dbohling

The course layout at Calumet Country club is excellent ; however, there are some issues. Many (most) of the tees are poorly marked which can be confusing trying to find the next tee box. The sand traps are not being maintained (we just threw the ball out and chipped over). The fairways and greens are in great condition.
I attempted to purchase 3 bottles of water about 1:30 pm and there was no one in the entire facility. I stopped back again when done (about2:45) and still no one around. Very odd with various merchandise just lying around.

The course overbooked players vs. carts even though they tell you you can get you own for 10$. I literally had to argue with the guy in the pro shop about an extra cart. He grudgingly gave it to me. I golf to relax and get away from stress and hassles so to start off the round like that was less than ideal. The course is decent with greens in good shape. The other staff were friendly. In spite of the yahoo in the pro shop it was still better than working :)

The course is scenic with a nice layout. There are a number of spots on the course with water crossing a fairway that isn't obvious from the tee box (numbers 1 and 6 that I recall - I believe there are others.) If you are wild off the tee this probably isn't a course you'd enjoy. Several shots require placement of the ball into a safe area. There are places on the course where a smart layup is called for (#6 2nd shot unless you'e a big hitter). Keep an eye out for gators, deer, turkeys and a variety of other birds -you'll probably see some or all of the above.

The Forest course at the Eagles is scenic. It is moderately challenging especially if you hit hooks or slices. I tend to keep the ball in the fairway so I thought it was nice.Several sets of tee boxes to make the course appropriately hard for your skill level. You'll see a lot of birds and probably a gator or two.

Fountain hills is reasonably priced, somewhat challenging and usually well maintained. My only complaint is that you can get some slow play. The day I played me and a friend had no one in front of us so it played like a country club. Several of the holes are a bit narrow with virtually nowhere to miss the fairway . Holes 2 and 3 make it easy to go OB left. Number 7 is a 145 yd par 3 but anything left of the center of the fairway will run towards the pond on the left (OB right here is out on the street) . Hole nine is a tough par 4 and longer hitters can reach the pond at the end of the fairway from the tee. The course is generally pleasing to the eye and worth giving a try. It's a walkable course as well although I almost always take a cart.

This is the Northern most course of the Pete Dye golf trail in Indiana. It is as visually pleasing as any course I've ever played. The greens are undulating and fast and there are a few forced carries. We played the Blue tees so it was reasonable but if you want to tee it up farther back you better be a big hitter. The staff is friendly . If I had a complaint it would be that the rough was a bit high but this late in the season I know several courses that aren't in mid-summer condition. As I mentioned you are out in the country - about a 2 hour drive from the south burbs. What is interesting are two new condo sort of buildings built near the proshop that you can rent for 240-280 a night depending on date. These sleep 6 I believe . If you rent one you get a round with a cart for 25$. So if 4 guys split a condo you can get a room overnight and a round for 85$ -95$ a guy -not bad. I intend to do that next season. For those familiar with the Chicago area this course will remind you of Prairie Landing, Ruffled Feathers, Balmoral Woods , and Cog 2 (ravines) - all of which I think are beautiful and challenging courses.

3 hour round due to Bears being on TV at same time. Rough is tall but due to rain is has been difficult to keep up with maintnenance. Greens are usually slow here. Dont pay more than 35$ with a cart or you'll be disappointed.

The course is a beautiful layout. Club drop is at top of stairs. Carts are below. Our clubs "disappeared" while in the pro shop. A hustling employee had taken them down to the carts and mixed them up with two other sets of clubs on the carts. That process could have been better organized. Other than that the staff is friendly and very helpful. The layout is scenic. My only real complaint is the fairways give you some odd bounces. A ball hit perfectly down the middle may carom out of bounds. This is a hilly links style course so there few flat spots. Often leave the driver in the bag and hit a fairway wood or long iron. It's worth giving up a little distance to keep the ball in play. The greens are fast but true. The traps are good fluffy sand that you can get out of with a decent sand game. Traps on on some area courses are poorly maintained - at Prarie Landing they are top notch like Cog hill #4.

If you're a really good player you wont like it.
Course is fairly easy . I'm a 17 handicap and shot an 85 which could have been a few strokes better without a couple mental errors. Numbers 9, 10 and 18 can be trouble. Greens were in very good shape. Proshop/clubhouse is old and nothing much. If you can get the course with a cart for 40$ or less then I'd say go for it.

Course is a beautiful but tough layout. A number of blind shots, forced carries, etc. I've played here before but it had been a few years. A course/hole layout diagram on the scorecard would have been nice. There is no GPS either on the cart which seems odd for a higher end course. Most of the staff was very friendly except for a ranger who told us to hurry up on only the 3rd hole. What he apparently didn't see was the large gap in front of the threesome ahead of us. Once we caught them by the 5th hole we spent time waiting at nearly every tee after that. The round took 4:50 which isn't too bad on the weekend on a tough course.

George Dunne is the type of course that you can have a good round on if you keep your focus. Even for a top tier player (I'm not - my current handicap is about 19 and I usually play the white tees) tee it up from the back tees and you'll have all the challege you want. This course has been improving slowly over the last few years as the sandtraps are being rehabbed much for the better. Holes 4 and 11 both test your ability to hit the long ball over water but both also have a bail out area to the right. Number 6 is a beautiful par 5 surrounded by traps at the green - I'm content with a bogey there. Number 18 is memorable with a carry over a large pond and different tee areas for the white and blue tees. There is usually also a set of gold tees for the low handicappers but when I played Saturday 8/17/13 the blues were where the golds normally are and there were no gold tees. Overall, a beautiful course - certainly the crown jewel of the forest preserve courses.

The course is playable but challenging. It is fairly well maintained - I've played it twice and the first time it was in great shape. The 2nd time the rough was a little ragged but it was late in the season and aeration already underway. There are several small but deep bunkers guarding many of the greens. Not much water except for I believe #7 - a par 3 which requires about 185- 190 yard carry to play directly to the green but you can bail out to the left. Good shot placement is the key to avoiding trouble with overhanging tree branches and the bunkers. Overall an enjoyable round.