Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[MountainKing]

8 hours ago, propman said:

Little hesitant to post this. Last saturday at Cog no. 1, 8th hole, par 3, 230yds to flag, got this close to my first HI1.

 

 

 

Great job fighting gravity and getting that one to stay there.

[ldchristopher]

45 minutes ago, MountainKing said:

I just do not understand how it takes anybody 5 hours to play a round of golf, let alone take that for 14 holes.

 

 

I realize this isn’t a question (rhetorical statement? Is that a thing?) but I’ve always contended four major factors lead to super slow play:

1) Bad golf and/or not knowing one’s limitations and playing from the wrong tees. Every dumb Bro wants to play from the tips. They shouldn’t be anywhere near those markers but, hey, remember that one time they nuked a drive 290? That swing is gonna return one day. Sure. 
2) It’s a conscious decision by some. Hate their wives, avoid their kids, are miserable and want other people to be miserable as well. 

3) Farting around on the greens like they’re on tour. That includes people marking two footers, looking at putts from every angle then zooming it past anyway, playing for money or a dumb trophy or something. 
4) Driving to each other’s ball. The Benny Hill sketch come to life that Bear referenced a while ago. 

[MountainKing]

17 minutes ago, ldchristopher said:

I realize this isn’t a question (rhetorical statement? Is that a thing?) but I’ve always contended four major factors lead to super slow play:

1) Bad golf and/or not knowing one’s limitations and playing from the wrong tees. Every dumb Bro wants to play from the tips. They shouldn’t be anywhere near those markers but, hey, remember that one time they nuked a drive 290? That swing is gonna return one day. Sure. 
2) It’s a conscious decision by some. Hate their wives, avoid their kids, are miserable and want other people to be miserable as well. 

3) Farting around on the greens like they’re on tour. That includes people marking two footers, looking at putts from every angle then zooming it past anyway, playing for money or a dumb trophy or something. 
4) Driving to each other’s ball. The Benny Hill sketch come to life that Bear referenced a while ago. 

You nailed it.   Every clown out at Maple were playing the blue tees.  6400 isn't terribly long,  except it's a par 70.   The idiots we were behind did everything you mentioned,  and they were hardly the problem.

 

Stonehenge on the other hand,  most of the golfers there are bad,  but they're on the right tee,  they pick up and move on ect.  That place is proof a busy course is capable of a sub 4 hour pace,  hell a sub 3:30 pace. 

[Argonne69]

9 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

I realize this isn’t a question (rhetorical statement? Is that a thing?) but I’ve always contended four major factors lead to super slow play:

1) Bad golf and/or not knowing one’s limitations and playing from the wrong tees. Every dumb Bro wants to play from the tips. They shouldn’t be anywhere near those markers but, hey, remember that one time they nuked a drive 290? That swing is gonna return one day. Sure. 
2) It’s a conscious decision by some. Hate their wives, avoid their kids, are miserable and want other people to be miserable as well. 

3) Farting around on the greens like they’re on tour. That includes people marking two footers, looking at putts from every angle then zooming it past anyway, playing for money or a dumb trophy or something. 
4) Driving to each other’s ball. The Benny Hill sketch come to life that Bear referenced a while ago. 

 

I'll add simply taking to long over each shot. I played with a guy a few weeks ago, and I timed him on a number of shots. He was taking over a minute to hit the ball. 'Not a big deal if you're on your way to a sweet 65, but he was on track to shoot 105. 'Just super slow in everything he did. We teed off behind a fivesome, and while I thought the group ahead would become a problem, they were out of sight within a few holes. 

[@_the_crook]

11 hours ago, MountainKing said:

  I just do not understand how it takes anybody 5 hours to play a round of golf

one of our main motivators to play at sunrise was this.

we maintain a reputation for getting in and out at a reasonable time.

love to see all the regulars waiting to tee off at 9-ish while we walk off and head to breakfast.

 

have been told our course had and may still have an early Sunday am group than cannot manage to get a round in under 4:30.

it's not justified to bog down an entire venue.

worse if the course won't reset the slow groups.

 

 

 

 

[AUTIGER07]

Played Bolingbrook for the first time yesterday with some guys from work and it was a great time but I was kind of mixed on the course. Condition wise it was in good shape but what surprised me was how unreceptive the greens were. First two holes I hit solid wedges into only to see the first bounce look like it hit a trampoline and have both shots end up over the green. This happened a few times throughout the round and I struggled to adjust as did the guys I played with. I can't remember the hole # on the back but I purposely landed an LW 5 yards short which ended up pin high...roughly 35-40 feet after where it landed. 

 

In terms of the game, awful would be the appropriate synopsis. No fairways or greens hit on the front 9 with 4 doubles and a bogey. Had a severe hook going with pretty much everything but the wedges and when I would adjust...shockingly I'd end up blocking it or come out of it and hit a fade. Thankfully amateurs don't have shot tracer or the visuals from yesterday would have been brutal to see.

[MountainKing]

3 hours ago, @_the_crook said:

one of our main motivators to play at sunrise was this.

we maintain a reputation for getting in and out at a reasonable time.

love to see all the regulars waiting to tee off at 9-ish while we walk off and head to breakfast.

 

have been told our course had and may still have an early Sunday am group than cannot manage to get a round in under 4:30.

it's not justified to bog down an entire venue.

worse if the course won't reset the slow groups.

 

 

 

 

 

That's part of why I joined Stonehenge, which also lets me play Old Wayne.  Neither course are anything specia (although Stonehenge is tough as nails from the tips)l, but if I need a decent last minute tee time or just want to get around quick I can hit up either course.  Pace at both courses tend to run around 3:30 or under regardless of day/time you go off.  It's also nice that they're daily fee courses so if you get around and the course is dead you can go right back out.  Only downside is I'm 45+ minutes from Stonehenge, but yesterday I drove there, played 27, drove back in what would have been the same time it took to play 18 at Maple (if we stayed out). 

[MountainKing]

2 hours ago, AUTIGER07 said:

Played Bolingbrook for the first time yesterday with some guys from work and it was a great time but I was kind of mixed on the course. Condition wise it was in good shape but what surprised me was how unreceptive the greens were. First two holes I hit solid wedges into only to see the first bounce look like it hit a trampoline and have both shots end up over the green. This happened a few times throughout the round and I struggled to adjust as did the guys I played with. I can't remember the hole # on the back but I purposely landed an LW 5 yards short which ended up pin high...roughly 35-40 feet after where it landed. 

 

In terms of the game, awful would be the appropriate synopsis. No fairways or greens hit on the front 9 with 4 doubles and a bogey. Had a severe hook going with pretty much everything but the wedges and when I would adjust...shockingly I'd end up blocking it or come out of it and hit a fade. Thankfully amateurs don't have shot tracer or the visuals from yesterday would have been brutal to see.

 

Bolingbrook can get extremely firm this time of year, especially with no rain.  There's nothing out there to prevent things from drying out.  When I lived out that way I loved playing it for that reason (the layout not so much), I felt like a longer hitter with that 50+ yards of roll and being able to get to par 5's with an iron or reaching #5 with a couple good pokes.  

[AUTIGER07]

10 minutes ago, MountainKing said:

 

Bolingbrook can get extremely firm this time of year, especially with no rain.  There's nothing out there to prevent things from drying out.  When I lived out that way I loved playing it for that reason (the layout not so much), I felt like a longer hitter with that 50+ yards of roll and being able to get to par 5's with an iron or reaching #5 with a couple good pokes.  

It was definitely firm.

 

I didn't play well but we played the blues and I had a 6i into #3, hit LW into #11 after a 3i off the tee, and took it over the corner on #12 and had a 6i in. Being downwind helped on all 3 holes but turning around back into made for some brutal shots in the back half of both sides.

[DavePelz4]

Our comp played The Brute at Grand Geneva yesterday.  Couldn't beat the weather and the course is in excellent condition.  The sand in the traps was like walking on the beach.  Generally firm and relatively easy to play from.  Prior to playing there, I watch a Vlog of someone who played the course and that was really beneficial.  Only 1 time in the entire round was there the need to putt from above the pin or even pin high, and ironically that was drained from 30 feet.  If it hadn't hit the pin and dropped, that ball might have ended up in Cleveland.

 

It's been years since playing there and it's one of those courses where playing it a time or two is beneficial as there are some blind shots.  On 9 I had a blind shot that I thought was heading directly at the pin only for the shot to apparently find the water on the left of the green, hmmm.

 

Did something that I don't ever believe I've done in over 50 years of playing.  Had a streak of holes that went, in order, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.  After the last abysmal putting round, I went into the putter room and pulled out an old Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II which apparently still has some magic in it. 7 one putts, all over 10 feet as well with only 1 above the hole.

 

This week it's Midlothian followed by a comp round at Foxford Hills on Saturday.

[TBone0576]

On 6/18/2022 at 10:15 AM, jcook10 said:

As I’m sitting on my couch watching US Open coverage because I could not get a reasonable tee time today, I wonder how many days in advance are you gentlemen booking your tee times?? It used to be Sunday-Monday for the following Saturday-Sunday and now it seems like 14 days is the only way. Just wondering what everyone does. Normally like to play really early at HoE, Sunset Valley, Schaumburg, Stonewall,  Prairie Bluff, Blackstone. The usual suspects in better shape than most. 

 

I'm allowed to make tee times a month in advance up here at Brighton Dale Links in Kenosha County.   I make sure to get the 6am on whatever course we are playing and we usually take off around 5:45.   We had a foursome Saturday and finished before 9.   Yesterday we played a threesome and finished quarter after 8.   The course is in great shape but the greens are really taking a beating.  I bet I fix half a dozen ball marks on every green.   I talked to the pro Sunday morning and they had over 500 rounds go out on Saturday.  I'm guessing they were close to the same on Sunday.  Both courses tee boxes were 3 groups deep waiting to go off when we came off the course.  

[Shriner]

Played Marengo Ridge yesterday with my son.  Place was packed and with a 6:12am tee time, we did not tee off until about 6:35am.  That being said, the round flew...four hours flat on Father's Day with a packed course?  I'll take it!

 

Every year, it feels like the trees become a little more overgrown.  Fairways were plenty nice but there were some rough spots on greens.  One of the two guys we were paired up with said it is for sale, not sure if that is accurate.  The lady that owns it is super nice.  For now, this has become tradition for us so hopefully it can continue on...

[DavePelz4]

1 hour ago, Shriner said:

Played Marengo Ridge yesterday with my son.  Place was packed and with a 6:12am tee time, we did not tee off until about 6:35am.  That being said, the round flew...four hours flat on Father's Day with a packed course?  I'll take it!

 

Every year, it feels like the trees become a little more overgrown.  Fairways were plenty nice but there were some rough spots on greens.  One of the two guys we were paired up with said it is for sale, not sure if that is accurate.  The lady that owns it is super nice.  For now, this has become tradition for us so hopefully it can continue on...

 

Did Bob Witek sell the course? He's owned it since the late 70's if my old memory is working properly.

[Shriner]

3 minutes ago, DavePelz4 said:

 

Did Bob Witek sell the course? He's owned it since the late 70's if my old memory is working properly.

 

I don't believe so, same owners forever I believe.  

[ldchristopher]

Greetings from SW Michigan, where the gas is under $5 per gallon and the course footprints are absolutely massive. We played Beeches and Heritage Glen today and both were in excellent shape. We were playing right behind the guy rolling the greens at Beeches so they were quite firm and very smooth. That was needed because the greens at Beeches are comically large and feature a buried brontosaurus under most. Ball striking was excellent with 3 birdies on 8, 11 and 16 and bogies on 4 and 12 for a 71. The walk was a shade under 3 hours. 
Heritage Glen was excellent. It’s much tighter than most of the sprawling courses around here but aesthetically it was outstanding. I can definitely see why it claims to be one of Michigan’s most scenic courses. It’s a woodland/parkland layout with a few prairie-style holes mixed in. Overall, it felt like a nicer Blackthorn. The greens were again very smooth though they weren’t running with the same pace as Beeches. Probably closer to 9 or 9.5. Two more birdies on 5 and 16, including probably the best 7 iron I’ve ever hit. From 172 out on the 16th tee, I stuffed my tee shot to 3 feet and made the putt. Four bogies (7, 12, 17 and 18) for a 74. The Medalist and Angel’s Crossing tomorrow. High of 99° in Kalamazoo so we might die. We’ll probably just do the smart thing and take a cart at Angel’s. 

[zer0]

Hi everyone, been a while.    Had to sit out all of last year when I had back surgery #8 in July 2021.     Was left with some drop foot and a lot of nerve damage in my left lower leg.

 

Started playing golf again a few weeks ago and so far so good.  Playing from the senior tees or as my friends call it, "the ladies tee area".   But I don't care.  When you've had 8 back surgeries and still play golf you can tee it up from the fairway if you want and no one has the right to say anything.

 

Been doing pretty good too.  Was a 10.3 when I last played in 2020.    So far I've been keeping it in the low 80s for the most part.  Had a great round at South Bend Cc where shot an 84, but was 4 over from hole 6 on.    Chipped in twice greenside in that round.   Followed that up with an 84 at Bryn Mahr last week.  Best part is my back didn't even hurt much after the Bryn Mahr round.

 

Won't be too much golf for me this summer though.  Heading to Israel for 2.5 weeks mid July to coach the old man team USA hockey team in the Maccabi Games.  Also having 2 yellow lab siblings who are a year and a half old keeps me away from the course as well.

 

All good though, just happy to be able to play a little golf again.

[propman]

Can relate to what you said. Beginning of 2020 had a run in with cancer. After all the radiation/chemo, I barely could get the ball airborne (kind of resembled crochet). But I enjoy golf now more than before. Might be because of a new perspective.😁

[ldchristopher]

Random thoughts, observations, and things probably better left unsaid from Pure Michigan Day 2: 

Don't advertise a continental breakfast and then not have anything out until 6:30? We're out the door by 6:00 

The Medalist remains the prettiest woodland/parkland course we play and it's $43 on a weekday. It beats Stonewall, Thunderhawk, and every other high-priced course in the Chicago area and it's an insane value. There are downsides to living here but it ain't because of the golf. 

Revenge on the mind after last year's meltdown at Medalist. -2 at the turn, wheels started to shake a bit on 10 and 11 but the ship was righted for a 73. 

A Google Review advertising "the best Denny's I've ever been to" needs to be seen. 

My heart hurts a bit but, yep, the Google poster wasn't lying. I'm a sad, sad eater when I travel without my wife to reel in poor culinary decision making. Bear is an enabler. 

Lots of people cheering on this Brandon fellow. And a church with a sign that says, "This is MAGA Country." My wife is Asian and I feel uncomfortable by association. 

Angel's Crossing is completely empty except for a group of Seniors and the two of us. First time in a cart since 2019. 

Okay, this course looks great from the tee box but the greens are so silly that birdies are almost impossible since every putt feels defensive. Am I justifying all of the near-misses on the back nine? Maybe. 

People love to talk about the boxcar hole at Lawsonia but every green at Angel's has variety of dead animals - both prehistoric and elephant-sized-under the greens. Still, a 76 to close the trip. 

Our friend wants to play Countryside on Friday. Traditional is out of the question. I can't go from the greens at Angel's to the greens at Traditional. 

 

[DavePelz4]

Anyone have insights into what's happened with Big Run. Per multiple brokerage sites, the course is back up for sale and while they reference the approved development, that previous deal seems to have vanished.   Here's a link to the pdf if anyone is interested in buying it and keeping it as a golf course.

 

https://www.commercialsearch.com/pdfs/6403A15A-AE30-41E4-B067-984F5707743A

[ldchristopher]

2 hours ago, DavePelz4 said:

Anyone have insights into what's happened with Big Run. Per multiple brokerage sites, the course is back up for sale and while they reference the approved development, that previous deal seems to have vanished.   Here's a link to the pdf if anyone is interested in buying it and keeping it as a golf course.

 

https://www.commercialsearch.com/pdfs/6403A15A-AE30-41E4-B067-984F5707743A

Looks like the original deal fell through. Right now is probably not the time to start a new development given some, umm, market volatility at the moment. The water rights decision opened up the chance for more homes and less courses in the area but there’s nothing sadder than seeing a golf course get sold for development and then just kinda sit there and get overgrown. 

[Holy Moses]

3 hours ago, DavePelz4 said:

Anyone have insights into what's happened with Big Run. Per multiple brokerage sites, the course is back up for sale and while they reference the approved development, that previous deal seems to have vanished.   Here's a link to the pdf if anyone is interested in buying it and keeping it as a golf course.

 

https://www.commercialsearch.com/pdfs/6403A15A-AE30-41E4-B067-984F5707743A

Don’t know it’s back for sale but I’m playing it Friday

[DavePelz4]

40 minutes ago, ldchristopher said:

Looks like the original deal fell through. Right now is probably not the time to start a new development given some, umm, market volatility at the moment. The water rights decision opened up the chance for more homes and less courses in the area but there’s nothing sadder than seeing a golf course get sold for development and then just kinda sit there and get overgrown. 

 

That should mean it'll be open for at least another 2-3 years.  Doubt there would be too many cash buyers at this point and financing would be a b**** right now. 

[TheBear95]

I read last week that Silver Lake in Orland Park was pulled off the market as well. I guess the owners had a change of heart.

[@_the_crook]

22 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

Don't advertise a continental breakfast and then not have anything out until 6:30? We're out the door by 6:00 

 

I buy those single serve OJ's and fruit for the mornings.

get real food after the round.

 

many courses greet very early golfers with either just coffee or whatever is available in the 'pay-for' cooler.

last weekend I passed three DD and Starbucks before golf and none were open.

I guess 4:30 is a bit early to staff.

the diner type spots nearby are packed at 9am. so I just order, grab and go.

on nice days, I'd rather eat somewhere quiet , play some music and relax while I clean the clubs.

 

 

[zer0]

19 hours ago, DavePelz4 said:

Anyone have insights into what's happened with Big Run. Per multiple brokerage sites, the course is back up for sale and while they reference the approved development, that previous deal seems to have vanished.   Here's a link to the pdf if anyone is interested in buying it and keeping it as a golf course.

 

https://www.commercialsearch.com/pdfs/6403A15A-AE30-41E4-B067-984F5707743A

do they still have the old lady making those amazing bacon/egg and cheese sandwiches in the back?    Well worth the trade off of not having a range.

[DavePelz4]

23 hours ago, zer0 said:

do they still have the old lady making those amazing bacon/egg and cheese sandwiches in the back?    Well worth the trade off of not having a range.

 

Not sure Zer.  But that clubhouse is like being in the middle of Wisconsin.

[DavePelz4]

Played Midlothian CC yesterday.  Big fan of the old school designs, probably because I'm old and went to school.  

 

The range was functional, a lot like Oak Grove with just a huge arse piece of land and not a lot of targets.  The range balls were clean, thank you.  There is a short game area although I didn't have time to use it.  The practice green was reflective of what you'd find on the course.  

 

Overall, conditions were immaculate and they redesigned the bunkers a year ago and they were filled with "Pro Angle Sand," whatever that means.  Was probably in 3-4 bunkers and the ball sat very nicely and was playable.  There are a lot of raised tiny greens though so you might be 10-12 feet below a green in the bunkers.  Generally the greens were receptive to a highly flighted shot but something low was going to run through unless there was a ton of spin on your shot. Not a lot of water on the course although what is there comes into play. For you big hitters, the tips would be pretty easy but for us guys who hit it 230-240 off the tee, the 225 yard par 3's on the front are a lot to deal with along with 7 par 4's in the 420-435 range.  The fairways were tightish and well bunkered, but the rough was playable. There were blind shots on several holes and our young caddie either wasn't knowledgeable enough or comfortable enough to suggest lines.

 

After the bunkering, the defense of the course was the greens/green complexes.  Being in the wrong spot long or to one side was not going to be an easy up and down.  There were a few holes where you could run the ball on the green but others also had a bunker protecting the front.  Nice elevation changes as well.

 

The course has hosted a US Open and I can only imagine how tight it was for the fans as the course isn't on a large piece of land at all.

 

The clubhouse was recently remodeled and is very nice.  Also old school with a traditional men's grill, very nice locker room, and friendly staff.

 

Not sure this would be the club for me but I really enjoyed the course and would love to play it again.

[ldchristopher]

Fun round this morning at Countryside Prairie with Bear and our friend from Pittsburgh. The first round after Michigan is always a bit of a letdown unless I play a top-tier course but Countryside is well-maintained and it's always fun to just unload off the tee there. The greens had been cut and rolled and the bunkers had fresh sand. The rough is starting to brown in spots but wasn't rock hard or anything while the fairways were giving some roll but are getting plenty of water overnight. Three birdies on 6, 7, and 14 for a 71. 

[Gdane]

I drove out to the quad cities last week to check out a new course (for me), and also play TPC Deere Run with the stands up for the tour stop next week.

 

Let me start out by saying that the new Fyre Lake is a GEM.  They had a fathers day special running on Sunday, and when it was all said and done we got in 27 holes for $37/each.  Crazy value for a course with a laid back vibe and a fantastic layout.  The back 9 was especially appealing with all of the waterfront holes, highlighted by the 14th with an island green.

 

This was my 2nd time out to TPC Deere Run, and I think I favored the $60 round I played back in November of 2020 to the $140 that was required on Monday.  The course was in fantastic shape for the upcoming tournament but I felt like I had broken something being charged that much for the experience that was presented.  This can be said about a lot of courses post-pandemic, but if you're charging that much and you don't have the halfway house open, you need to at least leave coolers of water out on the course for people.  We saw the cart girl once on the front 9 and then again on the 18th tee.  I still loved the course, but the service level was extremely lacking this time around.

[Springsteennut]

Playing Blackstone in Marengo tomorrow. I’ve driven by it many times going to Marengo Ridge and said to myself I should play there. I went there today for a Sub 70 demo day and after trying some great clubs went and took a look at the course from the club house. Looks even better than from the road driving by. Looking forward to playing tomorrow and hopefully the rain stays away.