

[Argonne69]

I'd add Prairie Landing, The Preserve, Blackstone, Pine Meadows, and Bowes Creek, and subtract Ruffled Feathers and Mt Prospect. Ravisloe belongs on the list because it's a solid Donald Ross design. Harborside Port probably earns a spot on the list. I prefer Starboard, but Port is no slouch for a first time visit.

 

Highlands, Bowes, and Blackstone make a good grouping due to their proximity. Pine Meadows, Thunderhawk, and Stonewall Orchard are a good grouping as well. 

 

[VNutz]

1 hour ago, RobYakes said:

Figured I'd throw a question to this Chicago group. Planning a buddies trip this summer to the city and we're looking at playing 3-5 rounds while we're there. Have done some research but wanted to see what you guys would pick for those rounds. Here's the courses I'm looking at. Did I miss any courses? Thanks

 

Cog Hill (Dubsdread) *this is the only must-play I have on the list so far*

Highlands of Elgin

Thunderhawk

Glen Club

Ravisloe

Cantigny

Stonewall Orchard

Ruffled Feathers

Mistwood

Haborside (Starboard)

Mt Prospect

 

 

What's the "home base" for where you'll be staying? There's probably an hour plus between some of these courses, perhaps more with summer time traffic, assuming things ever go back to a pre-2020 normal.

 

IMO, if you want courses worthy of a destination trip and higher end courses I'd probably go with Cantigny, Mistwood and 1 of Highlands of Elgin/Blackstone/Bowes Creek. I've never played Thunderhawk so I cannot comment on that. I'd only do Harborside if I wanted a shorter commute as it's in the city, but otherwise meh. Stonewall is nice, but it'll be an hour drive. I'd probably skip Ravisloe or Ruffled Feathers, Ravisloe is a neat old school track but not worth going out of the way for IMO and traditionally has spotty conditions.

[VNutz]

23 minutes ago, Shriner said:

 

I'm a little different in that I hate (strong word, I know) playing courses in subdivisions and/or surrounded by houses.  I guess that is what I meant by a different level of course.  I won't even play Mt. Prospect anymore, too much potential for disaster with the proximity of kids and houses on that course.  They just didn't have a lot of land to work with. 

 

Yes, Oak Meadows is excellent, good addition.

Then you might want to reconsider Bowes Creek. I hadn't played there for a while until last year, and was really surprised by how much the housing is closing in around it. Really took away from the out in the middle of nowhere vibe it once had.

[RobYakes]

@Shriner @Argonne69 @mci711 @VNutzthanks for the input. Cost is no object, and we'll likely be staying in an AirBnb near North Side/Lincoln Park area. Within about an hour's drive is our plan. Fly in Wed night, play 18-36 Thurs, 18 Fri, and 18 Sun before flying out from ORD. Really interested in what 2-3 rounds would you play in addition to Dubsdread?

[VNutz]

4 minutes ago, RobYakes said:

@Shriner @Argonne69 @mci711 @VNutzthanks for the input. Cost is no object, and we'll likely be staying in an AirBnb near North Side/Lincoln Park area. Within about an hour's drive is our plan. Fly in Wed night, play 18-36 Thurs, 18 Fri, and 18 Sun before flying out from ORD. Really interested in what 2-3 rounds would you play in addition to Dubsdread?

I'd consider a Cog/Mistwood 36 hole day then, about 20-30 minutes apart.

 

Otherwise you could do 2 of the 3 of Highlands of Elgin, Blackstone or Bowes Creek as they are pretty close together, or even do Bowes "Member for a day" and play as much as possible.

[mci711]

10 minutes ago, RobYakes said:

@Shriner @Argonne69 @mci711 @VNutzthanks for the input. Cost is no object, and we'll likely be staying in an AirBnb near North Side/Lincoln Park area. Within about an hour's drive is our plan. Fly in Wed night, play 18-36 Thurs, 18 Fri, and 18 Sun before flying out from ORD. Really interested in what 2-3 rounds would you play in addition to Dubsdread?

I'd do 36 at Mistwood and Cantigny, Friday Cog Hill, Sunday - The Preserve @ Oak Meadows because A) it is one of my favorite course B)close to O'Hare.

 

Logistically - it isn't easy unless you are staying out west or north for a golf trip in the area. You'll be driving a lot and you'll want to avoid any rush hour driving. You could pair cog hill with Mistwood or Cantigny, but I was thinking since it is your must paly maybe you play that on an 18 day and be the highlight. 

Edited February 17, 2021 by mci711

[Argonne69]

In theory Harborside makes for an easy 36 hole day, but the courses are so similar that you'd get bored half way through the 2nd round. I think playing two courses near each other would be better. 

[Dashfast]

@RobYakesOther than Dubsdread, I’d do Mistwood and The Glen Club. Perhaps Highlands of Elgin + Bowes Creek too.

 

Glen Club and Mistwood are my two favorite courses in the Chicagoland area.

[DavePelz4]

Ironically, having played it a few times, I wouldn't have Dubs on the must play list. It has name recognition and the conditions are generally above average but the design isn't among the best in Chicago.  If the layout is important, I'd give strong consideration to Cantigny (27 holes and you could spend a day there), The Highlands of Elgin, Mistwood, Blackstone, Prairie Landing and Whitetail Ridge. Lots of variety in those options and you'd have a fun trip.

[VNutz]

1 hour ago, DavePelz4 said:

Ironically, having played it a few times, I wouldn't have Dubs on the must play list. It has name recognition and the conditions are generally above average but the design isn't among the best in Chicago.  If the layout is important, I'd give strong consideration to Cantigny (27 holes and you could spend a day there), The Highlands of Elgin, Mistwood, Blackstone, Prairie Landing and Whitetail Ridge. Lots of variety in those options and you'd have a fun trip.

Come on, coming from the city there's no need to go to Yorkville. Unless they want a different hotel stay.

[Argonne69]

Bah. Dubs should definitely be on a must play list if one hasn't played it before. It's about as solid a test as one can get. Punishing fairway bunkers if one's driver is off. Deep greenside bunkers. Tough greens. Plenty of trees to mess with you. The par 5 9th is certainly in the top five toughest par 5s in the area. 

 

You've got the isolation. No homes along the course, and little road noise. Plenty of elevation change (for the area). Pace is generally pretty good, as the tee sheet isn't jammed with hacks. 

 

Pricey? Yes. Three of the par 3s play to similar lengths. Could use a couple of short par 4s, but it was built before that became a "thing". Conditions aren't what they used to be, but it's no goat track. Next to The Glen Club it's my 2nd favorite course in the area. 

[geochitown]

For a little easier drive, I’d consider the Preserve at Oak Meadows. That could be paired with 18 at schaumburg

 

Schaumburg is 27 holes and was just renovated 

[geochitown]

I like the dubs idea, but I’d say play mistwood in the am and then dubs in the pm

Edited February 18, 2021 by geochitown

[geochitown]

Another idea would be Pine Meadow combined with White Deer Run

 

or shepherds crook in Zion followed by 18 at Thunderhawk 

 

 

[B-Man]

The Glen Club is in my top 5. Probably coz I ripped the back 9 apart. Only played it once. In November. The front 9 is tough but the back 9 is quite short and generous.

[geochitown]

I’ll agree on solidness of Glen club for one of your 18 hole days 

[VNutz]

2 hours ago, B-Man said:

The Glen Club is in my top 5. Probably coz I ripped the back 9 apart. Only played it once. In November. The front 9 is tough but the back 9 is quite short and generous.

Ho hum

[B-Man]

21 minutes ago, VNutz said:

Ho hum

Even better than that.

[Shriner]

18 hours ago, VNutz said:

Then you might want to reconsider Bowes Creek. I hadn't played there for a while until last year, and was really surprised by how much the housing is closing in around it. Really took away from the out in the middle of nowhere vibe it once had.

 

Bummer!  I noticed a few foundations going up two years ago.  I did not play it last year, sad to hear it is turning into a subdivision type course.

[Argonne69]

24 minutes ago, Shriner said:

 

Bummer!  I noticed a few foundations going up two years ago.  I did not play it last year, sad to hear it is turning into a subdivision type course.

 

Is it really going to be a subdivision type course, or a course with homes around it? If I recall the homes are set back quite a ways from the fairways and rough. When I think of subdivision courses I visualize the endless sea of cookie cutter courses that exist in the Sun City, AZ area with homes a few feet from the fairway.

[DavePelz4]

16 hours ago, VNutz said:

Come on, coming from the city there's no need to go to Yorkville. Unless they want a different hotel stay.

 

I've seen you drive Sir and you could probably make it in a half hour!

[VNutz]

52 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Is it really going to be a subdivision type course, or a course with homes around it? If I recall the homes are set back quite a ways from the fairways and rough. When I think of subdivision courses I visualize the endless sea of cookie cutter courses that exist in the Sun City, AZ area with homes a few feet from the fairway.

It's certainly nothing like a Ruffled Feathers or Klein Creek. There were always holes on the back 9, near 13 green and along 15 and 18 in particular, but the homes around and behind 12 tee are beginning to fill in. Also, the front 9 used to be primarily free of homes, but now the lake left of the 4th fairway is ringed with homes. They're not close, nobody inside 50 yards or so, but it's a bit different compared to how it used to look. Beyond that the area between holes 6 and 7, the kind of mound waste/lake area I believe will have homes as well.

[psygolf]

On 2/17/2021 at 1:12 PM, RobYakes said:

@Shriner @Argonne69 @mci711 @VNutzthanks for the input. Cost is no object, and we'll likely be staying in an AirBnb near North Side/Lincoln Park area. Within about an hour's drive is our plan. Fly in Wed night, play 18-36 Thurs, 18 Fri, and 18 Sun before flying out from ORD. Really interested in what 2-3 rounds would you play in addition to Dubsdread?

Since you’ll be in Lincoln Park, a late afternoon 9 along the lakefront at Marovitz is a must play.

[Argonne69]

12 hours ago, psygolf said:

Since you’ll be in Lincoln Park, a late afternoon 9 along the lakefront at Marovitz is a must play.

 

'No way I'd categorize it as "must play". If one only had time for nine holes before heading to the airport, them maybe. 'Problem is that nine holes could take 3 hours with the course's notorious slow pace. You'd be better playing the front nine at The Preserve, or at Schaumburg.

 

[mci711]

9 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

'No way I'd categorize it as "must play". If one only had time for nine holes before heading to the airport, them maybe. 'Problem is that nine holes could take 3 hours with the course's notorious slow pace. You'd be better playing the front nine at The Preserve, or at Schaumburg.

 

It is a neat place though. I've only played there once, because it was 40 degrees and windy when I played it and it took close to 3 hours. I also don't live in the city any more. I remember teeing off 1 next to the water and thinking how cool that little course could be with some TLC and $$. But yea, definitely not a must play. 

[geochitown]

The First Tee with Luke Donald and Lohmann Quitno broke ground on a practice facility at Marovitz, so that's nice.

 

The course has a neat urban setting, but I agree that I wouldn't call it a must play either for visitors.

 

Nice to if it's summer and you have time to kill (the people watching on some of the holes was fun).

 

 

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, mci711 said:

It is a neat place though. I've only played there once, because it was 40 degrees and windy when I played it and it took close to 3 hours. I also don't live in the city any more. I remember teeing off 1 next to the water and thinking how cool that little course could be with some TLC and $$. But yea, definitely not a must play. 

 

Yeah, I've learned to stay away when the weather is nice. 40 degrees, 20 mph winds, and a light rain make for a nice challenge, and a quick round. 

 

 

[B-Man]

The "creams" are running at about a 7 on the stimpmeter right now. Haven't been cut in eons!

 

😀

 

Edited February 19, 2021 by B-Man

[psygolf]

16 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

'No way I'd categorize it as "must play". If one only had time for nine holes before heading to the airport, them maybe. 'Problem is that nine holes could take 3 hours with the course's notorious slow pace. You'd be better playing the front nine at The Preserve, or at Schaumburg.

 

Used to be slow, I haven’t had a 3 hour rd out there in over 10 years, and I doubt anyone here has played it more than me (live across the drive from it for 20+ yrs), even a few rds under 2 hours last season.

 

...but you miss the point on already being downtown and squeezing in a great urban golf 9 hole experience before you hit the bars.