Yep, I figured as much. The April date has a lot of momentum. Back to back M&L courses for that contingent.
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Anyone play at Orchard Valley in Aurora regularly? I may be looking at a house near there and based on the reviews its not a bad track but pace is an issue.
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Two sides to it.
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Really really fun track that’s usually in pretty decent condition and provides a TON of challenge. Really good size range as well that would be worth the visit alone.
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Because the last 4 holes play fairly “aggressively” over water, pace ALWAYS backs up. I’ve done fairly well during 4pm twilight rounds, but that was 4hr 30min on a slow day with only a few groups ahead.
Personally? That area is worth the move. Orchard Valley is clutch, you’ve got Prairie Landing not far away, Valley Green is the mother of all Strapped courses (and SO fun), and Fox Bend too. I’d say go for it!
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Where are you moving from? We’re pretty close to that area and I agree with @TCRBrad that orchard valley is in good shape and the water holes are a killer (especially if your miss is right). I think it used to host a bunch of CDGA events years ago. You are 20-30 minute drive from a handful of really decent courses. Aurora is an interesting combination of middle/upper middle class families and Gangs shooting each other…
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I’m currently in Campton Hills so it’s only like 15 minute drive to aurora. Orchard Valley has been on the short list to play for a long time but just never worked out. Thx for the insight
Where in Chicago do you live? I’ll make some recommendations.
So the Chicagoland Refuge will be returning to Cog Hill, but this time on Dubsdread. Saturday August 7th, 2021. Estimated start time of 11am, whenever the permanent times are done. Daylight concerns really rule out 36 but we could take the party over to their Top Tracer range once we finish up on Dubs.
Someone in the Nest will post the signup form here soon since I can’t as a non-Nestian. Please only sign up if you plan to make it and will pay the $190 for the greens fees (w/cart) and the game/charity. The signup form will stay open until Monday night, and from there I’ll request the block from Cog based on those numbers. Let’s go launch 'em.
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Extremely interested in this! This wouldn’t be an official event, right. Just wanted to double check on if you planned on try to get mercy or something.
If someone with a Nest membership wants to fill out the paperwork to make this an NIT qualifier I’m cool with it.
I just received an email from Hawk’s View doing a Calloway fitting day on 2/20. 50% trade in bonus plus 10% of money spent converted into a Hawk’s View gift card. If interested I can forward the email
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Bumping this post. Chicago Refuge playing Dubsdread, fill out the form if you’re interested! Gonna close it tomorrow night to email Cog back with our numbers.
I’ve never played Cog Hill. As an improving 20, am I going to get detonated?
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I don’t think so. Dubs absolutely DESTROYS the 5-15HCP range, but leaves plenty of room for those outside that mark.
More on this tomorrow. Time for steak nachos
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Also I should add: completely open to being detonated.
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Just when you think you got dubs under control it jumps up and bites you. A drive in the rough, a leave in a big bunker, or a slider downhiller await on any hole. Then you get to 18. What a beast for an average golfer.
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New to the Refuge! I play 35-40 different public courses annually in Chicagoland, from the Indiana to Wisconsin border. There is no place better in the U.S.A. for public golf than the Windy City! Check out the Windy City Public Golfers Guide at www.windycitygolf.blogspot.com for stories, reviews, photo tours and everything about Chicago public golf. I’ll be happy to share my opinion on any local course, I’ve pretty much played them all (with a few exceptions)…
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Okay…dubs review.
The Par 3’s kind of stink from a yardage variety standpoint (there’s only a 25 yard difference between the longest and shortest…which blows) but I do love 12 and 14 how they’re placed into the side of the valley. These will basically eat up anyone because there is basically no room for error on any of them.
The Par 5’s are SUPER straight forward and pretty easy…except for 9. 9 is an absolute grind given how tight it is, and it’s every definition of a “3 shot” par 5. But 11 is incredible, I play 5 as a par 5 and it’s really fun to try and take it on in 2, and 15 is as straight forward as it gets.
The Par 4’s are left…which is where the 5-15 crowd dies and the others live AS LONG AS YOU’RE PLAYING THE CORRECT TEES. Take 4, one of the trickier par 4’s on the course. The 5-15 crowd USUALLY carries the ball ~220-240 in the air, which means playing the Whites or Blues leaves trouble at ~240 off the box. If you’re shorter than that, but playing the Whites at 6382yds then the trouble is ALL in front of you. Visually intimidating? Of course. But actually dangerous? Not so much.
Making 5 for someone a little higher than a 15 is bogey golf and not too shabby. For a 10 or lower? Frustrating as hell.
Mind you…there are holes at Dubs that take the mid to high handicapper in mind (eg: 1, 7, 13, 18) with trouble off the tee, but overall you can’t really get in “too much” trouble out there.
Of course if you’re not great at bunker shots, you will struggle. There are a LOT of them.
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The one time I played it I remember thinking that it wasn’t overwhelmingly hard, but annoying off the tee. To the point where you can get away with some “so bad its good” shots.
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My TLDR of Dubsdread is that the first 10 holes are a pretty well-kept parks course with 2x too many bunkers, but 11-18 can hang with any of the best courses. That stretch from 11 Green through 14 feel like you left Illinois for a minute.
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