Glenview Park Golf Club
800 Shermer Road
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 724-0250
Website
So I have played this course more then any other course in Illinois, having grown up in the area. To be completely honest I was never a huge a fan of this course. It was overpriced and really didn’t do anything for me. This is until they just finished a complete course renovation, done by local golf course design firm Jacobson Golf Course Design. Rick Jacobson has done several renovations in the north shore, so he was the right choice for the job. I have to say he did a fantastic job. I played this course the first weekend it opened, so I got to see it before it was really played on. The layout of the holes didn’t change much, but the aesthetics of the course drastically changed. Brand new bent grass fairways, new greens, trees were removed, and several new strategic bunkers completely transformed this course into a track I will gladly come back and play. The course still has some maturing to do from all the renovations, so it will only get better….I hope.
Playing only 6,113 from the tips and a rating/slope of 69.6/128, this par 70 course is now a course I would recommend to my fellow golfers. This is a very short course, but the fairways are for the most part tree-lined so errant tee shots can get you into some trouble. Keep the ball straight and you are in for a low round. The course offers a practice putting green, and a full service club house. The only thing I did not see was the old net you could hit into off the first tee. Not sure if they will bring that back out, but to be honest who cares.
I’m glad this course got a face lift, and has now jumped a few spots up my rankings from its old spot near the bottom. So head to Glenview to enjoy a round on what feels and looks like a new course.
Tee it up!!
Lost Marsh Golf Course
901 129 St
Hammond, IN 46320
(219) 932-4046
Website
Many people that I spoke to told me I needed to check this course out. Being close to Chicago and quite affordable ($67 w/ cart on the weekend), I decided to give it a shot. I have to say though, this was a round of mixed emotions. Let me explain, because I don’t mean that in a completely negative way.
Basically my only negative opinion of this course are the majority of the first 5 holes on the course which navigate a lake. The first hole, although being very memorable with a view of the Chicago skyline, is a tough opening hole. With water all around the fairway and green it is a brutal way to start your round, and I had no idea what club to use off the tee. The third hole was another hole surrounded by water….very tough tee shot and the #1 handicapped hole. The fourth hole is a short par 5. The entire right side of the hole is water, and the left side is OB. This hole consists of 3 peninsulas. Your tee shot is onto the first peninsula, and then depending on how far you are you can either layup onto the next peninsula or go for the green, which is also a peninsula. Finally the fifth hole is a short par 4 and driveable for the long hitters. Right is all water, and left OB as well. To many these hole may sound fun, but to me just not the way your round should start. If they were spread out in different areas of the course it would be a different story. Needless to say my score was hurting going into the 6th hole.
So we move on because the rest of the course was very different and a lot more to my liking. Lost Marsh was designed Charles Howard by and plays from 6,803yds from the men’s tips and a rating/slope of 73.6/132, and 5,859yds, 74.2/127 from the women’s tee’s. The course was in great shape that day and the greens ran true. The rest of the course was a mix of tree lined holes but mostly wide-open with rolling fairways. Other then the lovely factories surrounding the course and a terrible start, it was a good round of golf and I enjoyed myself. Given the location, the course was a pleasant surprise. There is a grass driving range and putting practice area, and there is also a 9-hole par 3 course. Listen I know I was critical on the first several holes, but I do think this course is worth a shot. It is close to Chicago and I know you will enjoy your round.
Tee it Up!!
500 Yard Drive
We’ve all hit a drive that took a huge bounce off a cart path and added several yards to the drive, but I have never seen something like this before.
Bittersweet Golf Club
875 Almond Road
Gurnee, IL 60031
(847) 855-9031
Website
Going into this round of golf I didn’t have high expectations for this course. No one I knew had played it, and I didn’t know much about the course. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by this course. It rained a little that day (which you can tell by the pictures below), but the course was in great condition. I really enjoyed the layout of the course. Surrounded by mature trees, abundance of wetlands and wildlife, and undulating greens, Bittersweet provided a fun and challenging round of golf. Designed by Robert M. Lohmann, Bittersweet plays from 6,751yds from the men’s tips and a rating/slope of 73.3/135, and 5,614yds, 72.8/130 from the women’s tee’s. This course makes a golfer choose their clubs wisely and you will use all the clubs in your bag. I preferred the back nine to the front due to the scenery you experience as the wetlands come more into play. The course offers a grass driving range and chipping and putting practice area. I live in the city, but would drive up to Gurnee to play this course again. If you haven’t played here yet, I do recommend a trip to Bittersweet for your next round.
Tee it Up!!
CHICAGO GOLF CENTRAL 