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Reviews
The Preserve at Oak Meadows
Played On 10/22/2020Exceeded expectations and one of the best courses close to downtown
Great layout, condition was far better than earlier summer reviews implied. Reminded me of Thunderhawk with a few less trees and a much shorter drive. Clubhouse will have a killer view once that is finished. Will be back next season!
One suggested improvement - your hot dogs taste like covid.
Eaglewood Resort & Spa
Played On 10/10/2020Worth a play if you get a good deal, but otherwise forgettable
Older course on a suburban resort, both of which have probably seen better days. Very tight layout which had us ducking errant tee shots all day. Fair amount of elevation change compared to your standard Chicago course. Very short. Course is a little beat up and many bunkers were dirt. I probably won’t be back.
Water's Edge Golf Club
Played On 09/07/2020It’s like they’ve given up
I used to love this track, as it has one of the better layouts in the Chicago south suburbs, and was priced fairly. However, the round today had conditions as poor as any I can remember playing golf in the last 5 years. I’m not a stickler for perfect conditions on a muni, but every fairway was spotty with big bald patches, massive cart tire tracks leading to us taking several unplayable lies. Greens were bumpy with several holes missing huge chunks of greens from..unrepaired ball marks? Tee boxes were littered with whole tees and divots.
I’m not sure if there’s a story behind the scenes here, but it seems as though they’ve given up on course maintenance. Until it’s revitalized, I won’t be returning.
Mt Prospect Golf Club
Played On 08/18/2020One of the better values in Chicago
First time playing Mt Prospect, and I wish I would have visited years ago. A tight layout with elevated and heavily undulated greens. In great condition, especially for a muni. The course had electric GPS carts, and pace of play was great. Will be back soon!
Lynx Golf Course
Played On 07/26/2020Diamond in the rough with a fun wooded layout
I’ve driven past this course countless times, and am glad I finally stopped in to play. As much elevation change on a course as you’ll see in the Midwest. Definitely has the “up north” wooded feel, and every hole was unique and memorable. Course was a little beat up, but didn’t impact play, and at those prices, it’s what you’d expect. Will definitely be back!
Macatawa Golf Club
Played On 07/24/2020Standard country club course, boring layout
Perfectly fine golf course which was in great condition. But, a fairly boring layout across flat, treeless farmland with no signature holes that could have been located in any subdivision in America. It's worth playing if you get a good deal, but has none of the "Pure Michigan" golf characteristics you'll see at nearby Diamond Springs or Ravines.
Prairie Landing
Played On 07/06/2020Great course and worth the drive from downtown
First time playing here, and I understand why it's on the short list of best Chicago public courses. Lots of risk/reward holes, with a tough layout, but all par 3s were accessible. Greens rolled great and bunkers were pristine. A bit different was the constant buzz of private planes taking off overhead, and even a train rolled adjacent to our tee box. But if that kind of background noise bothers you, you were gonna slice anyway - get over it.
One tip - Neither the check in employee nor the cart girl were wearing their masks properly. Doesn't work when it's around your neck guys!
George W Dunne National Golf Course
Played On 07/05/2020No longer the gem I remember
I hadn’t played here in several years, and it’s disappointing to see how the course has declined. Many of the fairways were chewed up, and it seems the numerous bunkers hadn’t received new sand in 5 years. Even the GPS carts are no longer (though that could be covid-related, I’m not sure).
Still a great layout and the staff was wonderful. But at $72 for 18 and a cart, it’s no longer the “value” play on the southwest side.
We are currently working hard on getting bunkers back in shape. Check out our FB page we just got our first 2 truckloads of new bunker sand in yesterday, and we will have many more on the way
Stoatin Brae at Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort
Played On 06/13/2020Not sure I understand the hype
I had heard Stoatin Brae was getting Top 100 hype, so we drove over from the Western Michigan coast. I don't think it was worth the hour drive unfortunately. For a new course, the layout was very simple, save the first few holes on the back nine. More importantly, it feels like most of the holes are on top of each other; you can see most of the course from any one point, and are at risk of incoming errant shots from other holes. For a new property receiving such hype, I'd have expected a more seclusive layout.
Harbor Shores
Played On 05/15/2020Maybe my favorite course in Western Michigan
I don't understand the mixed reviews here. Is the layout funky? Yes! And understandbly so, given the course was put here only recently to revitalize a struggling town, and they secured whatever land they could cobble together. I actually enjoy the stark contrast between holes and think it weaves an interesting story. Course is always in great shape, and the staff and facilities are top knotch. #7 is a masterpiece, and it helps that I'm a career two under par on that one! Look forward to playing here a few times a year.
It's unfortunate that some claims made are not factual. Harbor Shores was never private and is a non-profit facility that donates all profits to local development.
Harbor Shores also maintains the once forbidden Jean Klock Park and Beach, which now yields six figures annually directly to the city of Benton Harbor.
In addition, most of the land procured was abandoned and unsafe from old factories that left town.
The taxes collected due to Harbor Shores that was once $0, is now staggering.
Facts are important.
The course was not put their to revitalize a struggling town. The people were offered 100 times the value of their homes, which most were given $250,000 or more for their homes. The people were also told that there would be no houses built, only a golf course, which anyone can see was a lie. The Inn a Harbor Shores was also not supposed to be built, but was. The people were essentially tricked into selling their homes for huge amounts of money, so that Whirlpool and State representatives and senators from St Joe could get a golf course. The promise to the people of the area was also that it would not be a private course and locals could golf there for a very reasonable rate. The course is public now, but was private for a couple years and locals can golf for the same rates as everyone else.
Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course
Played On 12/23/2019Much improved after a few years away
I had stayed away from Marovitz for several years due to slow play, but all three of my 2019 rounds moved along much quicker, and I understand they’ve made great strides to improve pace of play in recent years.
The bunkers are still in great shape after the renovation, and the course was in as good of condition as any for a surprise round of December golf. The layout is straight forward, but there are enough bunkers guarding the greens to keep things challenging.
You can’t beat the convenience of city golf!
Diamond Springs Golf Course
Played On 07/21/2019Unique course and beautiful landscape
First time playing Diamond Springs after many recommendations. The course has an "up north" feel and is heavily wooded. I found the front nine to be nice, and the back nine to be spectacular, and impossible from the blues.
Two suggestions for the course - keep the tee boxes mowed. I appreciate that the course utilizes minimal maintenance to keep greens fees low, but they were pretty shaggy. Also, creating a blue/white tee card would be helpful, as it's a big drop from 6800 yds blue to 6000 white.
I play Ravines frequently down the road in Saugatuck. If the pricing was similar (offseason or twilight), I'll play Ravines. But for midseason peak weekend pricing, Diamond Springs is the far better value.
The Ravines Golf Club
Played On 04/20/2019Maybe my favorite public course in the Midwest
Played Ravines for the first time and was blown away by the layout. Each hole is tucked into the woods, and the layout requires you to be purposeful with every tee shot and approach. The undulating greens made every putt enjoyable, and there isn't a bad hole on the course.
It was quite wet and the course is clearly in Spring conditions (it looks like the first hole cart path is under construction) but I can't wait to return mid season and again in the Fall to see the course with fall foliage. I much preferred this course to Hawskhead down the road
We look forward to welcoming you back again soon too!