Category Archives: GOLF COURSE REVIEW
Why do I have to work
I’m getting so many emails from golf courses saying they are open for business……and I’m stuck in the office. Even though it is ridiculously windy out today, I wish I was outside with a club in my hand. In due time I guess….in due time.
Tee it Up!!
Chalet Hills Golf Club
943 Rawson Bridge Rd
Cary, IL 60013
(847) 639-0666
Website
Chalet Hills, located in Cary, IL was my second stop on my day of 36 holes. Chalet is one fantastic golf course, and easily one of my new favorite courses in IL. One of my big criteria’s for ranking a golf course is how memorable the course is….well this has to be one of the more memorable layouts around. The course boasts mostly tight tree lined holes, some wide fairways, elevation changes, and just a great mix of holes. Chalet also has to be one of the more picturesque courses in the Chicagoland area. The course is surrounded by rolling hills, wildlife, and plenty of water hazards. Cary might be a difficult place to get to, but this course is one hidden gem that must be discovered by everyone. During my own research of this course I found that in 2004, Golf Digest ranked Chalet Hills as #3 out of the 5 “Best Kept Secrets in America!” For many years now I have been dying to make it up to Cary to play here, and have to say Golf Digest was not wrong. Designed by Ken Killian, who claims Chalet was the greatest golf course he has ever designed, plays from 6,877yds from the men’s tips and a rating/slope of 73.6/137, and 5,983yds, 75/134 from the women’s tee’s. This course is also extremely well conditioned, and I have to say for a public golf course the greens are impeccable. Hands down probably the best kept and fastest greens I have played in a long time. Chalet offers a driving range area, practice putting green, and nice club house. Chalet is an absolute must play for every golfer of all levels. I would even recommend this course to golfers from out of state. This course has it all and I guarantee you will enjoy.
Let me end by saying I played twilight and tee’d off at 5:30 and played 18 holes of golf in 2 ½ hours….which I have to say is rather impressive. I played by myself and literally flew through the course. Unfortunately, since I played so late in the day the picture quality of the course wasn’t as good as I’d hope due to most pictures being affected by the sun setting. Given that the pictures won’t offer the portrayal of the course as I would have hoped, don’t worry because I’m sure I will be back there soon and will take better pictures.
Foxford Hills Golf Club
6800 S Rawson Bridge Rd
Cary, IL 60013
(847) 639-0400
Website
Foxford Hills Golf Club was my first stop in what was a fantastic day of 36 holes of golf. Foxford Hills was a great course and must play for everyone in the Chicagoland area. This course features elevation changes, wide open holes, tree-lined holes, and plenty of well positioned MacKenzie-styled bunkers and water hazards to collect your balls. The bunkering on #12 and #13 are two great examples of what Alister MacKenzie made his last name famous for. I felt that the layout of the course was well designed and each hole had its own unique characteristics, including its own name. The course was aesthetically beautiful and challenging, and made me stop and look around several times to take in the scenery. I played from the gold tees which was around 6,600 yards, but the course plays from 6,988 yards and has a rating/slope of 72.8/129 from the men’s tees, and 5,564 yards and a rating/slope of 70.9/122 from the women’s tees. The front nine is basically wide open, but then on the back to you start to get into more of a wooded style course. As there are excellent holes on the front, the layout and landscape of the back nine was much more to my liking. One thing that I do need to mention was that fairway condition on some holes on the back was a little rough and in need of some maintenance. With the undulating fairways and elevation changes on the back, coupled with all the rain, the fairways were extremely effected. Another weird observation I made after a few holes, was that there was no fringe around the greens. Am I alone on this one thinking that is weird? With that said, these last two points I’ve made should by no means prevent any golfer from playing here, because this is one heck of a golf course. So, if you are looking for a course that is unlike most in the Chicagoland area, will challenge your game, but most importantly provide an extremely enjoyable round of golf, stop no further, and head to Foxford Hills.
Jackson Park Golf Course
6401 S. Richards Drive
Chicago, IL 60649
(773) 667-0524
Website
I played Jackson Park Golf Course recently for the first time and have to say, for a CPDG (Chicago Park District Golf) course I was pretty impressed. Designed by legendary architect Tom Bendelow, this historic municipal course played 5,444yds from the tips and had a rating/slope of 65.7/109. Located just 10 minutes south of the Loop right off Lake Shore Drive, Jackson Park is a convenient golf getaway for someone looking to not travel far from downtown for 18 holes of golf. The course is situated right off Lake Michigan, and there are a few holes which you see the water and the Marina. You can also see some of the buildings from downtown on a clear day. In all honestly though, this isn’t the type of course you go home and brag about to your friends, but still recommend it (I know that might be kind of an oxymoron). The day I was out there, the bunkers were in horrible condition, which might have something to do with all the rain, but I hope they are maintained better than that. The tee boxes were also in terrible condition. On the contrary, the fairways were in above average shape and the greens were surprisingly in good condition, slow, but well-kept. Almost every hole is lined by mature trees, so accurate shots are necessary at Jackson Park. The course does provide some challenge, but being that it is a shorter course a great score is definitely feasible. The staff was very friendly, and you can’t beat some grilled food out on the course at the 14th hole. For the price, the location, and the course itself Jackson Park is a must if you live in the city.
The Links at Carillon
21200 W South Carillon Dr
Plainfield, IL 60544
(815) 886-2132
So I have finally played a round in 2011. It has been a long wait but the sticks have finally touched the grass. The weather in Chicago has just been miserable this spring, but my season has begun. My first round of the year was played at The Links at Carillon in Plainfield. The Links was a perfect course to kick off the season and shake the cobwebs off. The Links at Carillon is a 27 hole facility, and I got the chance to play the Red and White courses. The Red course played at 3,391 yards with a rating/slope of 72.5/125. The White course played at 3,438 with a rating/slope of 71.1/123. Both courses are very similar in layout and condition, and I believe the Blue course is as well, but a little shorter in yardage. Overall, the course was extremely flat with not that much undulation in the greens except for a few holes. I found that the course provided many challenging holes, but the par 3s were a big disappointment……no wow factor there. The course is surrounded by homes on every hole, which is something I don’t particularly like, but there is still plenty of room for errant shots. There is a driving range, practice green, and chipping area. This course definitely deserves a try for Chicagoland golfers. Enjoy a hole-by-hole review with pictures below.
CHICAGO GOLF CENTRAL 