It's a lot closer to Harborside than Black Sheep, based on my one play. Don't get me wrong, this is an excellent use of a former dump, just like Harborside. And, just like Harborside, some of the more ghastly views (which Paul rather collegially chose not to show here) help you remember that you are nowhere near Nebraska, you're near the toll plaza on I-294. Or you're in the virtual shadow of the Brobdingnagian Westchester water tower. Or you're counting something in the neighborhood of 25 water towers, radio towers and a few gigantic highway signs as you stand on top of an enormous landfill.
Much of this, of course, the architect cannot control. But unless you keep your head down all day, there's no question that the surroundings of this golf course greatly distract from the strong holes that do exist. I'd say there are seven very stout holes, with 4, 7, 9, 12 and 17 immediately coming to mind. Some of the holes at Chicago Highlands are reminiscent of two of the nines at Ivanhoe, another Hills course in the northwest suburban area. This golf course is not nearly as good as Ivanhoe, IMHO. There is too much forced quirk, very visible at 2 and 3 with some silly wall like mounds to prevent a shot into the green. There are a lot of unsightly berms to try to mask some of the unsightly views of the tollway and there's a hole with a lovely unobstructed view of the maintenance facility (landscaping surely to follow) But, most of all, the bunkering is very disappointing. The fairway bunkers on many holes are so shallow that a golfer could have a shot that's half in the sand and half on the land. The ball doesn't roll anywhere in a lot of these fairway bunkers. I think they'll eventually re-do the bunkers. If they were properly dug out, I think it would be a much more interesting golf course.
At the end of the day, this is a bold development that doesn't show me any signs of greatness. It's more toward the mediocre, even if some of the holes are very, very good.
As long as you keep your head down.