BryanTweed16

The Good: Fun, playable Ken Killian design north of Chicago is one of the better Forest Preserve courses in the suburban area. Fairly benign front nine gives way to a very impressive closing nine with several great holes. Layout winds through wetlands (water is on 13 holes) and some woodlands. Very strong Par 3's throughout and nice variety of Par 4's and Par 5's on the back. Pretty good course conditions and large, slick greens that putt well. Good clubhouse and nice staff. Good value if you are a city resident or during twilight hours. GPS on carts!

The Bad: Sand complexes are visually impressive, but need more sand. Greens don't hold as well as they should. No driving range or short game area is huge omission. Lack of restroom areas or good signage is a negative. Pace of play can be an issue, particularly on the weekend afternoons. The front nine is relatively boring. A little overpriced at nearly $75 during peak weekend.

The Verdict: Steeple Chase is another good option in the northern Chicago suburbs. A fun course to play that won't break the bank. Very tough in the wind!!

Best Hole(s):Several great holes on the back, but the Par 4 15th is a standout. Tough driving hole and an approach that requires a shot around overhanging trees. The Par 5 18th has 2 huge ponds and very little room for error. One of the tougher closing holes in the area.

The Good: David Esler redesign of 1927 parkland layout in the middle of a Mount Prospect neighborhood is an architectural delight. Layout is fun and challenging despite being short with several doglegs and many "go for broke" moments. Superb Par 5's, good variety in Par 4's and a couple strong Par 3's. Nice fairways and very difficult, undulated green complexes. Some of the largest greens you'll find on such a short course. Very nice clubhouse with excellent 19th hole. Good on-course amenities include GPS on carts and halfway house. One of the better values for a course within 30 minutes from downtown Chicago.

The Bad: The greens can be overly challenging for the high-handicapper. Practice facility is fair at best with a limited driving range. Pace of play can be very slow during peak season and no ranger to police pace. Holes are very close together and can feel claustrophobic. Par 3's on the closing nine are fairly blah.

The Verdict: Mount Prospect is a great option for city slickers looking to get a fun round in without driving an hour. Quirky, short shotmaker's dream with old school feel.

Best Hole:The three Par 5's are great, but the opening hole is awesome. A drive that must avoid several sand traps and an approach that is blind over a huge pot bunker in middle of fairway.

The Good: This northern suburban 9-hole muny has no thrills or frills, but is a decent option if you need a quick 2-hour round. Par 34 layout is a hacker's paradise, except there are no Par 5's to go for broke. Instead there are several demanding, long Par 4's (especially the closing holes). The two Par 3's are the best holes on the course. Fairway conditions are pretty good and greens hold well. Clubhouse is nice for a 9-hole facility with good pro shop. Make sure to stop at the "10th Hole" for some drinks or a burger after the round.

The Bad: Rough and tee-box conditions are to be desired. Amenities are sorely lacking: no driving range (but there a few individual hitting net stations) and a pathetic putting green with two holes. Limited on-course amenities and service. There are several holes that have a crossing creek that either forces the average golfer to try to carry 250 yards or you're forced to hit long iron off almost every tee. A little overpriced for the area at around $30 with cart for 9 holes during off-season.

The Verdict: Vernon Hills is for you if you don't worry about any amenities or experience. It's all about getting a few fun holes in and avoiding the "riff-raff" of an upscale club.

Best Hole: The downhill, short Par 3 #7 is fun. Can range from 3 different clubs with the largest green on the course.

The Good: 27-Hole Arthur Hills design in North Port, just about 30 minutes south of Sarasota, is a hidden gem in the area. Demanding, well-manicured layout will test all skill levels with a wide variety of tough Par 4's and superb risk-reward Par 5's. Fairways are in top-notch shape and greens are relatively small and undulated. Superb clubhouse with full restaurant, locker room, and pro shop. Nice practice facility includes range, putting green and multiple short game areas. Excellent value (particularly if you book an early morning tee time online) for upscale Sarasota public play.

The Bad: Course can be extremely difficult off the tee, especially if you haven't played before. Too many blind shots for the average golfer. Lack of GPS, especially given blind shots, is disappointing. Service level is average but not great with lack of starter or on-course cart girl. Fairways are in good shape but don't drain well. Par 3's on Marsh/Creek nines are forgettable.

The Verdict: Heron Creek is a very good public course in the greater Sarasota area and one that not many talk about. You can expect fun, challenge, and to lose a couple sleeves if you're not careful (or a visitor).

Best Hole(s): The Par 5 5th on Marsh is a strong, slight dogleg the meanders near water left. The Par 4 1st on Creek is a solid short test, but the long Par 5 6th is the best hole on the course.

The Good: Brand, spanking new Arnold Palmer design in the growing Lakewood Ranch area is one of two anticipated courses in the community. Will eventually be a private club. Very fun, challenging layout has some decent elevation change for a Florida course, mixing ample fairways and tons of sand with uber-huge, difficult greens. Conditions for a course in its infancy were very impressive and the usage of waste areas throughout is unique. Par 5's are excellent, good variety in the Par 4's and tough Par 3's on the closing nine. Clubhouse is very nice and practice facility (including two hilarious putting greens) is great. Staff is very accommodating and will ensure a perfect experience. GPS on carts!

The Bad: Mostly due to it being a new club, the lack of amenities struggles to justify the hefty price tag: No restaurant, mostly sand cart paths, no restroom areas on closing nine, etc. Fair amount of blind shots. Greens can be ridiculous at times, especially if the pin placements are tough.

The Verdict: A Top 5 public course in the Sarasota area in 2 months of grand opening. Will eventually be a Top 25 public course in Florida if it doesn't go private.

Best Hole: All Par 5's are great, but the closing hole is an awesome way to end a round. A risk-reward drive over water and traps to a green guarded by water right and sand left. Great birdie opportunity!

The Good: Esplanade is one of the newest courses in the Lakewood Ranch area and will undoubtedly go private after a few years of public play. Pedestrian layout is very well-maintained with ample fairways but with enough trouble off the tee and particularly around the greens to keep it interesting. Greens putt very true and the chipping complexes are expansive. Decent variety in Par 4's, but the very strong Par 5's steal the show. Clubhouse is small and quaint with its own bar area. Additional "tiki bar" and restaurant area near the clubhouse is excellent for a pre/post grub and suds. Practice facility is nice enough and includes short game area. Very good value at under $100 during peak season and conservative afternoon rates.

The Bad: Layout for the low-handicapper could seem a little boring with limited doglegs or challenge off the tee. Driving range hits into water rather than grass, which is awkward and hokey. Staff is very friendly but cart girl rarely comes around and not much water on course. Par 3's are a little lackluster compared to rest of the course. The constant sound of construction (hundreds of houses going up in complex) can be a little annoying.

The Verdict: Esplanade is a fun, leisurely round of course and one of the best conditioned options in the greater Sarasota area. Great for mid-high handicappers. Play now before it goes private in a year or two.

Best Hole: #17 is a very good, tough Par 5 with a treacherous approach shot to a double-tiered green guarded by water.

The Good: Strawberry Farms is one of the most heralded public courses in the Orange County area and for good reason. Very interesting, visual impressive layout with nice mixture of valley views on front nine and then elevation vistas around a quarry on the closing nine (and no houses!). Excellent Par 5's, good diversity in Par 4's, and several solid Par 3's. Greens putt very true. Clubhouse is excellent with full restaurant, bar, patio and banquet room. Practice area includes range, multiple putting greens, and short game area. Pace of play is great and staff is very friendly. You can book prepaid rounds at discounted prices, making it a solid value for a high priced metro area.

The Bad: The recent droughts have not done any favors for the course conditions, which are average at best. Driving range only allows irons, which is an annoyance. While check-in and clubhouse service is top-notch, on-course service is lacking. Course layout is not for the high handicapper as most errant shots are gobbled up by marsh or forest areas just off the cart path. Course significantly limits when you can drive carts. Peak season rates are too high given course conditions.

The Verdict: Strawberry Farms is a fun, enjoyable golf course and one of the best in the OC. Needs condition improvements and more focus on the golfer experience to be a premier public option.

Best Hole: Without question, the medium length Par 4 10th. Amazing view of the quarry and a drive that must carry water and navigate a sliver of a fairway.

The Good: Rob Roy is a decent suburban 9-hole layout that used to be a 27-hole course until a developer built a crowded condo complex. Fairway conditions and greens were in good shape for middle February in Chicago. Layout has some interesting holes, most notably the Par 5's that provide some unique challenges and a couple good Par 3's. Clubhouse is nice for a nine-hole course, which includes a restaurant and banquet area in addition to a decent pro shop. Staff overall is friendly. Average value for the greater Chicago area.

The Bad: Greens, to be expected, were very shaggy and slow. Be prepared for a 2.5+ hour experience for 9-holes. Course has very limited on-course signage and yardage markers, which contributes to the poor pace of play. No driving range (you can go to the Woodland Trails driving range down the road) and putting green is lacking. Par 4's are pretty ordinary and unmemorable. Course feels claustrophobic with condos and houses intruding just off the fairways.

The Verdict: Rob Roy is a decent place to hack around if you want a cheap Chicago option or if you only have time for nine holes. Just don't expect many amenities or to get done that quickly.

Best Hole: The Par 5 5th is the most interesting hole on the course. A drive must avoid water right and straight (if you're a big hitter). The approach shot(s) are over water to a thin fairway that is guarded by houses right and large trees left. A tough par!