+1 for Shepherd’s Crook right on the border.
Of the courses you listed, Highlands of Elgin would be my vote. It’s also right off I90 so easy on/off during your travels.
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Don’t waste your time with Harborside. Highlands of Elgin and Mistwood are the best on that list in my opinion
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Good stuff, happy to have you! I’ll reach out in the DMs. Room for one more too
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There’s a chance I can meet you all for the back 9. Let me check with the tactical operations center and I’ll circle back here.
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@Gibbler and I played out match there last year in the pouring
Such a fun track with a few too many quirky holes for me and 14&15 in the woods always caused me trouble.
They did redo the range this past year and it’s pretty sweet. Hope you and @Kerry enjoy it!
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As @andrewf mentioned, Shepherd’s Crook on the WI/IL border is a great choice. Universally loved by everyone I’ve ever known who’s played it (which is exceedingly rare!) You’ll have a great time there.
Skip the Glen Club. Wildly overpriced. Of your list, I’d go with Highlands of Elgin or Mistwood personally.
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Don’t forget to check the @golfscout hot dog rankings so you get proper sustenance as well.
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Or Bowes. Another pricier but awesome course near HoE.
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i’d agree with shepherds crook and spring valley. could also look at hawks view and grab a bite or go for a walk at lake geneva… or do eagle springs which is delightful.
all of those much much closer than those places in chicago you mentioned and worth it.
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May be more appropriate to post in the Wisconsin thread given its border status, but I played six rounds in the Rockford area over the last few days and I’m stunned at the quality of its public scene. Spent a combined $272 for cart and green fees at Aldeen, Atwood, Ledges, Macktown, PrarieView, and Sandy Hollow. The Ledges in Roscoe is by far the best sub-$40 muni course I’ve ever seen. There is nothing comparable to what I’m used to in Indianapolis. The fact that locals can play most of those city and Winnebago County courses with a year pass that costs a couple hundred bucks is downright hilarious; they are beyond spoiled.
I’m especially buzzing because I organized my group’s first annual golf trip for this and only convinced a few high handicaps to come due to the Midwest proximity and low cost. The fact that the golf was good feels like a bonus, and the guys are all in for next year as we try to find more hidden gems.
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We should talk about where you’re playing in Indy then…
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For under $40 with a cart? Can’t think of anything in Indy worth writing home about, let alone in the class of The Ledges… unless you’re some huge fan of flat, hazard-less tracks like Sahm and South Grove that are packed to the gills with tee times.
HoE and Shepherd’s Crook were designed by the same (endangered animal smuggling) architect. Pretty similar courses, but HoE has more water hazards (not obnoxiously so) and isn’t really walkable. Shepherd’s Crook is one of the two courses I play most often even though it’s a 2+ hour round trip. Awesome green complexes, wide open, usually good pace of play, very reasonable greens fees. Just a very solid, fun course.
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Mostly you should check out Foxcliff.
I’ve heard nothing but good things about that course, but it’s also $45 with cart fees (still great!) and like 45 minutes from downtown Indianapolis. So not really what I was thinking of.
Eagle Creek would be the best city-course comparison and that’s almost a $60 weekend round these days.
Aldeen and PrarieView (the only course I played that is more than 20 minutes from downtown Rockford) would probably be $100 rounds in Indy.
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This. It’s also 5 minutes from Ravisloe if y’all want to play 27 or 36.
I also recommend going to Zarlengos for Gelato after before you head to Michigan. It’s like 10 minutes away and they have different flavors every day. But their Zar bar which is vanilla gelato on a stick covered in a dark chocolate shell is one of my favorite post round meals when hitting any of the courses in that area; Ravisloe, Olympia Fields, Calumet CC, Flossmoor CC, Coyote Run all are very close.
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Add in some pizza from Aurelio’s Homewood - make sure to have it cooked in the old pizza oven and have a coke in the bar while the za cooks, perfecto.
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Tough scene down here this morning resulting in cancelled flights and a tournament WD. Absolutely hate to drop out and miss this trip, hope to catch a rain check @Kerry @Pinehurts
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Bummer! Let us know when you’re back up in the area.
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