Lives
Chicago
Handicap
15-19
Age
55-64
Gender
Male
Skill
Intermediate
Plays
Once a week

Review Statistics

Average Rating

3.7
3.7
Total 3 Reviews

Rating Breakdown

3 Reviews
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Recommended Courses
3
Not Recommended Courses
0
Helpful Votes Count
1
Not Helpful Votes Count
1
First Review
07/02/2017
Last Review
10/14/2023

Reviews Map

Reviews

3.7
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The Club at Lac La Belle

Played On 10/10/2023
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

Lack La Belle

This was our first time at Lac La Belle. We played five days before the course closed for the 2023 season. Given the late season round it was clear that the course had had a busy year. However, condition of the course was really good considering the October date. Late season pin positions were not on flat ground, somewhat expected. The severe slope on the greens here are penal. Greens are not meant to be the biggest challenge for a course. On this day they were and I believe that the redesign made the greens more problematic than they need be. Birdies were scarce as a result.

The new holes that were built for the renovation are interesting but a bit contrived given the rest of the holes from the older layout. The hazards and design of the new holes were clearly about moving earth to build a challenging and visual hole not a natural hole that is revealed by the property. Backstop greens and deep bunkers don't make the golf challenge better, it's like weight lifting. Impressive to those who enjoy it. Yet, contrived to those who don't view good golf design as macho earth moving to get tongues wagging online.

The redesign with new clubhouse and range are quite special and worth talking about. They make the experience a value given the cost. The staff was Wisconsin friendly and professional. The Morse family has built it and now they come. The food and drink at the Rivalry pub was excellent too! The people in this place are truly happy to have you spend your time and money with them. Too often not the objective of other courses staff. Spend the day at Lac La Belle.

What was lacking at Lac La Belle this late in the season? The extraordinary amount of staked areas, traffic arrows and general sense of anxiousness about the guests inability to know course etiquette in a cart. I would have thought that guests willing to spend $150 on a round would know where to drive and where not to drive on a golf course. All the stakes positioned tee-to-green completely pocked the beauty of the layout. I realize that GUR needs to be marked, but on just one hole I counted 30 stakes of various colors and sizes. At one point we thought a croquet pitch was in the middle of a fairway. If one wants to have an Instagramable image of Lac La Belle you will have to remove these candles from the cake.

On this day, pace of play was 3hours 10 mins. We were one of three groups on the course and a few walking singles. The cart GPS was accurate and easy to read. However, the abrupt cart stoppages due to a five foot incursion off the cart paths was somewhat disruptive given that we weren't even close to the aforementioned staked ground when the cart stopped. All things considered, Lac La Belle is a good course with a stunning backstory in Wisconsin golf history. You will read about it on the course plaques and signage. The Wisconsin golf trail pricing seems about right for an experience at this level. I can see this course continuing to gain in stature. It is however, not a course for high handicap players unless you can keep moving at pace with the groups in front of you. There are lots of ways to get in trouble on this course with a slightly errant shot. You need to have a solid sand game and the presence of mind to pick-up when you think you need to line up your third putt.

Congrats to Lac La Belle and the golfer who can play and enjoy there day in Wisconsin.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Links at Lawsonia Golf Course

Played On 10/07/2023
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Lawsonia Links/Woodlands

I had played both courses multiple times (15 years ago) before all the attention and marketing drove the golf trophy hunters to Green Lake. I brought a group of good California golfers to the courses I loved and wanted them to experience these two distinct tracks on one property. We did play in cold/windy weather 49 at tee-off). However, that's not the issue. The LINKS were our first round and the first hole revealed the general deterioration of the course conditions. The first 5 holes were being renovated so no sand in the bunkers. Understandable that this late in the season these issues were being dealt with. However, from there on I noticed that the fairways had more bare patches that detracted from the general beauty of the course I knew. The dirt cart paths resulted in plumes of dust thrown into the wind making one feel the whole course was a construction site. The point is these muni conditions at this point in the season shanked the ranking this course has somehow received in the last five years. On the greens, conditions were extremely firm and the pin positions in severely sloped placements as one finds late in the season on a muni. The design is the defense of this course, To make putting an even greater challenge due to sloped pins removed the thrill of a GIR when we had one. Overall, I agree with other reviewers. The LINKS is worn out this late in the 2023 season and thus the greens fees should compensate for that. The LINKS in perfect condition is amazing and a good value. However, in this condition...disappointing. One birdie from the group.

The WOODLANDS was in spectacular condition and virtually empty of players. This course is every bit as challenging as I recalled from 10 years ago with a few new changes that I consider an improvement. No crazy pin positions, good condition tee boxes and firm fairways and greens. A brilliant experience. The residential development around the course was a surprise given that this had been a spartan environment due to the former owners/management of the property. It's clear that Lawsonia has become a destination and is preparing for a monied clientele. The WOODLANDS redeemed the visit to Lawsonia. Six birdies from the group during the round. The WOODLANDS was the stand-out and a solid value in every respect.

The clubhouse, restaurant and proshop at Lawsonia are unchanged in 30 years. Not that this means a charming vintage vibe unless you like late 70's driving range mojo. The staff was truly hospitable Wisconsin locals seemingly somewhat worn out by what must have been a crazy 2023 season of play. Do not expect a country club experience like Wisconsin's more pricey proximate destinations. This is both good and bad news.The carts have no GPS. Somewhat amazing at these prices. If Lawsonia is to live up to the hype, the LINKS course is the first priority. We might have caught them exhausted after a marathon season, but the LINKS had better get its renovations in place or other reviewers will remark on the same issues. Lawsonia, keep the local feel to the place. However, visitors need to understand that whistling straight to the hills might make the sand in the valley a bogey not a day on the Lido.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging

Cantigny Golf - Lakeside/Hillside

Played On 07/01/2017
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

When expectations are exceeded.

Having played the game globally over the last 50+ years, I can, with some certainty, claim that Cantigny Hillside/Woodside was one of the most extraordinary tests and experiences I've had the pleasure to know. The condition of these Parkland courses, the layout, the staff, the circumstances and the company were perfect on this day - July1, 2017. To appreciate value you must have context. My good fortune to have traveled to play is that context and history.

The Cantigny complex is structured in a way to give both the avid and novice golfer the opportunity to prepare, play and assess the day, without ever once questioning the decision to do so. From the moment you enter the grounds your approach to the clubhouse features views of idyllic golf holes flanking the drive in. Views that entice the mind and spirit and prepare you emotionally for what's to come. The conditions on this visit were spectacular: late afternoon sun, cloudless sky, light breeze, open courses, fast greens and verdant, ample fairways. On this day, perfection was the color green at Cantigny. I can only imagine the palette in the Fall, it must be spectacular.

Knowing golfers come to accept the odds that accompany any round of golf. Cantigny under any circumstances would be a good bet for a great day of golf. By this I do not mean scoring, I mean great golf. That is an important distinction that lies at the heart of the game and is often lost on those new to the game. Cantigny is an old soul in a relatively new 28 year old body.

The Cantigny courses demand full attention and respect because the golf here will reveal the full measure of your game right from the first tee shot. A novice or disinterested player might reconsider making a tee time here given the demands and expense. The required shots and skill set for many of the holes will frustrate those new to the game, yet the courses themselves are so beautiful that your poor play gets rewarded nonetheless. Don't despair. Cantigny will inspire you to practice and improve your game if only to bring you back again and again to test your progress. The Golf Academy on-site is where you may acquire the skills and confidence to play. As I said, this is a complete golf destination, not a resort. Golf is the focus, and golfers should support and utilize all aspects of the Cantigny experience. The Caddie program supports one of the foundations of the game. At Cantigny, I can see that the future for caddies is secure. Young people are everywhere. As a senior, I found this detail to be so important and specific. Cantigny is making a statement, by signaling that the spirit of the game is young even if the game itself is old. A perfect balance, in all respects.

At some point, I will return to play Lakeside. I can only imagine it will be more of a very good thing.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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