Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[Argonne69]

By the end of February I'll likely have played all the public courses in the Phoenix area. Apache and Aguila are both on the list.

 

[chisag]

... Let me know if you want any suggestions. I played a ton of courses last winter. Most are hard to walk and that's why I played Aguila and Papago more than any others because they are good walking courses.

[B-Man]

Well Phoenix looks nice. Here's where I am playing tomorrow...

 

[https://photos.app.goo.gl/E49xSJsxEe4ZJ5BS6](https://photos.app.goo.gl/E49xSJsxEe4ZJ5BS6 "https://photos.app.goo.gl/E49xSJsxEe4ZJ5BS6")

[preiter20]

I searched for posts on this but didn't find anything. There is a X-Golf open in Libertyville. About 15 minutes away from me so it's convenient. No affiliation. It may keep my swinging a club during the winter months. https://www.xgolf-libertyville.com/

[mci711]

Played seven bridges yesterday, not that conditions or anything matters at this time of year, but I have never seen so much goose sh!t in my life. I was to the point of disgusted and only played 9.

 

In other news, good news, I am leaving for Kiawah Island this afternoon for my annual weekend of golf down there. Low 70s high 60s sounds pretty nice.

[cpeck12]

Goose crap is always horrible there this time of year. I'm sure the snow cover didn't help... hopefully this heavy rain will "rinse" it off. There used to be a pro shop employee there who had 2 Aussies and a Border Collie and he would run them there to chase off the geese... they could definitely use a course dog there.

[B-Man]

Just to clarify, I was not one of those Aussies.

[Argonne69]

100th round of the year today. After 2 days of monsoon rains and cool temperatures, it was a sunny 67 degrees today in the Phoenix. Things are still quite wet, so I walked a cheap muni. The better courses can wait for next week.

 

[geochitown]

Good guys there. I am in the area as well. They don't do the best job marketing themselves. Jay is the pro there, and Mike does good club work.

[johngalt312]

Playing Downers Grove Golf Club i.e. Downers Grove National later today. Expecting pristine course conditions.

[mci711]

I played 97 and 98 at kiawah yesterday and today. 99 tomorrow at the ocean course, then I'll be stuck there for awhile. Shot the high temperature today in SC - 74.

[DavePelz4]

Highland Woods today. Course was a bit soft but playable. Greens rolled well, but no tee or rakes so you were playing from hard pan. Lots of goose poop but that seems to be the norm. Mizuno Wind Lite and such a nice 340 walk.

[B-Man]

An impromptu round early yesterday at Prairie Bluff. We played as a fivesome as we were the only tools out there. Yes, we are all a little touched. Course was in decent nick for the time of year but they had just lightly sanded the greens and were running a little ragged. Somehow I made more putts outside of 10 feet than inside 5 feet. There was quite a bit of run on some fairways. I tried to lay up off the tee on the cross rough on 12 with a 3 wood only to end up back on the fairway on the other side. Go zone!

[@_the_crook]

saturday morning, five layers up top. they let us out at ten a.m.

was odd realizing we began at a time when on a summer day we are usually wrapped and having a snack.

distance was altered by a slight breeze and the chilly temps. one club more at 100 yards was enough.

we had some good fun knowing this could be the end of it and shared some good laughs. everyone had some great shots to top off the round.

I'm definitely getting a warmer pair of gloves for future use. saw the Mizuno ones online and they look righteous.

 

[DeeBee30]

Well, just finished what may be my final rounds of 2019. Had a nice stretch of days where I was able to place twice in the Bay Area, then 5 times down here in the Tampa area where we’re spending Thanksgiving week. The quick recap:

Cinnabar Hills in San Jose: Mountain/Canyon combo was a blast; nice elevation changes, some nice visuals, many interesting holes that give you options on how to play them, reasonable rates and good conditioning. Would definitely play again.Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz: great conditioning, ok layout, overpriced even with a $212 hot deal because of the Alistair McKenzie name cache. Checked it off the wish list though.World Woods (Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks) in Brooksville, FL: both fun layouts with many interesting holes and good conditioning. PB seems to have more of a strong reputation, but RO was a more visually appealing and fun course to play. Would love to have another crack at both with more course knowledge to lean on.Lakewood National (Commander) in Lakewood Ranch, FL: a links style track that reminded me a lot of Bolingbrook; rolling fairways with a lot of uneven lies, good-sized greens with both major contours and subtle breaks around the holes, and the greens were quick (posted as at 11). Nice but not overly challenging.Esplanade in Lakewood Ranch, FL: similar in style to Lakewood National, but with wider fairways, a bit less water in play and larger, quicker greens than the 11 posted at Lakewood National. Pretty stuffy atmosphere, though.Streamsong (Red) in Bowling Green, FL: the finishing round for this coast to coast jaunt; lived up to the anticipation; very generous fairways with a lot of runout, huge greens with some serious undulations and super fast (even faster than Esplanade); beautiful course that reminded me a lot of Sand Valley.

So...hoping for a relatively moderate December so the 2019 season doesn’t end here in Florida. If this is the end of the line, it was a great way to go out.

[chisag]

... I seem to be in the minority when it comes to World Woods. Like Mystic Dunes, I find their greens tricked up and incongruious with the beautiful and natural looking golf course. Especially playing a course for the first time, I really hate hitting a good iron shot to 10 feet and then having to really struggle for par because I am on the wrong side of a fabricated mound or tier.

[geochitown]

I’m down in port Charlotte, FL for the week with family, and will play my one round down here on Friday morning.. I will play Riverwood GC, which is a relatively difficult track, Gene Bates design

Played it for the first time last year, so looking forward to getting another crack at it

happy Thanksgiving everyone

[mci711]

Pasa has one of the best layouts in the world, I've never heard it described as just "ok".

[@_the_crook]

Saturday and Sunday morning were our last rounds of 2019 at TPC Northbrook. cloudy, chilly, windy, damp.

both days there was intermittent mist but we beat the rain that came in about noon.

it brought the game back to the basics. called it our Scottish Open.

they expect to re-open in mid 2021.

they are having an Open House in two weeks to present the renovation plans. should be enlightening.

 

[2Tall4Golf]

What are some of the better indoor places to practice over the winter in the Chicago area (North/Northwset/West areas) I prefer simulators over domes. Preferably places where you can reserve time in advance. Thanks!

[Jfergus7]

spent 7 hours at TopGolf Schaumburg today practicing. Played 18 holes At St. Andrews with a few buddies and ended up running into some other friends as I was leaving so stayed and played front 9 of Pebble Beach. The TopTracer virtual games are pretty cool and make range time way more fun!

[Holy Moses]

Legends Indoor Golf in Downers Grove. There’s another place in Naperville.

[VNutz]

Been out of the loop here since my Bandon trip so I might have missed it. Has anybody heard talk that the White Pines dome may not return this year? I was surprised to hear over the weekend that it's not up currently, when it's usually up sometime in November. Something about the owner, Kemper, wasn't sure they wanted to do it again this year. I'd be really bummed if that no longer exists, been going there for 20+ years going back to my teenage years, has been a staple of winter golf for me. I know other options exist, perhaps better as well now, but this one was the closest and was always my place.

[geochitown]

You can reserve times at X-Golf Libertyville, near the auto dealerships on Milwaukee avenue (next to X-sport fitness club).

[a-B]

The story I heard was that the "dome had reached end of life expectancy and they were having issues finding someone to insure it."

That was a few weeks ago, but cannot confirm the validity.

[VNutz]

Thanks, I hadn't heard that, but you could see that it was showing its age in spots. It does seem odd though that this would be the reason for not having it again this year, it's not like this decision would be a surprise to anybody and wouldn't have been taken care of long in advance if they really wanted. Sounds more like something to hide behind rather than saying it's not worth it to them anymore.

[Zac1321]

I was visiting the inlaws over thanksgiving and all went out on friday. much improved to woodale with the toptracer and games. $27 bucks form 9am to noon is a pretty solid deal if you dont have naything going on some morning

[Holy Moses]

Jfergus 7, I like that they have Top Tracer there, but does the ball fly unevenly due to the microchip like a Callaway Chrome Soft?

[Jfergus7]

Ball definitely still flies straight. They are distant control balls at 70% but that isn’t a big deal. The TopTracer is pretty cool playing the virtual courses.

[@_the_crook]

I may join the ranks of the mall walkers at sunrise. need to get in the six miles or I'll turn into a lazy bones.

the Crook has a simulator. going to take a ride up with some pals to take a look.