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Tom MacWood (Guest)

Flossmoor
« on: November 10, 2002, 06:38:43 PM »
At one time Flossmoor was considered one of the premier courses in the country. What happened to it? What is it like today?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Nathan_Huffhines

Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2002, 06:57:32 PM »
Where is it?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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SL_Solow

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2002, 07:11:00 AM »
Flossmoor remains active sitting diagonally across Western Avenue from the 4th tee (to be the 13th at the 03 open) of Olympia Fields north course.  It remains a challenging "members" course but lacks the length to provide a test under current professional tournament conditions.  Within a very small area several courses which were prominent dating back to the turn of the 20th century continue in existence with their routings largely intact.  They include Olympia Fields, north and south (its other 2 courses were lost to housing developments) Flossmoor, Ravisloe (currently undergoing a renovation by Dave Esler) and Idlewild (suffering fom excessive tree planting and green shrinkage).  All of these courses except for Olympia south held significant tournaments in the early days.  Also nearby is Calumet CC a lesser Ross which lost numerous holes due to the construction of the Illinois tollway.  The holes were replaced but ther is a lot less Ross.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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A_Clay_Man

Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2002, 07:13:03 AM »
Flossmoor CC is in the soutn suburbs of Chicago. There's another down there called Idylwild. Both are supposed to be excellent. Anyone know who designed either or both?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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pasabob

Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2002, 11:12:32 PM »
Caddied at Flossmoor in the late 1930's. Great old course designed by H. J. Tweedie.  Sits on what was then the western edge of the town of Flossmoor that at that time had a population of 800 with the highest average income of any suburb of Chicago.  It is located on Western Ave. about three miles south of Olympia fields. Along with Olympia Fields, and the Calumet County Club it was one of the best maintained courses on the Southside.  Know this because I worked as a groundskeeper at Olympia Fields and Ravisloe in the late 1940's. Still a major venue for women's tournaments.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2002, 04:44:16 AM »
Tom:

Flossmoor is a wonderful tract, a mixture of some of its old holes and some new, with a couple really glaring deficits.

First, as I have told my host during my last visit, that if they could cut down the right 500 trees, it would easily make the top 10 in the Chicago area.

Second, once they were to do that, the 8th hole wouldn't be such an abomination (and 6 as well!).

Third, they need to blow up the "championship" tee that somebody built on the 9th hole.  It is perhaps the most blatant attempt at trying to reach 7000 yards on a scorecard that I have ever seen.

Overall, it has some spectacular holes - #16 and #17 probably being the best examples.  

And the green on #18 - WOW!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

BCrosby

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2002, 06:53:28 AM »
Pasabob -

Welcome. Your knowledge of the history of Chicago area courses will be much appreciated here. I hope you will join in often.

Bob
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2002, 07:31:15 AM »
Pasabob:

Flossmoor actually is "kiddie-corner" to Olympia Fields CC, as it's south-western corner meets the north-east corner of OFCC at Western Ave.

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2002, 07:32:56 AM »
Tom:

you said:
>At one time Flossmoor was considered one of the premier courses in the country.

This is true.  In fact a plaque on the 8th tee celebrates the fact that Bobby Jones played there and enjoyed the course so much that he devoted quite a bit of type in his autobiography to it.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Lisa Luigs Morrissett

Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2002, 12:11:18 PM »
The Women's Western returns to Flossmoor every 10 years or so for their National Amateur Championship. As previously mentioned, it is short for the men, but it sets up quite well for the women, especially with the severity/speed of the greens.  We are welcomed by the membership (which doesn't always happen in Chicagoland) and we always enjoy playing there.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2002, 08:21:09 AM »
Lisa:

Welcome!

Maybe you can allow me to digress here for a moment.  Do you have any idea why the Women's Western Open was discontinued when it had been considered a women's Major?
  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Lisa Luigs Morrissett

Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #11 on: November 17, 2002, 08:23:38 PM »
Paul -

I'll have to dig through my LPGA Media Guide, but I am sure it was discontinued (as are most events) for lack of sponsorship/support. . .
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flossmoor
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2002, 08:16:24 PM »
Lisa:

Thanks.

I still find it strange when a "Major" ceases to exist ....
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG
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