I played Lawsonia today. It has benefited from a couple of hard frosts and that knocks down the native to a very playable tangle of blues and fescues that has an alluring texture to it (I visit the rough often even though the fairways are very generous). Wisconsin is in full fall glory and it couldn't have been a better golf day of 52*, brisk wind 15MPH. I have been very laid-up with sciatica and have only been able to complete 2 full rounds in 6 weeks. But the two full rounds were walking at Wild Horse and Lawsonia. I consider myself a lucky man indeed to have experienced them both in two short weeks.
Jim Nagle, I will send you a pic of view into #6 without the two red maple aiming trees. I have mixed emotions about the removal of those two particular trees. On one hand it is a bullet that must be bitten to really be true to the links characteristic of the course, and on the other, the aiming trees were a bit of local lore and uncanny how the aiming principle worked to get you to the correct tier depending where the pin was cut.
I have only seen 2 Seth Raynor works (Yeaman' Hall and CCof Charleston) and I am confident to favorably place Langford's similar manufactured style of FW frog eye FW bunkers and tabletop/plateau or knoll greens with steep grass walls to flatish bunkers 10-18 feet below green, in equally brilliant company. As for ChicagoGC, I have not seen it other than pictures. It is hard for me to imagine the greens being anymore interesting or well designed and situated than Lawsonia's. The biggest valid criticism I have heard of Lawsonia is that it is all right turns and no legitimate doglegs left. There are right to left shaped shots to hit to take advantage of the turbo boast gull winged aiming bunkers that channel proper shots to favorable FW positions. But alas, no dogleg lefts...
May and October are the prime months to play Lawsonia to get firm ad fast conditions, and I highly recommend it to anyone without reservation that they would think it not in upper tier of great classic golf design. Unfortunately, I did have to play today in the wake of greens and FW aerifying from a few days ago and no topdressing yet applied to heal wounds. But for $33 walking, there aren't too many better deals in the country except Wild Horse in Nebraska.
Oh, did I mention? I think I died and went to heaven today at Lawsonia...it is that good! 