Happy to see the Shepherd’s bump after the group’s pilgrimage out there last Fall.
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It could be recency bias, or the fact that I won my match there last weekend, but I LOVE Rav. Even after all the rain on Saturday, it was in decent shape and pace of play was about average. Sad that I will be missing the event there.
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Hello everybody. My wife and I currently live in NC. We are coming to visit family in June 12-18. My wife’s family lives in Naperville. Was wondering if while I am in town anybody wants to get out and play a round. I know one day I will be at one of my favorite courses Black Sheep, but would love to meet some of you guys and get out somewhere else. Let me know if anyone is around to play?
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Thanks for the reminder. I should probably shoot them an email to get that set up for this October.
Tentatively Saturday 10/22
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Mark your calendars, way too early Bent at the Crook sign up for 10/22 (tentative, waiting on course confirmation). Limiting field to 28 since we had several drops last year. Still debating format and if we should keep it 2 man best ball gross and net. Input is welcomed.
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Keep the team format pls.
I live in the area and could likely play that Friday. Unfortunately in Chicago we can’t book golf until 1 week out so just keep that in mind.
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Sunset Valley criminally underrated
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Agreed - I needed more picks. Also love their simple uplift, clubhouse is just enough. Nice putting green. Also easy walk and well thought shortcuts/leave bag and walk back to tees.
I’m always torn there, 8/9 would be a more welcoming start, but then you’re walking past the clubhouse again. 10 is probably best for pace of play as a start.
1 Tee is right there so makes the most sense, but 1 and 2 are a challenge for many after getting out of the car and no range, and hitting pond on 1 with a reload and OB on 2.
Sunset Valley wins the best course with the worst first hole award for me.
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I know some hate to start the round off that way but #1 is an iron off the tee every day. No reason to hit driver. I like it bc it doesn’t really matter how well you hit it, you will still have 140-160. Good warm-up swing. 2 is a much easier start than 9 which is low key tough. Also, just aim between 2 and 5 at SV and take OB (mostly out of play).
Probably the tightest range between best and worst holes of all the Chicagoland public courses. What’s the best hole, 5, 6, 10, 12? Nothing really great compared to its peers like 7/9/15/16 @ Shepherds Crook, 1/5/7/10/13 @ Mt. Prospect, 4/6/7/8 @HoE. But the worst hole (probably 15 or 16) is still pretty good, unlike 14-17 at Mt Prospect. No major routing issue like HoE, it’s extremely walkable. No smell from a dump or 3 identical holes to start like the Crook.
The best contrast is the Preserve. 4/8/10/15/16 are all bangers. Arguably better than any hole at SV. But 1/6/7/9/17/18 are absolute dogshit.
Highlands- best collection of 18 holes
Mt. Prospect- most fun
Shepherd’s Crook- best overall course
Sunset Valley- course I most want to play daily. Makes the most of the least.
Ravisloe- DQ’d for too many trees and resultant terrible conditioning. Otherwise should be #1 in all categories.
Thank you for coming to my TEDDY Talk.
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1 at SV I definitely hit 3i or 4i off tee, but playing partners or waiting on groups ahead (no range and green next to tee) you watch water/reload or 7th hole slice/pond/drop. And its a huge green with backstop hills, they just don’t realize to hit fairway with anything off the tee.
As the owner of a big right miss, my 2nd hole is usually driver, punch 3. You also can bail out right of green usually.
Calling it a good daily is spot on.
I like it bc it doesn’t really matter how well you hit it, you will still have 140-160. Good warm-up swing.
For single digit handicap this hole is not a problem. A 150 yard approach over water for a 15+ handicap is a tough scene for the opening hole
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first time poster here. I played Sunset Valley on Sunday and there’s a lot of construction going on so be warned. I walked it with a push cart, it’s an easy walk course being an old design there isn’t too much distance between green and tee. The greens are excellent, after all that rain they still released chip shots well but would hold with a well struck approach, the wind on Sunday was brutal. Count me in as another fan of Shepherd’s Crook but I also like Red Tail in Lakewood.
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Welcome! What are they working on?
welcome Nick!
i am also a big fan of redtail. seems to have a similar operational model. tiny clubhouse and spend most on the course.
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It’s also not the most receptive green and there’s no where to miss around it either. Left, right and long is all dead. Trust me I’ve tried.
Side note I think we need to do a revote. Jackson Park added a big water feature in the landing zone on 1 fairway. Total game changer!
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And they have a killer bourbon selection
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Yes
Nothing directly golf related. They’ve been working on the bridges on #3 and from 4 green to 5 tee. There’s a bit of a mess on the cart paths on the way out where the construction equipment has been driving. 3 has been playing from the up tees and the black tees on 5 have been closed. Temporary re-route has you play 2 then 5. Then you play 12 → 4 → 3 → 13.
They were close to finished when I played on 4/25 but apparently not that close.