Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[VNutz]

I’m amazed that some found a way for a medical note for carts the first day, seeing as how many doctors were only taking urgent patients.

[mci711]

Assuming handicap placard works

[AndyC76]

I think if you have a state issued handicap placard they’d accept it as proof. Just what I read somewhere.

[VNutz]

Given what you went through with the virus in March, there’s no shame to be had. I’ve been in a weird spot myself, down 30 pounds from fall 2018, then up 5-10 since my gym shut down in March. After the white pines dome closed unexpectedly and left me without options this winter, I was expecting the same last weekend but was stunned with an even par 72, albeit flawed due to raised cups. My cap for my year long group just took a hit the wrong way. ?‍♂️ So there’s a bit of a positive there for you.

[ldchristopher]

It’s a great layout. Among my favorites. No water hazards on the course at all but firm fairways, great faux-links holes on the front, beastly par 5s on the back, some really stellar woodlands holes on the back, and no bad holes. It’ll also be bone dry regardless of the rain. It plays like a 6500 yard course from the tips because so many holes go downhill and with the firm fairways drives give tour roll.

[Argonne69]

I'm feeling the pain this evening. I'm pretty sure I got dehydrated. I only had an 18 oz bottle with me, and with no water on the course, it clearly wasn't enough. Going to pack another 24 oz bottle at a minimum. Make sure you have enough water with you.

 

[VNutz]

Take as much as you’re comfortable with. You’re not gonna find fountains or coolers to refill at.

[Dashfast]

@Argonne69 I'm feeling it too... was so dehydrated earlier. Just had to keep chugging water to feel normal.

[@_the_crook]

Great reminder Arg. I am filling up a thermos w coffee for the 6:00 start. your post hit me like a slap. grabbing a water bottle now. and making a sanguich for later.

[jimwgt26]

GolfNow really sucks. They double booked our George Dunne tee time.

[mci711]

I made the drive west and had 1 of the first tee times this morning at TPC Deere Run. I booked the twosome as my wife was on the fence about joining. She ended up staying home, her rehabilitation just isn't there yet. So I ended up just paying for the whole twosome and playing on my own, at $35 each $70 total, I was more than happy to do so. I have no interest in being paired with someone right now. My guess is that will be the best value I get in Illinois this year. Course was in fantastic shape obviously, firm, no real signs up rain from this week. I think this was my 5th round there, I have a hard time picking a better course in the state (public).

Worked on some stuff when I got home last night and fixed some problems. Started 6 over thru 5 (yikes) and went 2 over the rest of the way in. 8 over - 79. I'll take it from where I was last night. Beautiful day, needed this one today!

[geochitown]

how did Sunset Valley hold up with the rains?

I wonder if Chevy Chase weathered the rain ok?

Des Plaines river cresting now at 9.75 ft, flood stage at 7.0 ft.

[geochitown]

That sounds like you made an awesome call.

[Symphonize]

That TPC deal sounds great, I thought about jumping on it but my game is awful right now. Got out to Bittersweet yesterday morning and it was awesome to be back out but I was all over the place. I need to practice. Too bad there is no where to practice.

 

And stuck inside at work all day today so didn't even get to enjoy the nice weather this weekend.

 

[Dashfast]

Had a really enjoyable round at Ravisloe today, but played horribly. Was my first time there and I loved the challenging, often punishing, layout. Couldn’t find a fairway to save my life. We teed off from #10 and it seemed like the back nine was more interesting than the front. After playing Calumet yesterday, I’d have to say that Ravisloe is a superior course. Have only played them each once.

[@_the_crook]

for handling three inches of rain, SV had obvious signs of having been overrun but to its credit, played well. not a lot of runout in the fairway. the greens were fast and firm.

There was casual water in a few spots and you could see some places where the fairways had been underwater.

we played unhurried in three and a half. it's a longer walk than Sportsman's.

I've noticed that their signage is blank on one side. it favors the cart path view , so as you're walking green to tee, look at the course guide or you'll make a wrong turn now and then.

 

 

[chisag]

... Two days in a row without seeing a single cart pin the golf course. No yahoo's screaming at each from across the fairway while parking their carts a few feet from greens and tees with their music blaring. No cart girls. Just golf, with the sounds of nature. I could get used to this.

[SpeedKills7]

Chevy was not too bad but definitely had a few ponds in the fairways on a few hole. The rest of the course was pretty good and the fairways were ok.

Was good to get out and despite waiting a little bit on the back 9 played just at 4 hours.

[geochitown]

Thanks for the report on chevy. how were the greens?

[ldchristopher]

Stonewall today. I was running late (got stuck behind a train that just stopped for 15 minutes) and had to sprint up to the third tee to join Bear. One practice swing after 2 months of not swinging a club and I promptly smashed a drive right down the middle. My driver, short irons, wedges and putter were sharp. Long irons and fairway woods were more of a mixed bag. The course was in pretty solid shape considering the rain. There were a couple of ponds in low spots but they didn’t really come into play. Greens were fairly smooth and had decent pace to them. I’d say the only public courses in the area that drain better are HOE and Blackstone. I wish I could say we had no pace issues with twosomes only and tee times 15 minutes apart. I can’t say that. People who looked like they had never played before decided to try and tee it up at Stonewall. The last time I saw that many ground balls was a round at Jackson Park 8 years ago. After one group finally let us play through on 14 we cruised and still finished in 3:45. I went back and played 1 and 2 to get all 18 in. Birdies on 4 and 14 helped offset bogies on 2, 7, 9, 16 and 18 for a 75. I definitely left some strokes on the course though since I bogied three of the easier holes there (2, 9 and 16). Bowes on Wednesday.

[Shriner]

Played Boone Creek yesterday. Conditions were so-so but to be expected. Views were excellent as usual but tons of carts out and there is no way everyone riding had a disability from what I saw. I saw two females carrying, which was pretty cool. Pace was 3.5 hours and never had an issue waiting, this will be fun as long as you can get a tee time.

[AUTIGER07]

Anyone tried booking as a single at HOE or Bowes? I haven't called yet but it's a little crazy to me they won't allow booking as a single during the week when others in the area are offering the ability online. I checked Cantigny, Blackstone, and a few others and all could be booked as a single with no issues.

[B-Man]

 

George Dunne yesterday. Course was decent but expected better. Rough start but played better on the back.

[taylorx300]

Carts are available to anybody who wants to pay for one, regardless of disability at several course. Why?

Revenue. White Deer, Pine Meadow, Prairie Isle will rent anyone who wants one a cart.

My neighbor is a member at a private and played on 5/1. He was talking yesterday and asked me how many foursomes he witnessed. I guessed none. He said about every other group was playing as 4. Idiots will get that course shit down

[mci711]

I thought the same thing. As I was walking down the fairways I kept thinking how enjoyable it was. Specially out by the river, it was just peaceful. I'm 30 and I'm about to sound like a big time curmudgeon, but the lack of over serving alcohol, music, and bros on the course was so refreshing.

 

The biggest problem is people who don't play ready golf, and there are a ton of them, play quicker in carts than playing non ready golf and walking. If they go to foursomes it is going to be a drag.

[mci711]

Yup, I can see a reversal if people take advantage. We're adding over 2000+ cases a day and other than nj and NY are the hottest spot. Idiots can certainly screw this up.

[mci711]

Speaking of carts. Lol

[Argonne69]

How on earth does a twosome play in 3:45? I'd go insane out there at that pace.

Ravisloe is another course that doesn't allow a single to book online. 'No idea why. Maybe a phone call will do it, but with other courses allowing it, I'm not going to bother.

[Argonne69]

WTF. Is that a twosome on the teebox sharing a cart?

[DavePelz4]

Played Blackstone yesterday and was surprised to find very few wet spots and only 1 plugged shot the entire round. The greens were flawless and typical Blackstone fast. After last weekend I blew too many putts past the hole. On 5, hit a 5W to 8 feet but let's not talk about the 3 putts from there, OK. Pace of play was wonderful.

Let's talk about social distancing, or the lack of it. Apparently several twosome of friends didn't want to follow the Governor's directions and played as a foursome. Somehow, 2 young guys in their 20s-30s got a cart and rode together. Although the practice areas were closed, a couple of guys took it upon themselves to do a bit of practice putting. In the parking lot post round, there was a group of 6 guys who were enjoying post round libations and social distancing wasn't being followed.

All in all, a beautiful day and walk, played with a great friend who said he was pacing at his house for 2 hours anxiously waiting to go, hit a lot of crappy shots with a few good snuck in. Schaumburg this afternoon and it should be another beautiful day!