Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[mci711]

Depending on the conditions, 170/180 shot to the right side of the fat part of the fairway. Wedge in.

[tmw1582]

Played Green Garden Gold on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. I've never been and my playing partner told me it was a dump when he last played, but that was the only tee time left when we looked Wednesday evening. Apparently they got a new super a couple years ago and I thought it was in pretty good shape for a $45 Saturday morning rate. The fairways were in good shape if a little long. The rough was long, but has been cut. The greens were slow but I expected that. We caught a foursome in front of us, and there were some what looked liked perfectly healthy 20 somethings driving carts basically on the green, but other than that it was a great day to be on the course.

[Argonne69]

A very nice day out at Oak Brook. Thank goodness for the stiff breeze, as the humidity was starting to make things a little uncomfortable. The course was in much better shape than I was expecting. It appears that holes three though six had been flooded, as the fairways had a (drying) coat of mud on them. Oh, and the smell was special. However, they had dried enough that there were no mud balls. Hmmm. Otherwise the fairways were looking very good. 'Quite soft, but they were getting some roll. Rough had been cut, but was still long enough to be penal. More on that in a minute. Bunkers had been raked, and played decent. Green looked and rolled fine, somewhere in the 8 to 9 range. Pace was very good at 3 hours.

'Still think #9 is one of the stupidest holes in Chicagoland golf. It was playing into the wind today, and it was 240 to carry to the 2nd fairway. I decided to hit a fairway wood, and managed to run out fairway, and into 2 inch rough. I had 180 to a front pin location, but had to hack out with a 9 iron. Either move the tees up, especially on a day with a headwind, or lay down a piece of drainage pipe, and fill in the ditch.

Other than the hiccup on the 9th it was a solid day. I carried my clubs for the first time in 17 years, and I'm beat. 'No where near as bad as yesterday, though. Lower back and shoulders are sore, but a couple of Aleve should take care of them. I think I'll stick with carrying until we get an extended dry spell.

[Thunder Dan]

What’s up with Blackstone ignoring the rules set forth for golf that other courses are abiding by? I like the course but does it not rub anyone else the wrong way that they just choose to not be inconvenienced by the climate? I feel like we are either all in this together or we aren’t, it’s cheating which is golf is a big no-no. It makes me view the course much differently now vs the high regard I had for it prior.

 

[Shriner]

I certainly understand how you feel Thunder Dan and have no problem with anyone who feels that way. I personally had zero issue with it. I am trying to think if I came within ten feet of another human being during my round on Sunday. I pre-paid, did not use a bathroom, did not go in the clubhouse, did not get near the starter. More I think about it, may have been twenty feet away from the next human being outside of my group. I could not have had a better day and I appreciate Blackstone providing the opportunity.

[MountainKing]

I'm a bit behind, played The Preserve last week, was thinking we'd get a sloppy mess since it was two days after all the big rains. The course was not dry, but it wasn't wet either. Greens rolled great, got through there in 3 hours. The front 9, especially hole 9 beat me up again for a 42, came back through the back with a 36. The few times I've played out there my scores on both 9's have been within a stroke of each other. I have to figure out 9, I have yet to score better than a double on that hole.

We hit out Lost Marsh yesterday, amazing to see the change in two weeks, Indiana seems to be acting now like nothing ever happened (packed range, shared carts, gathering on the putting greens ect). I got through the opening stretch in -1, A few errors after led to a 76. The more I play there the more i enjoy that stretch. The holes are tough, but they're shorter (except 3) allowing you to think your way through them a bit, and three has a rather large landing area. Still don't like the Z shaped par 5. As I said earlier, Indiana seems to be back to normal, pace of play was 4:30 on a Tuesday so yeah.....

[taylorx300]

Played first round of the year on Sunday at Spring Valley in WI. I have driven by that course hundreds of times but never played it. Langford design so I wanted to see it. Reading on the website that it’s defense was small pushed up greens. Only played nine due to time but it was pretty packed and with all the rain it was sloppy. Will go back for a full 18 holes when it’s dry to see the whole course.

[Shriner]

Great question, I don't really think there is a method to play hole 9. The fairway is roughly 5-10 yards wide in the landing area and that is just not a high percentage shot, even for a pro. I think you have to lay back behind the bunker and take your 180 yd approach. Not a great hole at all...

[Argonne69]

I was looking at tee sheets for Friday, and moving to foursomes at 10 minute intervals really opens things up. I was shocked that Wilmette is charging $25 for an optional cart. That's crazy, but I guess when only single riders are allowed they'll be looking to maximize the profit.

 

[B-Man]

Agreed. 9 and 10 are both most ordinary holes. 16 has issues too. Otherwise the layout is decent.

[chisag]

 

"We are either all in this together or we aren't" I could not agree more. If this is OK for Blackstone, nothing wrong with opening pools, beaches, bars, etc. It is easy for us as golfers to say we think it is safe if we follow the other rules just not this one. Other courses are following the rules and losing revenue and struggling financially because they are trying to keep Illinois residents and their staff safe during a pandemic. Obviously there are plenty of rules that are a bit over the top for us that use common sense, but there are so many idiots out there that are too ignorant/stupid/selfish so anyone flaunting the rules is a sign for them to do the same. It is only a week to wait for the next Phase.

[geochitown]

Suprised you'd have issues with 16, nice short par 4 with a restricted landing area. Drive-able hole potentially, not for me, but for most golfwrx'ers ;-)

[B-Man]

The tee shot is all or nothing at 16. 4-iron or driver.

[geochitown]

That's a heck of a 4 iron. From the tips it's 265 to the bunkers.

It definitely forces a decision.

[AUTIGER07]

I've only played Preserve 2x, both from the Black tees, and both days were extremely windy so it was hard to gauge how to play some of those holes under normal conditions.

The first round the wind was coming out of the Southeast so #'s 4-9-16 were into a pretty good headwind. I went 3W / 4i into #9 about as well as I could and 2 putted for a par; felt like I had won a $#%&ing US Open walking off that green. The second time was nearly the opposite wind, which made #4 and #16 fun to go after and #5 and #15 shortened par 5's. However, the tight landing area on #9 just meant you dropped down a club or two and still hit basically the same club in.

That's probably the only hole on the course that I have a "problem" with. In my opinion if the fairway would open up a little bit more after the bunkers it would solve a lot of playability issues of the hole.

[Thunder Dan]

That’s a better way of saying what I was trying to say. So many courses are abiding by the rules and suffering the financial issues that come with it. They are doing it as a contributor to our society, like most of us are. Why does Blackstone get to write their own rules? Why should we as a community support that? I play there 4-6 times a year but I’m sad to say I don’t think I will this year as I’d like my daily fee to go towards owners that took this seriously regardless of the financial outcomes.

[TheBear95]

I'm with you on this. Well said.

[ldchristopher]

The answer to the original question (why does Blackstone get to make its own rules?) has everything to do with location and political leanings. In 2016, Marengo had a “Hillary for Prison” sign on everyone’s lawn. It’s Fox News-level far right. Same thing in Byron, where Bear and I saw some...um...creative spellings of the governor’s last name and were also letting foursomes out with only two carts per group. Is it fair to other courses? Of course not. However, executive orders like this are basically impossible to police and people at Blackstone and Prairie View are willing to test that. Honestly, I’m surprised (and impressed) more courses haven’t already followed suit.

[TBone0576]

Planning to hit Pine Meadow tomorrow morning for a solid practice session. Hammer out a large bucket and spend a lot of time chipping and putting which has what has been adding a lot of strokes to my scores this year. Love their practice facility.

[VNutz]

I don't doubt that at all. I do believe, according to this thread, in April that players were caught playing Blackstone during the full shut down, but from my impression the course was allowing them to play. I agree that I'm not in favor of them deliberately disobeying the rules, and I'm fully in favor of complying with said rules that are in place.

For the record, it was not our intention to play there because of the 4somes or as any sort of statement. We had the course on our group year long schedule well ahead of time, and when we booked my understanding was that it was for 6 separate groups for the 12 of us but I don't know for certain as I didn't make the call. I believe between when we booked and when we played was when Phase 3 was discussed, and my guess was the course made their decision to change from there as I was informed mid week that we were playing in 4s instead of 2s. We either had a choice of dropping our time and searching for 6 adjoining spots elsewhere (impossible) or play in 4somes. I'm all in favor of following rules but given our options and the 7 day difference between when rules changed I'm ok with what we did.

[Argonne69]

Balmoral Woods today. I got a bit unlucky with the rain. I teed off in a steady rain with full rain gear, but of course it passed by the 5th hole. By the end of the round it was quite pleasant with a few patches of blue sky, and a nice cooling breeze. As I stood on the 13th tee I saw another single in a cart on the adjacent 8th tee. Other than him I saw no other players on the course. Balmoral is a great course to walk solo.

I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but conditions were wet, no surprise. The rough had been cut for the most part, but there were a few spots that were just nasty. I pulled my drive on the long par 4 15th. I found my ball in what had to have been six to eight inch wet rough. I managed to find three other balls as well. Bunkers were unplayable. The greens looked fine, but were rolling 7 to 8 early in the round, and maybe 8 to 9 later.

'Had a nice round off the tee, but the course played long, and I only managed 7 greens. My scrambling was simply awful. I did manage to get a good workout carrying the clubs.

 

[Argonne69]

OK, what am I missing? I went to book a tee time at The Preserve on Monday, and the tee sheet is wide open. I think there's maybe one group booked all morning. Is the course under water? I don't recall ever seeing their tee sheet that open. They're offering a 10% discount online, so I booked a 9:30 am slot for $49.50. 'Not too shabby. Anybody care to join?

 

[JFrew]

The Ogle County Sheriff, where Byron is located, had previously stated that they were not going to enforce the stay at home order. This was posted on their facebook page and a news article about it. Ogle County Sheriff's office will not enforce stay at home order

[ldchristopher]

No judgment from me. Blackstone is a quality course. I base what courses I play on five factors: course quality, value, pace, aesthetics, and the presence of a walking rate. Once upon a time, Blackstone checked every box. Of course, that was when I could play it for $29 at twilight. Now that they’ve followed the Foxford model of selling cheap memberships and jacking up the daily rates for a 5 hour round, it’s a hard pass. But people’s political leanings don’t impact where I play or don’t play.

[stasek]

The Brute on Saturday and Sunday.

[B-Man]

Fresh Ghettoes later this afternoon with the local dads and sons. Can't wait!

[VNutz]

Don't miss the fairway. Drove past this morning and the rough looked quite lengthy still. Not so much advice for you, but your playing partners. ;)

[coggolfer]

At least its a place to play and shouldn't hurt your wallet

[geochitown]

Happy that I was able to squeeze in 18 at Makray yesterday afternoon.

Last day of twosomes.

Didn't look good with the forecast, but despite being rained on 2-3 times on the front 9, and the course playing super soft, I was able to get in 18.

greens are in great shape there.

 

[mci711]

Blackwolf Run River on Sunday. Knocking off the Wisconsin courses still on my list this summer. I've only played the Whistling Straits courses at Kohler, any suggestion on walking vs riding at BWR?