[Bradley Anderson]

Next April I will begin writing a HOLE OF THE MONTH column for a Chicago area greenkeepers magazine, profiling the greatest golf holes of the Chicago metro area.

Any suggestions?  

[Sven Nilsen]

Brad:

Might make sense if you throw out your list from experience and let people make suggestions for additions or deletions.

Also, how far out does your definition of Chicago Metro Area extend?

Sven

[Bradley Anderson]

Sven,

The magazine reaches a membership from Wisconsin north, Rockford west and Kankakee to the south.

I am looking for suggestions because there are so many golf courses that I have not even played.

Some of the holes I consider great are Olympia Fields North 14, Beverly 2, Shoreacres 15, Medinah 16, Glen Flora 7, Chicago Golf 2, Skokie 11, Old Elm 16, Shepherds Crook 9, Butler 18, Exmoor 7, Lake Shore 13, Knollwood 6.

Some of these are great because of their boldness, but others are great because of their design subtleties.

[Terry Lavin]

My personal slate, in no particular order and off the top of my head, subject to further modification!

Par 3's:

Olympia Fields North #16
Butler National #8
Shoreacres #14
Exmoor #8
Cog Hill #4, 6th hole
Skokie #9
Evanston #7

4's:

Olympia North #14
Medinah #12
Beverly #16
Chicago Golf #12
Butler #10
Olympia South #6
North Shore #18
Shoreacres #2
Flossmoor #17
Cog Hill #4, 16th hole

5's:

Beverly #11
Butler #7
Medinah #7
Knollwood #10
Shoreacres #15
Olympia South #7
North Shore #14
Bob O'Link #5



A couple caveats.  I don't have a memory for golf holes like Sven, so I may have misnumbered/misremembered a couple.  Also, I should probably have one of the short holes from Chicago golf, maybe the redan, maybe the short one over water (9 or 10).  I still haven't played Old Elm or Glenview so they aren't represented, and I suppose I could have one from the Glen Club, but I'm not familiar enough after my four plays to make a judgment.


Best Starting Hole:

Tie between Olympia South and Chicago Golf.

Best Finishing Hole:

Beverly.

Best Golf Hole in town: Medinah #12

[Sven Nilsen]

Brad (and Terry):

This thread from earlier in the year should be a pretty good starting point:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,52568.0.html

Sven

[Greg Gilson]

I played Chicago & Medinah #3 about 15 years ago and cannot recall any holes with enough clarity to make a proposal. That's probably heresy as far as CG is concerned! However i had the chance to play Shoreacres a few weeks ago and cannot get 11-15 out of my head. That's not a knock on the other 13 holes but my playing partner & I agreed that may be the best/most consistently fun 5 hole stretch we'd ever played.

[Sven Nilsen]

A couple of follow up points on Terry's list:

Skokie #8 and #17 are two very strong par 4's worthy of inclusion in any conversation of the best holes in the area.  I think the 12th may be a better par 3 than the 9th (it certainly is tougher), but can understand an argument either way (the green on the 9th is treacherous).  I've heard the 5th hole there referred to as a Redan, which is laughable.

You might consider sneaking a hole in from Spring Valley.  The 7th is a great option for the Par 3 ranks, and there are a handful of wonderful Par 4's on the course that still offer a strong challenge despite the lack of sand in the bunker hollows.

I think Terry has a soft spot for the 16th at OFN because he's aced it.  There are probably better options out there for the short list of Par 3's.  The 14th at Shoreacres is a very cool hole, but is not my personal choice for best of the bunch from that course (I'd go with the Short).

I fully back the endorsement of the 16th at Cog, an absolutely wonderful hole for those that can move the ball from right to left, and one that didn't suffer much from the most recent round of changes.

If you're going to include a hole from Shepherd's Crook, the 9th would be well down my list.  4, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 15 are better.

Don't listen to the crowd that parks their habitually unreliable British sports car in the same spot at their club on every Saturday and Sunday morning during the season.  There are some real gems on some of the lesser known or lesser regarded courses in the area.  The 8th at Ravisloe is a masterclass in bunker placement, to provide one example.

Sven

[Jud_T]

Knollwood #2
Shoreacres #11
Ravisloe #16
Spring Valley #7
Lost Dunes #4

[Andrew Lewis]

I would add for consideration:

Par 3's
Spring Valley #17 -- the green alone should put this hole on most lists
Dunes Club #6

Par 4's
Spring Valley #6 -- great driving hole from the water-peninsula tee and a fantastic green
Beverly #15 -- Terry already noted #16 and #11; the piece of land covered by these three holes is fantastic
OFCC North #3
OFCC South #11 (I think) -- driveable-ish hole with nice placement of sand and water hazards to challenge both the heroic and safe shots

[Greg Ohlendorf]

I've got to throw in my support for Flossmoor 17. heck, George O'Neil wrote about its greatness 100 years ago or so.

Greg

[Howard Riefs]

The Highlands of Elgin
#7 (par 3)
#11 (par 4)

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,52568.msg1240794.html#msg1240794

[Adam Clayman]

Bradley, Take a cue from the other thread, and, whet ever you do, make sure you cite justifications for your choosing your "hole of the month".

A list of someone's favorites without adding their "becauses" is about as interesting as political rhetoric. Or reading a Judges verdict.

[Dan Moore]

Bradley,

It might be fun to build your own best 18 using actual hole numbers.  Start with the best 1st hole and proceed through the best 18 numerically, i.e best 2nd hole, best 3rd hole etc.   

I would nomintae Chicago Golf Club #1 as the best first hole because it is a great opening hole and is still essentailly Macdonald's original 1st hole on the 1st 18 hole course in Chicago.  And it was one of George O'Neil's selections for his series on the Ideal Golf Course in the teens before Raynor fixed it up. 

Nominations for Hole #2?

[Jud_T]

Knollwood #2.  Fantastic short par 4 with a brilliant green.

[Sven Nilsen]

Knollwood #2.  Fantastic short par 4 with a brilliant green.

Better hole than the 2nd at Shoreacres?

[Jud_T]

Knollwood #2.  Fantastic short par 4 with a brilliant green.

Better hole than the 2nd at Shoreacres?

Tough call, but gets my vote given that Shoreacres will be amply represented.

[Bradley Anderson]

Dan,

I like the idea. I will definitely be calling on you for historical background. Chicago #1 is an outstanding opener to profile. A lot of history and a stern test of golf.

Sven,
Shoreacres #2 is an amazing design along the left side, but there are greater 2 shotters out there at the Shore.


Jud,
Knollwood #2 is a good choice, but I am leaning towards Beverly #2. I think the tee is the highest elevation in Cook County.

[Jud_T]

Well, I think the 13th tee at Merit Club is the highest point in Lake County, but I certainly wouldn't include it.  Merit Club #3, however, should at least be in the discussion.

[Terry Lavin]

Okay, here's a quick stab at best 18 at their original "number".  I left some gaps for those interested in puzzles:

1.  Chicago Golf Club, medium/long par-4
2.  Knollwood Club, short par-4
3.  Glen View Club, par-4
4.  Edgewood Valley, short par-3
5.  Shoreacres, long par-4
6.  Olympia South, short par-4
7.  Evanston Golf Club, par-3
8.  Exmoor Golf Club, par-3
9.  Medinah #1 par-5

10. Butler National, long par-4
11. Shoreacres, par-4
12. Medinah #3, long par-4
13. North Shore, short par-4
14. Olympia Fields North, long par-4
15. Skokie, short par 4
16. Cog Hill #4 medium par-4
17. Chicago Highlands, par-3
18. Beverly CC, long par-5

Have at it, sports fans.

[Jud_T]

#11 has to be Shoreacres IMO.

[Ivan Morris]

Here's my suggestion. Make your own choices and don't mind the opinions of others. Treat it as fun and good luck with it. 

[PCCraig]

Okay, here's a quick stab at best 18 at their original "number".  I left some gaps for those interested in puzzles:

1.  Chicago Golf Club, medium/long par-4
2.  Knollwood Club, short par-4
3. 
4.
5. 
6.  Olympia South, short par-4
7.  Evanston Golf Club, par-3
8.  Exmoor Golf Club, par-3
9.  Medinah #1 par-5

10. Butler National, long par-4
11.
12. Medinah #3, long par-4
13. North Shore, short par-4
14. Olympia North, long par-4
15. Shoreacres, short par-5
16. Cog Hill #4 medium par-4
17. Chicago Highlands, par-3
18. Beverly CC, long par-5

Have at it, sports fans.

The 3rd at Glen View Club is a fantastic long(er) par-4 with a blind tee shot and a really fun green. Not sure if it's the best #3 in Chicago, but it's pretty darn good.

[J_ Crisham]

Hate to be a homer but Beverly could very easily  fill the #5 and 11 spots. 5 is the best hole on the front nine and 11 is as good a par 5 in Chicago as you will see. The green is pretty special.

[J_ Crisham]

#3 should be OFCC north. One of the five best par4's in Chicago and top 20 for me in the US.

[Brian Colbert]

Am I the only one that absolutely loves #4 at Beverly? I think it's my favorite hole on the course. Also think 5 at Butler National is a fantastic par 3 and could fit well. Maybe we could have a Tom Doak-ish 34-37 = 71 like at Old Mac?

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