Where are you playing tomorrow - Chicago (Round 3)

[VNutz]

Hold up, you saw a cart girl?? I think I remember what that is.

[VNutz]

Highlands of Elgin Saturday morning. Course was in fine shape, but you could tell the effect the weather has had on the thick rough, I've never seen it so thick. Usually if a ball goes in there you can find it pretty easily, but it took some effort. Not a good day to rediscover the snap hook and the left of lefts. Wind being up didn't help either, but it was one of the more beautiful days I can remember.

 

One thing I was surprised to see a lack of staffing. No starter, no scorecards on the first tee, you had to go back to the "starter" located near the stairs and parking lot to get that. I wouldn't have thought about it a few weeks ago, but it felt like they were still in semi shutdown mode. Beyond that the restaurant and patio appears to have closed down, and we surmised they held the liquor license as there was no beer at the turn. Big bummer as that was one of the better spots to sit and enjoy a post round beverage.

[jimwgt26]

Hi all. Been sidelined with a foot injury for a few weeks. Hoping to swing a club again by this weekend.

 

I know this has been discussed previously discussed. I was given a generous Club Champion gift card for my birthday. Looking for a specific fitter/ location referral? Both the Chicago and Deerfield locations are convenient for me. Thanks.

[Dashfast]

@jimwgt26 Don’t do Chicago location.

[DavePelz4]

Will add that this was the first time in all the rounds that we've played there that the people who were working were less than friendly. The starter tore my head off because I was there 75 minutes before our tee time which was unacceptable to him. And, we only had 11 when we booked 12. I completely understand the no refunds but here's what their website says..."No Refunds on prepaid times. In the event that you need to cancel your reservation or inclement weather, we will issue a rain check to be used at a later date." When I asked about a rain check, he told me they would not give one and the website was incorrect.

[mci711]

Has anyone played Glen Club this year? Is it in good shape, or is it somewhere that I don't really ever have to worry about shape? 88 sunny and low wind Thursday seems pretty ideal for me to get out there.

[geochitown]

It should be in great shape.

The only thing I'd ask is about aeration, but probably not an issue.

I haven't played there this year, but conditions, as long as it hasn't been too wet, are normally solid.

[Dashfast]

Any grass ranges open?

[mci711]

Cantigny is on grass.

[propman]

Bolingbrook Golf Club driving range is open,

[geochitown]

I believe the Preserve has their grass range open

 

[mci711]

Is the CDGA handicap app any better than it was in the past? Did they make any changes with the new system? It wasn't very practical or user friendly in the past, I thought it was a PITA to post scores from out of town.

[Dashfast]

@mci711 I gave up on CDGA and just use Grint.

[Argonne69]

Wet day at The Preserve. Well, on the final stretch of holes anyway. The course looked great. Fairways were lush. The rough was cut to an appropriate length I'd say. Bunkers were groomed. Greens looked fine. The only nit was the speed of the greens, rolling 8 to 9, and that was before the rain. Left way too many putts short. Pace was decent at four hours, but we did have to call the ranger out after a slow start. Our group and the foursome in front of us were standing on the 2nd tee while the twosome in front of us, each in their own carts mind you, were limping their way along. I spoke to the ranger on the next hole, and he said that the two were on the allowable "four and a half hour pace". FFS. Since when did 4.5 hours become the norm? I walked The Old Course in 3:40 last year with everyone taking dozens of photos. Thankfully they picked up the pace.

 

[B-Man]

Playing The Preserve Thursday afternoon. Hopefully faster greens and shorter rough than Argonne played today.

[TheBear95]

LD and I played Stonewall this afternoon. The greens were moving, especially on the back 9. Some of the low spots were still wet, but most of the course is drying out nicely from all the May rains.

The fast greens and strong winds made for a challenging round.

[Drew_G]

Hey! I was there today, too. Teed off at 11:30 and was off the course by 3. You must’ve been ahead of me? Agreed, the course is in great shape. I left a fair share of putts short, too but I just thought it was me. That’s my go-to miss.

[cpeck12]

I second Grint. Very user friendly and has WGH for $20 this year.

[Argonne69]

Mt Prospect this morning. Beautiful day, thanks to the cooling breeze. The course was in very nice shape. I was surprised to see a few less than perfect areas in the fairways, but otherwise they were fine. The rough was manageable. Bunkers were in great shape. The greens looked nice, but there were way too many unrepaired ball marks. 'Probably fixed three to four per hole. Oy. Speed was probably 9 or so. Pace of play was very good at 3:45.

Decent day ballstriking. I decided to go to a fade for the majority of my drives. The big draw was getting ugly at times. I'm losing a few yards on the good ones, but overall the average is up taking away the ugly duck hooks. 'Best shot of the day was my drive on the par 4 8th. With a nice helping tailwind, and the assist of the downslope in the landing area, I had only 60 yds to the front pin.

 

[ldchristopher]

Yeah, Stonewall was playing difficult yesterday with the greens running at about 11 (13 on the GolfWRX scale of hyperbolizing green speeds). They top dressed them with some sand but the wind whipped the sand right off and the greens were really moving. We played through a sevensome on 5 and got held up by another sevensome on 8 and 9. All bro’s playing a scramble. Luckily, they were only playing 9 holes. Stonewall needs to get a ranger on the course so that these giant groups don't hold up pace of play. I had to scramble all over the front since I only hit two greens but my wedge game was sharp enough that I had a 38 at the turn. On the back the tempo normalized (crazy how that happens when I’m not playing behind seven golfers at a time) and my ball striking was excellent. I had makeable birdie looks on 10, 11, and 12 before cashing in on 14 and 17. As always, I bogied 18 because f—- that hole. 74.

[Argonne69]

18 at Stonewall is definitely in the top 5 of the most hated holes in Chicagoland.

 

[chrisf60526]

Got 9 in at Flagg Creek, For a quick round and $20, that place is great. It was in good condition.

[Gdane]

I'll take Hole 12 at Prairie Landing for 100 Alex.

[Argonne69]

Wha? Challenging hole. No where near as goofy as Oak Brook #9, or everybody's favorite at Oak Grove.

[chisag]

... and no conversation is complete without mentioning #3 at Naperbrook. When the wind is howling it is a tough hole for a good player but almost impossible for the high index muni player. Crowned fairway with water left and right so no bailout and I have seen more balls in the water than any hole I have played. Once you navigate the tee shot there is OB left and after down the entire right side almost al the way to the green. Just a silly, silly hole. Played with 3 guys today that lost 7 balls on that one hole. Wind a good 20-25 mph left to right off the tee and in your face for the next 2 shots. I have learned to ignore birdie and just hit a 7-4 iron off the tee depending on wind, leaving a fairway wood/hybrid to around 150-125. Play for par and move to the next hole.

[stasek]

Last minute “we have a tee time at 2:40, can you make it” at Old Oak. Course, tee to green, was in very good condition. The bunkers haven’t been raked in few days, and the greens need another couple weeks to fully recover from aeration. They were very inconsistent speed wise, and little bumpy, but very much playable. Could have shot a really good score, if I didn’t have couple stretches of “wth was that”... 4 birdies, couple silly doubles on easy holes, few 3 putts - 76. The best part was the pace of play - we finished in 3:05, which was a nice change of pace after couple brutally slow rounds in Wisconsin. Oh, they actually had a starter (started on 10) AND a car girl, which we saw at least 4-5 times.

[Mr Smooth]

Playing Shepherd’s Crook Tomorrow. Can anyone comment on its walkability? Thanks

[B-Man]

The solution to Oak Brook is so so simple. Extend the 8th hole by 100yrds and shorten 9 by the same.

[geochitown]

 

very walkable course. Green to tee walks are close together

[Symphonize]

As Geo said, very walkable. The only part that is a long walk is after the turn, from the clubhouse to the 10th, there is a 2-3 minute walk. Other than that everything pretty much backs up to each other.