Surprised by Cantigny - mostly price point for me, much better golf at those rates.
Prairie landing - love it, right on the cusp of 5
Foxford Hills: NA
Harborside: 3; 4 at best.
Blackstone: NA
Thunder Hawk: played once, that said 4. I’ll be going back this year.
Mistwood: 3 (I always thought this place was like a civilized Lost Marsh).
Say it louder for people in back. Not a fan. Drive a mile down the road and enjoy prairie bluff for $30 less.
I played 2 holes of Cantigny before it started pouring rain in 40 degree weather. Seemed like a great course though. I’ve took 2 lessons there as well. Mistwood I honestly know nothing about other than it makes lists.
Also for my reference how would you rate Stonewall in this rating system. I’d say 3.
I’d give it a 4 just to experience some really firm and pure greens, preferably in august or early september. One of the reasons that course isn’t a top tier is because the layout is more challenging than it is interesting. Handful of cool holes but the “showcase” holes are borderline stupid how difficult than can be. 5 and 18 suck so much, I love the course and those are my 1st and 2nd least favorite holes in the world.
If the course had more holes like 3, 4, 8 (minus the stupid green), 12, 13 (kinda), and 17 that offer many different options for shot shapes/trajectories and risk/reward scenarios it would be a real gem of a course.
But to reiterate on the stupidity, I play with one of the assistant pros there 3-4 times a summer, he still hasn’t found an effective way to play 5 and 18. It is legitimately blind luck if you have a birdie putt on those holes from the tips lol. Just goes to show what sociopaths the guys who make it through the Korn Ferry monday qualifier, they go for 18 in 2 and fire it directly at the flagstick on 5 from 210-220.
Preserve 5 (6?)
Cantigny, haven’t played yet, but planning to get to this year so kinda 4
Prairie Landing 4
Foxford Hills, haven’t made it yet
Harborside 5
Blackstone, haven’t made it yet, but very high on the list of local courses to try.
Thunder Hawk 4
Mistwood 2
Heritage Bluffs, haven’t played this one either, guess I have some work to do.
Yeah, driving range is typically mats only. There’s also a pretty decent short game area too for working on 60-70 yards and in. Putting green is fairly large and in good shape, I spent about 30 minutes on it tonight after playing 18. Had to take advantage of that weather, plus everyone was saying the conditions were great, and they were the best I’ve seen out there yet.
Just popping in to remind everyone about The Windmill on 5/22. I’m aware of how long of a drive it is, but the course and area are a lot of fun. If you can’t make it, be sure to check out the prop bets: we’re compiling a list ways your fellow Nesticles can enable gambling habits
Mistwood is one of if not my favorite public course in Chicagoland. The feel is wonderful, the course is interesting, it’s not unreasonably punishing like Lost Marsh. Check it out.
I’m doing an outing the week after TFE on the 22nd. If you want in, send me in a DM. We have 9 at the moment, so looking for 3 more. We’re doing 36 holes on the 22nd.
Dang, if I wasn’t playing in the NLU Winona, MN event that weekend, I’d def would ask to play in your outing. Have never played Lawsonia but something tells me I’m going to want to play it again soon after.
The Preserve: N/a
Cantigny: 5
Prairie Landing: N/a
Foxford Hills: 4 (might be a little slow, might be a little more $$ than you’d think)
Harborside: 4 (extremely unique experience, not a course I like to play often)
Blackstone: 5 (I might’ve had a unique experience but the course was in amazing shape, fastest greens I’ve played on a public course, and just a great time overall)
Thunderhawk: N/a
Mistwood: 5 (Amazing course layout, I had a great group both times I was there which might’ve influenced how I felt about the rounds, but loved it)
Heritage Bluffs: N/a
For what it’s worth you have a great start to your list, you cross those off you’re on your way.
The Preserve - 4. It’s good, and the conditions are solid. Overall a pretty decent rate for a pretty decent golf course. Pace of play can stink though…
Cantigny - 4.5. Should just be a “once a year” thing…but there are 3 nines so it is worth playing a few times to get the full experience. It’s an expensive round though.
Prairie Landing - 4. Was a 5, but the last 2 seasons they jacked up rates. Still a REALLY fun layout, the airfield nearby means getting an air show late in the afternoon, and it’s a “tough but fair” test. Lots of risk reward golf out there.
Foxford Hills - 5. For the price? Best course on this list.
Harborside - 5. Since there are 2 18’s, definitely go play them both (twilight rate rocks). I prefer Starboard.
Thunder Hawk - 3. Only reason it’s not a 4 is because it’s waaayyy up in Zion. Bit of a hike to get there.
Not sure if this fits in here, but is anyone interested in a greens mower?
My BIL had an idea about a putting green at the house he built a few years ago and found a couple mowers at an auction or something.
It never happened and now they’re moving out of state and he wants to get rid of them.
PM me if your interested and I’ll put you in touch.
He’s in Mundelein.
I think he’s around $350 each, but I’m guessing he’s flexible.
Agree the hike to Thunder Hawk can be rough, but it’s so close to Shepherd’s Crook I think if you can play both in a day it makes it worth it. Would be fun to try and get a big group together from here to do that this fall.
