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Chris Kurzner

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Glen View Club - Chicago
« on: June 19, 2008, 12:48:44 PM »
Discuss.

Can anyone offer some insight into this club?  I checked out the website and it appears to be an old club with lots of history but doesn't seem to get any buzz on this board.  How does it compare to the other clubs in Chicagoland?  I did a search on the board and found only one reference to it.

K. Krahenbuhl

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Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2008, 01:07:19 PM »
I know it hosted the US Open in 1904 (Willie Anderson) and the inaugural Western Open (Willie Smith).  Architecturally I know nothing about it and will be interested to see what others can add.

BCrosby

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Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2008, 01:11:26 PM »
It's a Flynn course. TEP can weigh in on that. Parts have been redone. Others will know the details of that.

A delightful course and an equally delightful club. Very, very low key.

Bob


PCCraig

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Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2008, 04:56:15 PM »
I have had the opportunity to play the Glen View Club close to 100 times over the past 9-10 years both before and after the renovation by D. Esler in 1999. It is a really neat place and with respect to Shivas, much different than other courses in the area. The main difference would have to come from its (relatively) hilly / rolling terrain. The front nine plays on the higher ground of the property and the routing uses the land well moving on the far outskirts of the property. The back nine plays in lower land and the north branch of the Chicago River rolls through. The land is more flat on the back nine, but there are some nice natural features (I’m assuming) were formed by the river.

It should be noted that they have just added a set of “Mach” tees that are played from some interesting points in order to make the course harder for the better player. For example, the 18th hole is played from the right of the 17th green allowing for a cape style tee shot over the river to the 18th fairway. And the par-3 14th can be played from the 17th hole ladies tee. This was Northwestern Golf’s second home for a while when Luke Donald was a member of the team. They held the Big 10 / Pac 10 Tourney there one year.

Holes of Note;

#1 The first hole is a good par 4 of about 430 yards that plays down a hill away from the clubhouse, there are two sets of tees giving two different angles on the hole. The green is pretty flat but guarded by bunkers.

#2 The second is an awesome uphill par-3 of about 190yds. The pin is almost always upfront because a back pin is almost too hard.

#3 The third hole is a tough par 4 with a blind tee shot. A good drive is needed and anything right of the pin is dead.

#8 is a short par 5 that is played as a par 4 when the college guys play there. Easy par but a tough birdie due to the small green.

#11 A new tee was added this year to make the hole play almost 190 yards to a really tough green. They took out almost 200 trees in this area of the property, which really helped open it up and make it look more dramatic.

#17 A neat short par 4 that gives you the option of playing safe left or aggressive right of a large tree and getting a slingshot around a hill. The second shot plays uphill to a green that falls off to the river on the left.

#18 is usually a short uphill par 4 that plays downwind, sounds easy but a tough two tiered green makes it hard to get the ball close.
H.P.S.

Dan Moore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2008, 05:01:20 PM »
Routing of the course is essentially the original 1898 Tweedie lay-out with some hole modifications over time attributable mostly to Flynn and Esler. Built in the guttie era with cops and cross bunkers, the bunker scheme was "modernized" in the teens. Flynn did a comprehensive plan in the early 20's which was not completed in its entirety. Esler's new bunkering in 1999 was highly imaginative and artistic if not true to the Flynn look. Esler is currently squaring up all teeing grounds and working on a master plan for the club which may include some additional hole modifications. Shivas nailed the rest. WGA should consider for the Western Am if the club wants it.
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

Mark Smolens

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2008, 06:04:33 PM »
Wonderful place on a very large piece of property.  Practice grounds are huge.  They also have a great Chick Evans room with lots of pics and highlights of his career.

J_ Crisham

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Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2008, 08:52:42 PM »
Those of us that are active with the WGA  have long understood this sleepy club to be Chick's favorite place to call home. He played here frequently as it was so close to HQ in the village of Golf. Only a spoon's distance from HQ! This is truly one the finest clubs amongst many great one's on the North shore. Nice elevation changes on the front nine. It would be interesting to know if there is flooding on the back nine from the river as we speak? Great practice facility,timeless clubhouse, great collection of Chick's mementos.  Super club!

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #7 on: June 20, 2008, 11:56:53 AM »
The back nine was closed last summer from August on due to bad flooding from the river.
H.P.S.

Chris Kurzner

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Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2008, 01:28:28 PM »
Thanks to all for the notes.  I had a chance to play here last weekend on a last minute trip to Chicago but my colleagues could not change their flights to accommodate a tee time. 

I hope I'll get another chance someday as this sounds like a course and club worth seeing/experiencing.

Patrick Hitt

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Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2008, 01:53:05 PM »
i remember looking at an overlay of the Flynn plan to the current (pre Esler) course. Some of the boldest / coolest parts of the plan were never implemented.  Seemed a missed opportunity by Esler to incorporate them.

PCCraig

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Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2008, 03:33:12 PM »
Patrick --

Where did you see this overlay?
H.P.S.

Dan Moore

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Re: Glen View Club - Chicago
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2008, 12:14:28 AM »
Pat Craig,

I'm pretty sure the Flynn book will include the plan.  The Club also has a copy of Flynn's plan laid-over the course as it was in 1920. 

Pat Hitt,

An interesting proposition, but why presume the missed opportunity was Esler's?  Seems to me it was the Club who missed the opportunity way back when and I don't know whether or not 75 or so years later if Esler had any ability or inclination to follow through on Flynn's plan.  What I do know is that Flynn changed the 2nd hole (among others) and Esler the 8th.   
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin