Ravisloe is a Donald Ross course not often talked about on GCA.
Who has played here?

As mentioned, it's a Donald Ross course and I am wondering how it compares with some of his other designs.
How is it architecturally?
How are the greens?
Is the bunkering good?

Is it a hidden gem?

Thanks.

PT should reply because he is a member, but I think Ravisloe is a hidden gem.  It is quite short at about 6300 yards, with no room to expand, but it has been wonderfully restored by David Esler.  He restored a lot of lost width of the course, put back a bundle of cross bunkers, topshot bunkers and others, and used some grass mounding to good effect in other places because his budget was so slight.  

Regardless, the greensites are the heart of the course, and make it an excellent challenge despite the lack of length.  They have terrific slopes and contours, and excellent bunkering, and present fascinating options around the greens.  I hope Brad Klein will also chip in, because he is quite familiar with the course.

Jeff Goldman

Jeeff knows his stuff, because there is little if anything I can add to the above

yes, a bit short but the greens are pretty good and the bunkers around them are pretty doggone deep...greens are open in the front and only 1 serious water hazard on the course...square tees too...David took out about 200 trees tI believe, so while there are quite a few left one is not going to automatically have to chip out if one strays

I am working on a My Home Course writeup...but in the meantime I'll point out a few of what I think the better holes are:

par 3, 4th, 185 to a narrow green flanked by deep bunkers, with some fairway bunkers thrown in about 30 yards short of the green too

par 4 dogleg right 5th, only 315 yards..the big hitter can give it a go, but OB right of the green lurks and if a drive goes into the greenside bunkers it will probably bury...where the holes starts to turn right there are cross bunkers set on angle (from 11:00 to 5:00, if that analogy helps)...and the green has some big contours and a false front

par 3 7th, 205 yards across a pond to a Redanish green...good luck getting close to a back left pin!

par 4 12th.....a fairway bunker right smack in the middle of the fairway about 280 yards out..if one lays up short of that he has about 170 yards to a tiny target where OB is pretty close to the right

par 5 13th:  last of the three par 5s...turns very slightly right...OB down the right (pretty far back...if one hits it that far right one deserves the OB penalty).....a bunker on the right side in the landing area which always forces me, at least, to hit it left into some trees...fairway bunkers scattered down both sides.......hole goes downhill a bit after the drive....looking back at the hole when on the green reminds me of Oakmont...

par 3 15th:  only 145 yards or so but another well-bunkered green including a Devil's A____le-type trap back left...never been in it yet and i hope I never am!

par 4 16th:  key feature is a TINY roundish-oval green that is so hard to hold...it slopes off towards the back

I took a bunch of pictures of it which I have on CD but I am still technollgy challenged at this point...

anyone has any questions about Ravisloe feel free to IM me

Jordan,

Why do you care about a second tier club a world away from you.

John,

Why is it second tier?
Have you even played it?

Of course I have not played it..It's second tier for God's sake.  I lived in Chicago for ten years and never got a sniff of the place...What peeked your interest.

I actually heard if Ravisloe was advertised more, it would be the equal of Victoria National, in rankings at least.
The only thing that differentiates the two, from what I hear, is the Victoria National has fallen victim to length and having too many sets of tees, a weird ploy of architects today.


Anyways, does that make Victoria National second tier too?

How can you call a course you have never played second tier, btw?

Is the above an attempt to be funny or did you really hear Victoria National and Ravisloe mentioned in the same breath.

Ravisloe isn't even first tier in Chicago.  It is not an insult as golf needs second tier clubs.  Norwood Hills is an execellent example.  Remember, I have joined three clubs in my life before I had ever played them so I am more than qualified to determine if a club is second tier or not from reputation, history, membership, etc. etc.

Jordan,

I'm trying to help your thread out here on a day when 90% of the talk is OT.  What is your interest in the club...I find that interesting.

John,

Why would you openly admit to joining two second tier clubs?

I thought you only played the best..

John,

I have been reading some Donald Ross stuff and was simply interested in this particular course.



Now what were the other two courses?  Which one did you join?

Of course I have not played it..It's second tier for God's sake.

Have you ever played Norwood Hills?

 

Jordan:  

The comments of Jeff and Paul are spot on.  In my estimation Ravisloe is a hidden gem in Chicago area golf.  It is always first tier in course conditioning, dynamic and challenging greens complexes, and first rate service.  In short it is a great members course, short, tight, tree lined,extemely walkable, great caddy program,  and can hold its own with those golfers who think given its short length that they are going to knock it over when they arrive.  

The ambiance of the entire experience, upon entering the grounds through cocktails on the terrace adjacent to the 18th green or in the locker room upstairs make for a great experience.  

If you have a chance to play certainly take it.  Yes, there are courses in the area that have more cachet, given the opportunity you can't go wrong at Rav despite what Shivas says or John opines.

Why are you so curious about the place?

Garry

Jordan:  

Why are you so curious about the place?

Garry

Garry,

I have spoken about the course with a member, who likes it a lot.
Since it seems to be a classic Donald Ross course, I figured I would ask about it.  GCA.com seems to be the place to do so.
Also, I have been reading a lot more lately, and have been reading a bit about Ross.

All this plus the fact a Ravisloe scorecard is standing on my shelf peaked my curiosity enough about the club to see what the opinions were on the course.  If I ever go to Chicago, or the area, I will check it out for myself.  It looks, and sounds like a very nice club!

Jordan

When I first saw this post subject, I went "Ravisloe....in chicago???"

Pretty random for a kid from Seattle has even heard of such a average club so far away. From what I remember of the place there isn't much to write home about, it is just a blah country club course. Nothing wrong with that, but that's just what it is.

I do have to admit the Jordan Vs. John posts were slightly funny.

Thanks

, it is just a blah country club course. Nothing wrong with that, but that's just what it is.

I do have to admit the Jordan Vs. John posts were slightly funny.

Thanks

a bit harsh there imho Pat...have you been there since Esler's fine restoration work?

Ravisloe is a nifty golf course, a hidden Chicago gem that has fewer members than it once did. The decline in membership was the impetus for bringing in David Esler for the refurbishing, which was a great success.
Once an all-Jewish club, it's been open to all for about a decade now, and the last time I heard, the membership fee was next to nothing. That's thanks to the lack of corporate types in the south suburbs of Chicago, not the quality of the club. Flossmoor, Idlewild, Calumet all have membership woes to some degree.
Plus, it has a pink stucco clubhouse that is anything but second-rate.
Jordan, you would love it!

You know me and pink seem to mix well!
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