I played the North twice this past weekend and while I don't want to seem like I am jumping to decisions about the course without thinking about it through and through, but I thought it was FANTASTIC.
The big bunkers and scale of the place gave me a feeling similar to that which I had at Riviera. The course was just big - the fairways weren't too wide but I felt they along with the bunkers and greens were just huge and grand. I felt small playing the course.
The third is fantastic and is up the there with some of the best par-4's I have ever played, but I thought the fourteenth was even better. Not many courses have two truly world class golf holes. The third and the fourteenth are amongst the best par-4's I have ever played. I put fourteen in a class with 8 Pebble, 9 Cypress, and 10 Riviera, as one of the best par-4's anywhere. The tee shot down the hill in the valley is too good for words, in my opinion. I love how hugging the right side of the fairway, by the creek, gave the best angle. And how many tee shots are that great without being flashy? The second shot, above the creek and ridge that bisect the fairway, easily the best parkland second shot I've ever seen.
Is 14 perhaps the best parkland par-4 anywhere?
The greens did not overwhelm me at Olympia, but putts were very hard to make. The subtle slopes contrasted very well to the difficulty of the task of actually getting to the greens. At high speeds putting would be very difficult.
I liked the diversity of the holes at Olympia. While I understand the course may be a little tight for some here, I commend the diversity of the par-4's, and the par-5's wee both good and different as well.
While the first hole isn't considered as great, and rightfully so, the fifteenth was a fantastic par-5. I actually believe the first to be better than people give it credit for, a good starting hole that eases you into the round, but it just doesn't compare to fifteen. I love how fifteen ran along the ridge and while being long, is scoreable. It can be reached from the tips, but two good shots are required, and it begs for a fade on the second shot. A great hole.
The only weakness of the course is the par-3's, and they are all good but not great. Six and sixteen were very similar, and thirteen was uninspiring for a short hole. Eight was a basic long par-3, and as mentioned all of the 3's are good but not fantastic.
The tee shots all require different shots and clubs. Even from the back tees, I wasn't hitting driver off every tee and didn't feel overwhelmed by the length. Some holes ask for a fade, some a draw, and some you just need to hit it straight. This is another reason I felt the diversity of Olympia was so good.
Overall, I was most surprised with Olympia of any course I saw in Chicago because I don't hardly here anything about it on here. Seriously, how many better parkland courses are there, period?
How would people compare it to Olympic? To Riviera?
Why don't more people consider Olympia to be a great course, or at least why isn't it ever mentioned on gca?
Olympia was fantastic.