Conway Farms Golf Club

[Edward Moody]

Thoughts?

I went to the Ryder Cup last fall and flew up from Austin early to play CF (and Whistling Straits).  The club has hosted the Mid Am just shortly before my visit.

As a member of a golf-only club I really appreciated the direction of the club - no carts, walking only, take caddies, tees next to greens, etc.  The facilities were very nice and welcoming.  I played with 2 members that couldn't have been more gracious.

I enjoyed the course a lot.  Many times I felt like I was out on a stroll in the park on a weekend afternoon.  I've only played Fazio courses in TX and they aren't for me, but I really enjoyed CF.  Not every hole was outstanding but there was a good flow and it was fun to play.  Nothing wrong with fun!

Just curious if we have members of CF or guests that have played and their overall thoughts...

[Andrew Buck]

Thoughts?

I went to the Ryder Cup last fall and flew up from Austin early to play CF (and Whistling Straits).  The club has hosted the Mid Am just shortly before my visit.

As a member of a golf-only club I really appreciated the direction of the club - no carts, walking only, take caddies, tees next to greens, etc.  The facilities were very nice and welcoming.  I played with 2 members that couldn't have been more gracious.

I enjoyed the course a lot.  Many times I felt like I was out on a stroll in the park on a weekend afternoon.  I've only played Fazio courses in TX and they aren't for me, but I really enjoyed CF.  Not every hole was outstanding but there was a good flow and it was fun to play.  Nothing wrong with fun!

Just curious if we have members of CF or guests that have played and their overall thoughts...

I played Conway Farms several times not long after it opened.  I really enjoyed it when it opened and felt it was a stark contrast to the architectural direction of the day.  I still hold it in high regard, and appreciate the traditions of the club.  I thought the old routing (starting on 3, playing 1 and 2 as 8 and 9) was better, but I assume that had to go in order to add the length to current #3.  

I see the criticism that it looks a little manufactured in some areas (the par 4 par 5 combo on the front comes to mind) but I think that's seen clearly today due to the trend to more minimalism.  I really think course was a good example to Fazio breaking from the style of the 80's to move the path toward the style C&C and TD have excelled at.  

[Howard Riefs]

Some feedback on this prior thread:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,53673.msg1234499/topicseen.html#msg1234499

Including this gem from the Judge:

It isn't a links course or even a links style course. It's a Fazio mish mash combo of parkland holes with forced carries over manufactured wetlands. It's a walking only course with cart paths on every hole. Over the years they've planted 5000 trees in all the wrong places. And the 18th hole has a cheesy creek with imported boulders that would look quite normal at a Vegas casino course. It is a hard course and could be greatly improved with tree removal and bunker reconstruction, but they've made a mess of it in the past 15 years.

[PCCraig]

Mr. Lavin is pretty much right on the money with his assessment.

[Terry Lavin]

I'm going to be out there on Friday and am anxious to see if Fazio did any substantive work in preparing the course for the tournament.   I'm sure the pros will say all of the "right" things about the course, especially since they absolutely skewered the work that Rees Jones did at Cog Hill (unfairly in my estimation), but I hasten to add that my criticism of the course stems from its inconsistent architectural presentation, not whether it's tournament worthy.  I think it's a perfectly fine place to host a tour event; it's just not nearly as interesting or challenging as Olympia Fields, which was vying for the right to host this tournament.  Luke Donald is a member at Conway and has been exceedingly generous to the Evans Scholars program and I think that weighed heavily in the decision to host it at Conway.  Also, Conway is located in a much more prosperous area, shall we say, which is probably important to the BMW folks.  All in all, it will look good on TV, the pros will slobber all over themselves about what a terrific course it is and they'll probably shoot -18 for the weekend because the course is much easier than Cog Hill, which is probably why they bitched so much.

[Andrew Buck]

I will say I remember it being about 6,800 originally as a par 71, and I would think the objective of being a golf only walking club doesn't necessarily mesh with hosting PGA events.  

That said, I like many styles, but I appreciate it's a departure from the style of most of the better clubs in the area, even if it isn't as good as many.  

[Andrew Buck]

I think it's a perfectly fine place to host a tour event; it's just not nearly as interesting or challenging as Olympia Fields, which was vying for the right to host this tournament.  Luke Donald is a member at Conway and has been exceedingly generous to the Evans Scholars program and I think that weighed heavily in the decision to host it at Conway.  Also, Conway is located in a much more prosperous area, shall we say, which is probably important to the BMW folks.  All in all, it will look good on TV, the pros will slobber all over themselves about what a terrific course it is and they'll probably shoot -18 for the weekend because the course is much easier than Cog Hill, which is probably why they bitched so much.

I would absolutely agree it's not in the same category as Olympia Fields, and I'd much rather watch a tournament, or play golf at Olympia Fields.  Heck, Beverely, Skokie, Exmoor and a few others are also clearly better golf courses.  I'd rather play Conway than Cog Hill any day of the week, but you are right it is much easier (or at least was) and if weather cooperates someone will hit -20, IMO.

[JR Potts]

Like a few have said on here, it's a nice golf course and seemingly really nice club.  However, the course has absolutely no architectural significance and worse yet, it has no architectural continuity.  The bunkering is bi-polar (really, what's with the two sod faced bunkers?) as is the layout (is it parkland or is it something else.  Again, what's with the manufactured forced carries off the tee to blind fairways with centerline bunkers?).  

That said, it's a really fun place to play golf as the atmosphere is pleasant, the course is playable and maintained perfectly and the membership is quite good.  It will show great on TV.

As many have opined earlier, the Pros are going to destroy it.  -20+ I predict as the PGA told the club to cut the rough and it's supposed to rain today.

[Tim_Cronin]

I'm sticking with my estimate of 22-under 262. Flattish greens. Wednesday, the pins were in the middle, and Harris English and Patrick Reed shot 60. Their ball, not the team ball. Welcome to Birdieville.

[Wade Whitehead]

While 90% of television viewers will wish they could play it, 90% of guys on this site will find something wrong with it.

WW

[Tommy Williamsen]

I played Conway Farms the year it opened so it has been a while.  There were no houses within miles of the course so it felt out in the wild.  I likes the course.  I thought the terrain was varied and the elevation change just enough to make it interesting.  I likes the shots into the greens and the greens complexes.  It isn't a world beater but it was really enjoyable. 

[Bill Seitz]

I was out there yesterday.  It seemed like it had more non-marsh native areas than I was expecting, but only saw parts of a few holes.  I spent most of my time in a sky-box on the 15th hole.  Unfortunately the wind wasn't ideal for players trying to go for the green, so everyone I saw come through laid up.  It didn't really look all that different to me than most big, newish north side golf courses, but admittedly, I probably need to see more of it.

On a more off topic note, if this is the tournament thread, good lord did they do an awful job with traffic management.  It took me 30 minutes to go the 30 miles from Wicker Park to the exit for Town Line Road.  It took an hour to go the three miles from the exit to the parking lot.  It was absolutely ridiculous.  They had no one directing traffic until you got about a mile from the lot, at which point traffic was moving smoothly on its own.  It felt like they put about two minutes of thought into the traffic flow for an event they've had a year to plan.

As many have opined earlier, the Pros are going to destroy it.  -20+ I predict as the PGA told the club to cut the rough and it's supposed to rain today.

I was with some members yesterday, and they all got very excited when someone came through 15 at more than about five over.  They were certain that this was evidence that the course was holding its own.  Unfortunately, on Sunday, no one will be talking about the guys that shot 15-20 over.  They'll be talking about the guys going 20 under.

[Howard Riefs]

On a more off topic note, if this is the tournament thread, good lord did they do an awful job with traffic management.  It took me 30 minutes to go the 30 miles from Wicker Park to the exit for Town Line Road.  It took an hour to go the three miles from the exit to the parking lot.  It was absolutely ridiculous.  They had no one directing traffic until you got about a mile from the lot, at which point traffic was moving smoothly on its own.  It felt like they put about two minutes of thought into the traffic flow for an event they've had a year to plan.

Ouch. Sounds ugly. And that's the prevailing opinion based on a quick Twitter search:

*   "BMW Championship organizers epic fail on logistics. Sitting in traffic for hours. #bmwchampionship. #terrible"

*   "Horrible traffic plan by @PGATOUR for #BMWChampionship for Conway farms access."

*   "I went to Conway Farms today, AWESOME track. Absolutely loved it, but traffic around Chicago is worst I have ever witnessed."

*   "If you are trying to get to @bmwchamps in lake forest be prepared for traffic. Moved less then a mile in the last hour."

[Jud_T]

I can confirm that the traffic was a joke.  I wasn't even going to the event but 294 was completely bottled up as a result.  Cubs playoff traffic is less severe, not that we have to worry about that anytime soon.  On the plus side, the food at Conway is always quite good.

[Tim_Cronin]

The failure on traffic was not having cops override the signals on the Town Line / 294 overpass, and beyond. That caused the backup. Better traffic flow today, and the place looks as crowded.

[Howard Riefs]

The failure on traffic was not having cops override the signals on the Town Line / 294 overpass, and beyond. That caused the backup. Better traffic flow today, and the place looks as crowded.

Looks like it's still a mess today. Here's a random tweet from 11:39 a.m.:
"Traffic disaster approaching Conway Farms. Worst ever planning. Disaster. 90 min for one mile."  pic.twitter.com/usUofN5law

Daily Herald also wrote about it:
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130913/news/709139779/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Dan Kelly]

Furyk DESTROYING it today.

10 under through 12.

[Bill Seitz]

The failure on traffic was not having cops override the signals on the Town Line / 294 overpass, and beyond. That caused the backup. Better traffic flow today, and the place looks as crowded.

That's one of the things they should have done.  The others:

1) The Town Line exit is four lanes, two going west and two going east.  The westbound lanes flow into three lanes of traffic (later reduced to two).  They should have had cones and personnel at the exit turning it into three lanes west, and one lane east.

2) At the St. Mary's intersection, there is a left turn lane, and two lanes going straight.  90% of the cars on on 60 at that point were turning left.  They should have had two lanes turning left onto St. Mary's, and one going straight.  Just doing these two things would have cut the traffic wait in half.  

Also, I had a VIP parking pass.  I didn't pay for it, it was given to me, so it's not the end of the world, but they didn't bother to check.  There was no point where they asked what type of parking you had.  They just herded everyone in, unless you were driving a beemer.  Again, not a big deal, but sort of non-sensical to have VIP parking passes but not use or honor them.  Metra definitely would have been the better option.  

[Richard Choi]

Question, I caught a little bit of the telecast yesterday and the wind was blowing hard enough to bend the flagsticks. How are the pros going so low still?

[Andrew Buck]

Question, I caught a little bit of the telecast yesterday and the wind was blowing hard enough to bend the flagsticks. How are the pros going so low still?

It's a 7,100 yard golf course with generous fairways that allow for roll and receptive greens.  There really is only one hole that you can make a big number on, IMO, and it's just not that hard of a golf course.

Oh, and these guys are that good. 

[Dan Kelly]

Furyk DESTROYING it today.

10 under through 12.

11 under through 13.

[Andrew Buck]

For those that played it many years ago, like me, did there used to be a tree left of the fairway on the par 5, eighth (formerly 6)?  I feel like I remember a tree that could block your attempt to take a shot at the green in 2.  

[Jud_T]

Andrew,

Yes I remember the tree well.  I also recall something about it coming down, but I'm not sure whether it was the result of a storm or an intential course tweak.

[Morgan Clawson]

Most GCAers would love the facilities there.

Smaller 1 story club house that's nicely appointed but not fancy, and not overly large. Nice big shady patio for lunch. Large driving range and practice area.  

No pool.  No tennis.  No tipping.

The holes definitely have some different looks:  prairie, woods, housing (BIG houses).

The greens have a lot of variety and are pretty challenging.

The par 4 4th hole has a green with Redan characteristics - don't see that everyday.

The 11th hole has a lot of the same characteristics and angles as the 12th at Augusta National, but here it's all carry over a pond.

The par 3 17th is partially blind from the tee as the green is set in a hollow.

[Howard Riefs]

59 for Furyk. Amazing performance on a windy day at Conway Farms.

For context, the next best score was six shots greater. Spieth and Jimmy Walker both shot -6 (65).