I played all the best courses in MI, so I moved to Chicago

JNewsted · March 27, 2011

WHERE DO I PLAY NOW!?!?

Well, I'm new to Chi-town. After playing nearly everything within a 1.5 hr drive from metro Detroit, I had to find other cities to conquer. And take a new job.

So what I need from you Chicago WRX'ers is this:

-What are the MUST SEE courses, public or private?
-What are the good "value" courses in the area (fun course, under $40)?
-What are the best practice facilities in the area?
-I'm living right in the Loop, at least for the next few months. What do you locals say is the easiest ways to get out of the downtown area and to the courses?
-Last, I'll eventually move to one of the outer neighborhoods. Which are the best golf neighborhoods around?

Thanks, looking forward to getting past this horrible cold weather...

CassinoNorth · March 27, 2011

Try the midwest WRX chapter...

Jeep1423 · March 28, 2011

Hey, what part of the area are you in? That's always a big question....there's a reason we tell people distances in TIME rather than Miles.

akw512 · March 28, 2011

If you've played all the courses within 1.5 hours of metro detroit, you've just scratched the surface on the best courses in MI. Michigan offers some awesome courses farther north and west. Don't get me wrong, the metro area has some great tracks that I enjoy on a regular basis, but I always make it a point to head up north at least once a year to play those courses. Now that you're living in Chicago it may be a little tougher to get up to northern Michigan, but if you want to plan a golf trip consider coming back. As was stated previously, this would probably be a better question to ask in the midwest WRX section.

just372 · March 29, 2011

This should help for Chicago golfers opinions on the best (and worst) courses around:

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/453357-whats-your-favorite-chicago-land-golf-courses/page__st__60"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/453357-whats-your-favorite-chicago-land-golf-courses/page__st__60[/url]

And a course that has not appeared on that list, but that is really easy to get to from the city is Ravisloe in Homewood. Former private course that has been open to play for a couple years and it less than a par 5 from the Metra Electric stop in Homewood.

[url="http://ravisloecountryclub.com/golf/proto/ravisloecountryclub/"]http://ravisloecountryclub.com/golf/proto/ravisloecountryclub/[/url]

JNewsted · March 30, 2011

Thanks to those that replied. I should have known to put it in the Midwest WRXers chapter... been a while since I started a thread.

akw512, I've been all over the state, played close to 150-200 in MI alone. I'm lucky I can come back anytime. Two good things about Chicago is that I can get back home easily, but it's also about 100 miles closer to my favorite non-Pebble course of all, Greywalls... so it's just a good time to dominate a whole new state!

hitsalittle · March 31, 2011

[quote name='JNewsted' timestamp='1301526784' post='3103851']
Thanks to those that replied. I should have known to put it in the Midwest WRXers chapter... been a while since I started a thread.

akw512, I've been all over the state, played close to 150-200 in MI alone. I'm lucky I can come back anytime. Two good things about Chicago is that I can get back home easily, but it's also about 100 miles closer to my favorite non-Pebble course of all, Greywalls... so it's just a good time to dominate a whole new state!
[/quote]

As a former yooper that lived on the 9th fairway of Marquette G&CC, allow me to second JNewsted's recommendation of Greywalls - I've played my share of really GREAT courses, and Greywalls is definitely in my top 5. there are two holes that are questionable, but there are 16 other holes that are just flat out phenomenal. Honestly, if someone offered me Shinnecock again or Greywalls, I might pick Greywalls - check it out sometime - way up in Marquette, MI.

Secondly, welcome to Chicago, JNewsted, from a guy that moved here from mid-Michigan 11 years ago - no shortage of really good courses in the Chicago area - check out the other thread on this topic. the best courses, of course, are private, but Chicago is no public golf slouch, either.

Have fun - check out [url="http://www.localamateurgolf.com"]www.localamateurgolf.com[/url] for tournaments in the area if you are interested.

akw512 · March 31, 2011

Where in Marquette is Greywalls located? I went to school at Northern Michigan University, but completely deprived myself of golf since I couldn't afford it, being a broke college student. I LOVE the area up there, and have heard of Greywalls, but don't know where it is. I may have to make a trip up there this summer....

hitsalittle · April 1, 2011

[quote name='akw512' timestamp='1301624870' post='3107970']
Where in Marquette is Greywalls located? I went to school at Northern Michigan University, but completely deprived myself of golf since I couldn't afford it, being a broke college student. I LOVE the area up there, and have heard of Greywalls, but don't know where it is. I may have to make a trip up there this summer....
[/quote]

It's the newest 18 at Marquette G&CC - they have the heritage course that crosses the road, then Greywalls that is behind it up in the bluffs.

JNewsted · April 6, 2011

hitsalittle, what 2 holes at Greywalls would you say are questionable? I can guess which ones, the members complain about them quite a bit...

...

...

8 and 18?

hitsalittle · April 7, 2011

[quote name='JNewsted' timestamp='1302130297' post='3127087']
hitsalittle, what 2 holes at Greywalls would you say are questionable? I can guess which ones, the members complain about them quite a bit...

...

...

8 and 18?
[/quote]

No, I love 18 - pipe one way down the funnel and I think the design is actually sublime - it's like the fairway puked and it just gets flat as a board. I think that's a neat hole. I like 8, too (if I remember correctly - played it probably 4 years ago - is that the one where left is dead, there's a huge bunker on the right?). I think the holes are 10 and 17 - 10 is the driveable par 4 that has the green that looks like Lake Superior on a windy day? I think a driveable par 4 should have a risk/reward element - that hole is just too easy, even with the green that looks like it has to be mowed with scissors with all the humps and bumps. And 17 is the tiny little par 3 (just a wedge)? those holes are much weaker than the rest, I think.

but, I'm really nit-picking there - I think Greywalls is just a phenomenal course. It's funny to me that Marc Gilmore is still the pro up there - I remember him being "old" when I was a kid, and just saw him again recently and he looked like he hadn't aged a day!

JNewsted · April 7, 2011

hmmmm, I happen to love 10 and 17! Short par 4 #10, hit iron, fw, driver anyway you want, just worry about what tier the pin is. 17 is the same way, big green, dont miss in wrong section. I agree, hard to find flaws.

hitsalittle · April 8, 2011

Yeah, like I said - really nit-picky for me. gawd, I love that place - I'm sure part of it is that I grew up sledding on those hills behind the cart barn as a kid, but it's really an amazing course - dramatic without being goofy. too many courses go for drama (lots of Northern Michigan courses guilty of this) and beautiful views and the actual course leaves a lot to be desired.

BEND OF THE RIVER GC · June 19, 2011

JH,

I know for a fact that you never played Oakland Hills. Liar! Liar!

OrlandoSean · June 27, 2011

[quote name='JNewsted' timestamp='1301272486' post='3094301']
Well, I'm new to Chi-town. After playing nearly everything within a 1.5 hr drive from metro Detroit, I had to find other cities to conquer. And take a new job.

So what I need from you Chicago WRX'ers is this:

-What are the MUST SEE courses, public or private?
-What are the good "value" courses in the area (fun course, under $40)?
-What are the best practice facilities in the area?
-I'm living right in the Loop, at least for the next few months. What do you locals say is the easiest ways to get out of the downtown area and to the courses?
-Last, I'll eventually move to one of the outer neighborhoods. Which are the best golf neighborhoods around?

Thanks, looking forward to getting past this horrible cold weather...
[/quote]

Erin Hills, Just north west of Milwaukee is pretty awesome. Probably 2 hours from Chi-town.