Question on 3 courses in Chicago area.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I have a business associate that thinks I have knowledge of nearly every golf course in the US, and he asked me a question.  He is going to be up there and asked me which one of the following courses I would recommend.  Unfortunately I don't know anything about any of them.  Can anyone make any recommendations and comments on the three.  They are:

Arrowhead GC
Indian Lakes Resort
Seven Bridges

Any thoughts on the quality of GCA, value, etc?

Thanks.

[Brian Hilko]

I would tell him to play cantigny or prarie landing instead. Both are in the general area of these three courses. Of the three you mentioned I would say arrowhead is the best because of some recent bunker work and hole redesign. Seven bridges is the tale of two nines. Nice facility but target golf through the whole back 9. I haven't been to Indian lakes recently but I remember not liking it very much.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I would tell him to play cantigny or prarie landing instead. Both are in the general area of these three courses. Of the three you mentioned I would say arrowhead is the best because of some recent bunker work and hole redesign. Seven bridges is the tale of two nines. Nice facility but target golf through the whole back 9. I haven't been to Indian lakes recently but I remember not liking it very much.

Thanks Brian, I just didn't know enough about Chicago golf to give an educated answer, but I knew the family here would.  Do you think Cantigny or Prarie Landing are in the same ballpark on price etc (I am sure I can go to the websites to compare, but I just wondered if you knew offhand)?

Thanks again.
Daryl

[PCCraig]

I would tell him to play cantigny or prarie landing instead. Both are in the general area of these three courses. Of the three you mentioned I would say arrowhead is the best because of some recent bunker work and hole redesign. Seven bridges is the tale of two nines. Nice facility but target golf through the whole back 9. I haven't been to Indian lakes recently but I remember not liking it very much.

Thanks Brian, I just didn't know enough about Chicago golf to give an educated answer, but I knew the family here would.  Do you think Cantigny or Prarie Landing are in the same ballpark on price etc (I am sure I can go to the websites to compare, but I just wondered if you knew offhand)?

Thanks again.
Daryl

Off hand, I believe Cantigny and Prarie Landing are more expensive. Cantigny is over $100 now I believe. The other three courses you listed aren't remotely special, but if your friend wants to sneak away for a somewhat inexpensive round of golf while in town they are fine.

[Howard Riefs]

Agree with Brian's feedback on the courses and to consider Cantigny or Prairie Landing if possible. PL is in the same price category as the Indian Lake and Arrowhead. Cantigny is priced similarly as Seven Bridges.

I played Arrowhead a few years back. Course is in good shape, especially for a muni. Remember it being tight off the tee. Stay clear of Indian Lake.  

[Matthew Sander]

Daryl,

One course that is in the same general vicinity as those he mentioned is The Village Links of Glen Ellyn. They just hosted a U.S. Open qualifier yesterday. It is a good course, especially the back nine (if you excuse the somewhat silly 18th), and very walkable if that is a concern of his.

Prairie Landing and Cantigny are both good suggestions with PL being a bit further west. Cantigny is a great "walk in the park", literally. It is part of a larger park that is owned and operated by the McCormick Foundation. The course is on an attractive piece of property, and is perfect for walking. I believe the walking rate is $95 with around $20 for a cart. They also have an extensive youth caddy program.

Arrowhead has three nines and they are being retouched one at a time each offseason. I believe the East and South are open with their changes, and the West is scheduled to be closed late summer/early fall through next spring.

Now, I'm not nearly as down on Indian Lakes as some of the others. Here is a link to a related thread http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,43687.0.html . I think some of the negative thoughts are due to a confusion between two different courses of the same name. That said, it wouldn't be anyone's first choice if in the area.

[John McCarthy]

I never liked Seven Bridges. I have not played Arrowhead since I was a kid and my defining memory of Indian Lakes is that I killed a crow in flight there.  I think it has been redone since then so my input would be out of date anyway. 

Orchard Valley is nice.  So is Village Links.  Prairie Landing is also good.  Cantigny is overpriced.  Pheasant Run is short, full of trees and kinda goofy but you can find a cheap tee time and it puts a smile on my face. Oak Meadows (if not underwater) is fun.  Broken Arrow in Lockport is not too far and I like it. 

[Jud_T]

I'd take Cantigny all day long over Seven Bridges and I believe their peak rate is slightly less.

[Jim Colton]

The graph and table at the end of this post might help.

http://www.wegoblogger31.com/2007/05/chicago-golf-definitive-guide-to.html

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

The graph and table at the end of this post might help.

http://www.wegoblogger31.com/2007/05/chicago-golf-definitive-guide-to.html

Wow that is a pretty impressive list/table at the end thanks.

[Mark Smolens]

Schaumburg has some of the best-conditioned greens of the publics in the District, and there are tee times on Golfnow which will get you out for less than $50. I'd skip all three of the ones on your list and play there or the Village Links. The Links has their "have one on us" event next Friday and Saturday. $1 draft beers and brats!!!

[Jud_T]

personally I'd make the drive down to Ravisloe and walk Twilight for $29...

[Mark Johnson]

in addition to what everyone mentioned, id take a look at Pine Meadows in Mundelein.  A bit of a hike, but well worth.  imo, the best public course under $100 in Chicagoland.

If you want to go west, i'd look at Elgin Highlands as well.   Would take that easily over the 3 you mentioned.

[Jud_T]

Mark,

good call.  not sure how far it is but the Highlands of Elgin might very well be the best public course that's nearby.

[Mark Johnson]

also if he belong to a private club,  a call from a club pro could easily get him access to some very good (not great) privates in the western suburbs.

- Butterfield
- St. Charles

[Jud_T]

Butterfield would be well worth checking out IMO.  Haven't been out there since the renovation, but that's where I'd try to snake out.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I just got a note back from my buddy after passing along all of these great comments that the main golf day for this business trip has apparently already been arranged by the president of his company and they are playing Seven Bridges so he is stuck with that regardless.  But thanks for all of the info and he said he will use that if he gets another day away by himself on this trip, or on his next trip to the area.

As usual the GCA crowd does not disappoint when presented with a question.  I love this place...

[Matthew Sander]

I just got a note back from my buddy after passing along all of these great comments that the main golf day for this business trip has apparently already been arranged by the president of his company and they are playing Seven Bridges so he is stuck with that regardless.

Oh, the irony!

[Mark Smolens]

Gotta love that first tee shot at 7 Bridges. No range, and if you hit the ball with any curve at all your chances of bouncing into the water on either side are excellent. Oh well, the cart girls are generally first rate there 

[Brian Hilko]

Mark- I think they switched the 9's for the 15th time and you now tee off on the easier par 5. I hate when you have to play the other 9 first. The first 3 holes are hit it straight or watch your ball take a swim. Back in my teen years I thought this was a great course. Now not so much.

[Mark Smolens]

At least they switched it back to making it playable. When our Weekly Challenge group was there the last time, the organizers insisted that we tee off on the back nine first.

Back in my teen years there was a 36 hole dog track on the site. There are some fun holes on the current configuration, and if they've switched the nines, Daryl's buddy can have a good time -- I concur with your assessment of the beginning of the back nine. . . no fun and a horrid way to start a round of golf.