Blackberry Oaks Golf Club
About
Blackberry Oaks in Bristol is a public golf course that has been recognized as one of the Chicagoland area's best courses. The course design utilizes the natural beauty and hazards of the landscape including the native wetlands, grassy prairies, and towering stands of mature oaks. Blackberry Creek also meanders through the course. In addition to the natural hazards, a heavy smattering of strategically placed bunkers was also incorporated into the design. Although it can seem intimidating, the golf course isn't overly formidable if you can manage to stay out of the sand and water. The third and 12th holes are two par 4s that are memorable for their water hazards. The third has a lake along either side and the 12th has a green that is almost entirely surrounded by water.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blue | 72 | 6404 yards | 71.3 | 134 |
White | 72 | 6003 yards | 69.6 | 130 |
Red (W) | 72 | 5294 yards | 71.4 | 128 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue M: 71.3/132 | 343 | 515 | 370 | 172 | 369 | 317 | 486 | 191 | 377 | 3140 | 373 | 523 | 161 | 361 | 365 | 202 | 492 | 400 | 387 | 3264 | 6404 |
White M: 69.6/128 W: 75.0/134 | 323 | 473 | 328 | 158 | 343 | 304 | 464 | 175 | 332 | 2900 | 347 | 506 | 148 | 345 | 343 | 176 | 466 | 394 | 378 | 3103 | 6003 |
Green M: 67.1/121 W: 72.3/128 | 312 | 455 | 313 | 146 | 323 | 284 | 445 | 161 | 314 | 2753 | 340 | 420 | 140 | 330 | 325 | 166 | 385 | 350 | 310 | 2766 | 5519 |
Red W: 71.1/126 | 300 | 437 | 298 | 144 | 303 | 262 | 439 | 147 | 294 | 2624 | 330 | 417 | 135 | 298 | 316 | 156 | 376 | 340 | 302 | 2670 | 5294 |
Handicap | 17 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 4 | |||
Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 13 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 4 |
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ClubhouseReviews
Incredibly Average at Best
Refer to my review of 9/24/13. I'll only reluctantly recommend this place. While a formidable 130 slope from the whites there's far too much water and sand for high handicappers. Pace of play when crowded is always a problem.
Blackberry does have an interesting routing - unfortunately must point out several items -
1) greens right now are hard as a rock and will not hold very well. Well struck irons leave easily observable ball marks - even early this season NO ONE seems to repair them to the point where you're forced to fix at least two or three on every green. The old ball marks from last season aren't healing very well either. Greens are "okay" at this time but can forsee issues with them in a few months. They should institute a program requiring all golfers to repair at least one ball mark when they reach the putting surface. It's that bad.
2) Sand Traps - a tad bit too numerous and many holes require a forced carry over them to reach the proper part of the green. NO ONE seems to be raking them at the current time either. Maintained with many having a nice depth of sand.....but footprints all over the pace. Ridiculous. Problem with the depth of the sand they are impossible to rake properly without a ton of effort. Thus after being in several the first few holes....many just don't bother much after that. Perhaps an upgrade to a heavier aluminum rake is needed from the standard light plastic ones provided.
3) Course Design - All 4 of the Par 3's on the day I played required the same club due to wind conditions and flag placement. If you prox the 4th green you should seriously consider using that club on rest of the Par 3's. The Par 5's all seem to have a forced carry trap fronting the green. The "sameness" of these holes is definitely a downgrade.
4) Back nine routing - just awful. Playing almost in an amphitheatre loud golfers will absolutely disturb you on several adjoining holes. It's off putting to hear golf shots from other holes...and from several directions. Leaving the 12th to reach the 13th tee you become "completely in the line of fire/in play" from the 17th tee.....using the same bridge as they will about 125 yards away (no warning sign). Exiting 15 it's compulsory to disturb players putting on the 17th green as you motor between them and the back side of the 18th tee box just to reach the 16th tee box (no warning sign). No one cares they just drive by laughing and bouncing along. The holes are challenging/interesting but lack proper separation/privacy to them even with leaves on the trees.
5) The finishing hole Par 4 with a 135 yard plus forced carry over Blackberry Creek is a high handicappers torment guaranteeing a turtle crawl finish of their nightmare. The scorecard actually suggests play as 3 shotter to the green. If you do decide to lay up be aware that fronting group exiting the final green will drive right back through your line of sight to reach the clubhouse. And are in play if you hit your layup long.
With a light tee sheet I can recommend Blackberry wholeheartedly.....it's a really good challenge to stay out of the water/sand and route your ball properly.....and greens have a lot of slope in them. Watch your step in the bar area...it's slippery with golf shoes on.
Crowded/high season - if you are proficient experienced player you've been warned. Remember I always tell it "like it is" - unvarnished reviews.
Great course, great price, great layout!
Haven’t been to blackberry oaks yet but this was my first time being able to play it and I will be back! Great price while being greeted by very professional welcoming staff! 10/10!
Excellent and challenging golf course to play
This golf course was in above average condition except for some of the sand traps that needed to be raked and cleaned up. It is definitely a challenging golf course from the back tees. I am not big fan of the 18th hole but for the money it is definitely worth playing this golf course again.
Great Course for the Value
My wife and I are from out of town and found this course. We will DEFINITELY play here again if we're in the area. The course wasn't overly crowded so the pace of play was great. The conditions were great as well and the staff was friendly. It was slightly challenging but the scenery was beautiful. Highly recommend!
Bang for the buck
Great course. Just enough water to keep you honest. Good amenities
Great condition
Greens had just been aerated that day but they were still very smooth and puttable unlike others I've been on after aeration. The GPS on the cart was very easy to use and saved a lot of time. The layout with the water and traps makes it just challenging and interesting enough.
Bang for the Buck
The course was in good condition with great pace of play...~3.5hr round.
The fairways are mostly wide open with enough surrounding water to make you respect them.
In the end, paying $38 for a round was definitely worth it
Great course
This course is challenging but fun for an intermediate golfer. Lots of sand and water but great layout, lots of fun holes and well-maintained.
Great course for the the value
There’s a league that goes on, on Wednesday which slows the pace of play down a lot. Took us close to 3 hours to get through the front 9 nine. First time I experienced this there but over all great course love playing here
Sand Traps were like cement. Other then that course was good.
Pace of play unacceptable
I had a tee time at 1:30, and the course was already behind. We didn’t tee off until 1:45. We waited on every shot. I think the course was overbooked, and didn’t see a ranger at any point. The course was in good shape, but it shouldn’t take 5 hours to complete a round.