TPC Deere Run?

[bogey_master]

Considering The John Deere Classic is there, it must be a great course. Have any of you guys had experience there? What do you think of it compared to some other courses in northern Illinois and Wisconsin?

[Abh159]

Depends on what your definition of "great" is...

 

I've played a handful of TPC courses, and in my opinion most TPC courses can be summed up in 4 words: good conditions, boring layout.

[Hawkeye77]

Had a wonderful round there a few years ago thanks to @DavePelz4!  My game was missing in action that day, and missing fairways kind of wore me down a bit, but I thought the holes and the routing were very interesting and challenging and the company was exceptional.  I really like the course, FWIW. 

 

[VNutz]

28 minutes ago, bogey_master said:

Considering The John Deere Classic is there, it must be a great course. Have any of you guys had experience there? What do you think of it compared to some other courses in northern Illinois and Wisconsin?

I've played it, and found it to be a fun course. I enjoyed it and would gladly play it again but I wouldn't necessarily call it a "great" course. There are far better tour stops out there, and even more non tour venues as well. One of the guys I played with isn't a big PGA tour fan and was surprised the course held a tournament there.

 

Keep in mind the primary reason the tournament is held there is because of it's proximity to its sponsor's headquarters in John Deere. The PGA tour schedule is not determined by the best courses and layouts, but rather by those with sponsors willing to pay out to host an event and for the publicity.

[bogey_master]

Thanks for the responses. Compared to the very average courses I usually play it is probably nice. 

[VNutz]

Just now, bogey_master said:

Thanks for the responses. Compared to the very average courses I usually play it is probably nice. 

For a person who plays primarily public and mostly mid tier courses, I enjoyed it. But there are better ones out there. Don't mean to rip the course, but don't want to get expectations too high either.

[bogey_master]

Just now, VNutz said:

For a person who plays primarily public and mostly mid tier courses, I enjoyed it. But there are better ones out there. Don't mean to rip the course, but don't want to get expectations too high either.

Totally understandable. I will enjoy it, but it probably won’t be my favorite course I will ever play at.

[CRDuffy21]

I think if you manage expectations accordingly it's a nice course. Yes, it hosts a PGA tour event, but it's traditionally one played by a weak field. The course is almost always in good shape, but it's literally in the middle of nowhere. 

 

There is a casino very nearby that often does stay & play packages if that's your thing. Would I play it again if I was driving by and it was convenient, yes. Would I go out of my way to plan a trip around it, no. Too many other good options in all directions from there. 

[bogey_master]

33 minutes ago, CRDuffy21 said:

Too many other good options in all directions from there. 

In Wisconsin, what courses do you like better than Deere Run? Or if you haven’t been there but think it would be better.

[CRDuffy21]

1 hour ago, bogey_master said:

In Wisconsin, what courses do you like better than Deere Run? Or if you haven’t been there but think it would be better.

 

I've played it and it's fun, so don't get me wrong, but after it you may be like "Hmm, Ok."

 

If you're talking Wisconsin golf - the obvious answer is Sand Valley, but I have played the Geneva National courses and those are fun. If you are looking to head to Illinois, I like ThunderHawk right between Waukegan and Kenosha as a great option. Otherwise if you want to play a (former) PGA Tour course, you could play Dubsdread at Cog Hill. 

[Abh159]

I think what we are all saying is that you shouldn't assume a course is "great" simply because it hosts a tour event. Yes, it will be nice (the tour isn't stopping anywhere that isn't in good shape), but they don't choose events based solely on how great the golf course is. 

 

My childhood hometown hosts an annual PGA Tour event. The course is really nice, but it's pretty plain. There are easily 2-3 other equally as nice courses in that same town I would choose to play over it simply because they have a better layout

[MountainKing]

On 2/22/2023 at 12:27 PM, CRDuffy21 said:

I think if you manage expectations accordingly it's a nice course. Yes, it hosts a PGA tour event, but it's traditionally one played by a weak field. The course is almost always in good shape, but it's literally in the middle of nowhere. 

 

There is a casino very nearby that often does stay & play packages if that's your thing. Would I play it again if I was driving by and it was convenient, yes. Would I go out of my way to plan a trip around it, no. Too many other good options in all directions from there. 

 

Only got one take away here - since when was the quad cities considered the middle of nowhere????  There's a walmart that's walking distance from the course

Edited February 24, 2023 by MountainKing

[Hawkeye77]

20 hours ago, MountainKing said:

 

Only got one take away here - since when was the quad cities considered the middle of nowhere????  There's a walmart that's walking distance from the course

To be fair, other than Jim’s Rib Haven in East Moline ……..

[MK7Golf21]

I've played it twice, I was making everything on the greens because they were in such great shape. 

[exgolfpro]

I played there 10 yrs ago and am hoping to go back this July.  I really enjoyed the course when I was there. 

[sleuth]

On 2/22/2023 at 11:24 AM, bogey_master said:

Considering The John Deere Classic is there, it must be a great course. Have any of you guys had experience there? What do you think of it compared to some other courses in northern Illinois and Wisconsin?

There is no golf course comparable to this place in the Chicago land area. I grew up playing golf courses in the North burbs and everything is flat, and greens that tilt in one or two directions.

 

You'll have elevation changes, undulation with uneven lies, and modern greens. I recall that their greens fee is an all day play rate. So it's like $160 but you can play 2 or 3 times in a given day.