Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[TheBear95]

55 minutes ago, VNutz said:

Sounds like something of a Punchbowl setup. Interesting

 

That might have been the inspiration. The execution is pure Zion though.

[MountainKing]

4 hours ago, TBone0576 said:

Lack of a range is definitely a negative over there.   Not a lot of options to buy land either, there is private property to the north there but other than that I'm not sure where you put it so that its somewhat convenient.   The 1st hole would be a great option but not sure where you would try to shoehorn another hole in to replace it.  

 

There's land they could pursue - now if it's cost effective or not that's another story, but driving ranges are cash cows.  The range at Thunderhawk isn't anything to brag about so putting up a nice practice facility could bring some good coin in.

 

As far as convenience - that's another story.  Might be a situation like you see at some courses where the range/practice area has it's own parking lot and facility, if you're playing you would just take a cart over there.  

 

I never really thought SC was all that, 6-7 good holes and a lot of average. Not having a practice facility IMO amplifies that, basically making it not a course I would consider bothering with since it's a solid hour drive for me, and Thunderhawk is right there.  Even when it came time last year to do 36 up that way, we just opted to stay at Thunder, but might have considered it for a morning round if they had a range.  I'm middle aged and out of shape, I need a range if I'm in a car for an hour.

[ldchristopher]

On 3/4/2024 at 12:08 PM, TBone0576 said:

Thanks for the update, maybe I will head over there this week after work to check it out.  I used to like to go over there to practice putting and chipping because there really is nothing else in Kenosha worth putting or chipping on.    I had no idea how much undulation they were going to put on it but I did think it odd that the bunkers are part of it as well.  Wonder how many people are going to get clocked with a skulled sand shot this year.   I'd say the over/under is 6 unless they built a separate green to hit sand shots to.  

The sand area is just separate enough that it won’t (or at least shouldn’t) lead to people getting brained by skulled sand shots. That’s the one part of the new set up I liked. Totally agree on the dumb practice green. It’s like the funhouse greens at Angel’s Crossing. Not anything like the rest of Shepherds. 

[J3H]

Gonna try Eaglewood this upcoming Monday, supposed to be 60 and sunny.  Love seeing places outside of St Andrews and White Pines open this time of year; I feel like we'll be paying for it in mid June/July when courses are beat up from 6+ months of playing.

[ldchristopher]

I had professional development today at Chicago Bulls College Prep so I was able to get back on 290 and play a rare after work round. I don't miss working on the West Side, but I do miss easy access to the Eisenhower. Anyway, I played Village Links. $48, walking only, and a wide open tee sheet. Ideal circumstances. I broke my three round birdie-free streak on the first hole and my game was locked in throughout. Never stopping certainly helped, as did playing on a course where the cups had been moved within the last three months and the greens had been worked on. I lipped out a birdie putt on 14 but got another to drop on 15. Only one bogie (on 9) for a 71. 

[MountainKing]

On 3/7/2024 at 10:53 AM, J3H said:

Gonna try Eaglewood this upcoming Monday, supposed to be 60 and sunny.  Love seeing places outside of St Andrews and White Pines open this time of year; I feel like we'll be paying for it in mid June/July when courses are beat up from 6+ months of playing.

 

If a course is beat up in June/July, it will have nothing to do with play happening on it right now.  That course would be beat up regardless.  So many courses are cutting corners these days with maintenance while charging the most.

[MountainKing]

18 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

I had professional development today at Chicago Bulls College Prep so I was able to get back on 290 and play a rare after work round. I don't miss working on the West Side, but I do miss easy access to the Eisenhower. Anyway, I played Village Links. $48, walking only, and a wide open tee sheet. Ideal circumstances. I broke my three round birdie-free streak on the first hole and my game was locked in throughout. Never stopping certainly helped, as did playing on a course where the cups had been moved within the last three months and the greens had been worked on. I lipped out a birdie putt on 14 but got another to drop on 15. Only one bogie (on 9) for a 71. 

 

71 is a great score out there anytime, but in the cold that's awesome.

[Chicago Lefty]

Played 2.5 rounds at Old Barnwell in Aiken, SC and one round at Augusta Country Club this week.  Spending the winter on my launch monitor was huge.  Putting was atrocious but I was hitting the ball well.  Looking forward to this season!

 

 

[@_the_crook]

On 3/5/2024 at 8:25 PM, ldchristopher said:

The sand area is just separate enough that it won’t (or at least shouldn’t) lead to people getting brained by skulled sand shots. That’s the one part of the new set up I liked. Totally agree on the dumb practice green. It’s like the funhouse greens at Angel’s Crossing. Not anything like the rest of Shepherds. 

did they construct this new green complex in the space between the parking lot and the cart path that leads up to number 1 tee?

I haven't been up there this year...just read about it in the email. .

 

as for a range - can't we still pipe one or two practice balls over Green Bay Rd? 

one old starter used to laugh his butt off when our group pulled up.

he knew what was coming.

😁

[TheBear95]

14 hours ago, @_the_crook said:

did they construct this new green complex in the space between the parking lot and the cart path that leads up to number 1 tee?

I haven't been up there this year...just read about it in the email. .

 

as for a range - can't we still pipe one or two practice balls over Green Bay Rd? 

one old starter used to laugh his butt off when our group pulled up.

he knew what was coming.

😁

 

Yes, they did. The new practice green is in the same place as the old one. Just larger now.

[ldchristopher]

I played Cog 2 today. I hadn’t played there in a long time but I remembered the greens being slow and spongy. No longer the case. The greens were outstanding. They were smooth, had good pace, and were stimping at about 9 (which was excellent considering how wet the place was). There was a lot of mud, a little bit of standing water, and some of the bunkers had ponds in them. But considering it rained nonstop yesterday, it was very playable. Just a lot of lift, clean and place. One birdie on 4 and 3 bogies on 8, 10 and 16. 74. 

[MountainKing]

1 hour ago, ldchristopher said:

I played Cog 2 today. I hadn’t played there in a long time but I remembered the greens being slow and spongy. No longer the case. The greens were outstanding. They were smooth, had good pace, and were stimping at about 9 (which was excellent considering how wet the place was). There was a lot of mud, a little bit of standing water, and some of the bunkers had ponds in them. But considering it rained nonstop yesterday, it was very playable. Just a lot of lift, clean and place. One birdie on 4 and 3 bogies on 8, 10 and 16. 74. 

 

Cog's been pretty decent the last few years for conditions.  Even 1&3 have been solid for the most part.  I think a lot of what you see now is people still reviewing it as if it were 4-5 years ago.  It's cool to hate on Cog.

[ldchristopher]

Actually, one critique of Cog 2 from today. The scorecard was printed on white paper.  At least use card stock. 

[Argonne69]

49 minutes ago, ldchristopher said:

Actually, one critique of Cog 2 from today. The scorecard was printed on white paper.  At least use card stock. 

 

I run into this occasionally. Not sure is someone messed up and forgot to order a fresh batch of scorecards, or if the course has scheduled a re-rating, and didn't want to spend money on scorecards that would be out of date in a matter or weeks/months. 

 

[ldchristopher]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I run into this occasionally. Not sure is someone messed up and forgot to order a fresh batch of scorecards, or if the course has scheduled a re-rating, and didn't want to spend money on scorecards that would be out of date in a matter or weeks/months. 

 

I almost always see this in the late Winter and early Spring but usually at low budget courses. It feels like Cog 2 has been 72.7/126 for as long as I’ve been golfing. Could be due for a re-rating. 

[VNutz]

On 3/9/2024 at 5:37 PM, ldchristopher said:

Actually, one critique of Cog 2 from today. The scorecard was printed on white paper.  At least use card stock. 

From dealing with them in the past, they probably placed their reorder way too late.

[TheBear95]

Played Prairie Isle yesterday afternoon. Greens were fantastic shape for March.

 

Also, they did some significant tree removal down the right side of #13. Really opened that area up if you miss right.

[Springsteennut]

I played Redtail today for the first round this year. Course was in decent shape. Greens rolled well but not as quick as usual. I was surprised it wasn’t CPO. Work on the clubhouse and half way house is coming along and according to the guy at the register they are looking at moving in sometime in June if everything goes well. They are also installing drainage on a couple of fairways so those weren’t the best. My game was okay. I’m breaking in new irons and the front 9 was a bit of struggle. The back 9 I had a better feel for them and was much better.

[B-Man]

Meadowlark last night. Greens unplayable. Slick, firm, bumpy and strong winds do not jell great for playing such surfaces.

[St Jimmy]

On 3/11/2024 at 12:53 PM, TheBear95 said:

Played Prairie Isle yesterday afternoon. Greens were fantastic shape for March.

 

Also, they did some significant tree removal down the right side of #13. Really opened that area up if you miss right.

At the top of the hill?  I don't remember trees being an issue on 13.  

11, 12, and 14 yes. 

[TheBear95]

16 minutes ago, St Jimmy said:

At the top of the hill?  I don't remember trees being an issue on 13.  

11, 12, and 14 yes. 

 

Before the top of the hill on #13. The large oaks that ran from the tee box to the top of the hill on the right side. A bunch are now gone. 

 

[ldchristopher]

The Bluffs today with Bear. It lost the Heritage in its name but nothing about the course actually changed. It was bright green as everything off 55, 88, and 355 look like June, just without leaves on trees. The greens were slow but as the dew dried and the wind picked up, so did the pace of putts. Bunkers could use a fresh sand shipment but overall it was in okay shape. I bogied 3 of the first four holes but got my swing in order after that and started ripping off pars. My putter bailed me out on a bunch of holes. Only one birdie on 10 but lots of par saves from 6-10 feet. I shot -1 on the back for a 74. Considering the wind was really starting to whip for the last 5 or 6 holes, I was very happy with how I played. 

[MountainKing]

Highlands of Elgin again,  not the right day for that course, especially from the rup. Conditions were solid, pace was under 4 hours so no complaints.  With the wind tho, it was almost unplayable.  I never hit so many 3 woods in my life.   On 12 I hit driver 6 iron and still  didn't get to the creek.   I did drive 13 again.  Downwind wasn't much help,  the wind would knuckle the shot down.    Shot an 85 and I felt like that was a 74.

 

[mci711]

18 hours ago, MountainKing said:

Highlands of Elgin again,  not the right day for that course, especially from the rup. Conditions were solid, pace was under 4 hours so no complaints.  With the wind tho, it was almost unplayable.  I never hit so many 3 woods in my life.   On 12 I hit driver 6 iron and still  didn't get to the creek.   I did drive 13 again.  Downwind wasn't much help,  the wind would knuckle the shot down.    Shot an 85 and I felt like that was a 74.

 

 

I guess they only had one tee box open? 😂

[Holy Moses]

Blackstone in as good of condition as you can ask for mid March. Bunkers freshly raked and in excellent condition. 

[MountainKing]

1 hour ago, mci711 said:

 

I guess they only had one tee box open? 😂

 

We normally combo but my idiot friends wanted to see how hard it could play, and I gave into peer pressure.  4 guys all around scratch,  nobody under 80.  

[ldchristopher]

3 hours ago, MountainKing said:

 

We normally combo but my idiot friends wanted to see how hard it could play, and I gave into peer pressure.  4 guys all around scratch,  nobody under 80.  

With 30+ mph winds, HOE plays like Winged Foot. I’ve gotten stuck in that situation before on that course. Similar time of year. Similar results. 

[MountainKing]

19 hours ago, ldchristopher said:

With 30+ mph winds, HOE plays like Winged Foot. I’ve gotten stuck in that situation before on that course. Similar time of year. Similar results. 

 

In the thousands of rounds I've played, I can't really remember anything like yesterday.  Anything competitive would have been postponed/cancelled, it essentially was unplayable.  Greens still have some of that spring shag and the wind still moved a few balls inches at a time, and the balls were constantly oscillating.  My spider putter was really struggling with the wind grabbing it.  It was hard to get the ball to stay on a tee at times.   One shot a buddy of mine had from 105 out on hole 12 (his 4th shot into the green) we were up by the green, we saw the ball apex then go back in his direction and ended up 50 yards short.   Hopefully this is not a normal thing this spring, as amusing as it was, not sure I'd want to repeat it.

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, MountainKing said:

 

In the thousands of rounds I've played, I can't really remember anything like yesterday.  Anything competitive would have been postponed/cancelled, it essentially was unplayable.  Greens still have some of that spring shag and the wind still moved a few balls inches at a time, and the balls were constantly oscillating.  My spider putter was really struggling with the wind grabbing it.  It was hard to get the ball to stay on a tee at times.   One shot a buddy of mine had from 105 out on hole 12 (his 4th shot into the green) we were up by the green, we saw the ball apex then go back in his direction and ended up 50 yards short.   Hopefully this is not a normal thing this spring, as amusing as it was, not sure I'd want to repeat it.

 

Reminds me of the time I played Harborside Starboard in 30 mph north winds. Hit a nice 6 iron on the par 3 17th playing at 140 yds, and it fell short in the water. My playing partner hit a sweet 3 wood from 150 yds out on the 18th, and it landed on the front fringe. It was comical. Plenty of memories, but I wouldn't want to play in that stuff on a regular basis. 

 

[Shriner]

On 3/18/2024 at 1:07 PM, MountainKing said:

 

In the thousands of rounds I've played, I can't really remember anything like yesterday.  Anything competitive would have been postponed/cancelled, it essentially was unplayable.  Greens still have some of that spring shag and the wind still moved a few balls inches at a time, and the balls were constantly oscillating.  My spider putter was really struggling with the wind grabbing it.  It was hard to get the ball to stay on a tee at times.   One shot a buddy of mine had from 105 out on hole 12 (his 4th shot into the green) we were up by the green, we saw the ball apex then go back in his direction and ended up 50 yards short.   Hopefully this is not a normal thing this spring, as amusing as it was, not sure I'd want to repeat it.

 

This seems to be a Highlands thing!  My buddy and I have had the exact same thing right down to a 9i on hole 8 go backwards in mid air!  As stated, that course is hard enough and becomes unplayable with little trees for wind protection and each hole basically bordered by penalty areas (tall grass).  Memories though...