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We were playing poker that night in Fox Lake and decided to play 18 before the game. Found a Hot Deal for Fox Lake CC which I had never played before. What a gem! The course was in great condition and it's a fantastic layout with no bordering homes. Very hilly with lots of mature trees and older style smallish greens that rolled perfectly.
We had a 1:24 tee time and only saw two other foursomes on the course and one single playing behind us. It was like having our own private country club. The staff was friendly, the cart girl was friendly and hot, and we had a delicious brat in the clubhouse before the round. The only drawback was that the clubhouse was closed by the time we finished. So just headed over to our buddy's house for beer, pizza, and poker where I won $20. Overall a great day..

Got a great Hot Deal on a course recommended by a buddy who lives in the area. It exceeded our expectations and a bargain at the price. Great layout, nice clubhouse, super large putting green, and excellent course conditions. My cousin liked it so much that he went back the following week to play it again. It's a 75 min drive from my house but worth the drive.

Played our first round of the year on a beautiful sunny 69 degree day. The weather was perfect, but can't say the same about the course. It was cart path only as the low spots were still mush. The greens were lumpy and slow. I'm not a fan of the new layout. The old severely downhill fun to play 16th hole par 3 has been replaced by an uninteresting flat par 3. The old par 5 5th hole has been slightly shortened into an impossible par 4. You never get near the clubhouse until the 17th hole (formerly the 18th). The driving range isn''t open yet, and the new clubhouse won;t open for a couple of years . They added a nice 3 hole practice area, but they charge $7 tu use it. The one nice change is anew putting green which replaces the worst putting green in the Chicago area. The normal $45 weekday rate is highway robbery at this time, and our $34 GolfNow rate was no bargain. Hold off a couple of weeks before playing here.

Got a great Hot Deal for a end of season round. I played Fresh Meadows every Saturday about 30 years ago, and it hasn't changed much over the years. It's a par 70, so it plays much longer than the stated yardage with several 400+ par 4's. The clubhouse was closed, but there was a cart guy selling over-priced beers. They aerated the putting green, but the greens on the course were fine although very fast and hard. Most of the tee boxes were really beat up. It looks like they haven't moved them in days. Fairways and rough were in decent shape. We played as a twosome and finished in 3 1/2 hours even though we had to wait on a couple of tees.

I hadn't played this course in 25 years bur still remembered the hill going up to the 18th green. They offer a senior weekday rate of $42 w/cart, which is a bargain for this course. I checked a few reviews online and they were pretty bad so I called the pro shop to check on course conditions. The course was being sold prior to Covid, but now off the market. They admitted that the maintenance was neglected, but assured me that the course was in great shape now. We were glad we gave it a chance and were impressed with the beauty and layout - lots of mature oaks, plenty of flower beds, lots of elevation changes, and smooth greens made it seem like a private country club. We played the Senior tees from 6,190 yards and you paid a penalty if you missed the fairway as the rough is lush. The greens were like carpet and lots of slope, but rather soft, so not extremely fast. They have an impressive practice green, but no driving range - only a 3 bay net with free shag balls and some beat up AstroTurf for warming up (the only negative). They had a grill going outside the clubhouse with brats and burgers, and the drinks were reasonable. It was a 5 hour round with a lot of time searching for balls in the rough and a 20 min stop at the turn to let a couple of twosomes play through. Only a couple of coolers of drinking water on the course, and we didn't see a cart girl, so bring some beverages with you. I wouldn't want to walk this course with the huge elevation changes, but it's definitely recommended if you want a stern test on a beautiful golf course.

Saw a HotDeal on a former private Donald Ross course open to the public for the first time. We played the White tees at 6,326 yds, but with only a par 71 it plays like 6,500 yds which is too long for my game. The greens were smooth, but slow and we all had trouble getting to the hole. The bunkers were really rough with bare spots and lots of weeds. It's a tight challenging course with a couple of 200+ yds par 3's and finishes with two 500+ yds par5's, and a couple of 399 & 423 yd par 4's. I was hitting a bunch of 3 woods for my 2nd shots. The clubhouse was closed, but they had a grill going with Brats and Burgers out front. No cart girl or drinking water on the course and no alcohol is served. The staff was very friendly. It's a nice classic layout, but the course needs some work before we'd play it again.

Found a Hot Deal for a bargain price on a course I've never heard of, but glad we tried it out. It's only a par 68 with 6 par 3's and 2 par 5's, but it's by no means a short course with a couple of 400+ yard par 4's and some longer par 3's. The green were very fast and sloped and there is a lot of water and sand. I felt good that I managed to lose only 1 ball. The rough was drying out but the course was in good shape. Our foursome played 18 holes in 3 hours 50 mins which is terrific for a Friday afternoon in the Chicago area. The range is located off-site about a 1/2 mile from the course, and they have a nice patio area for having a cold one afterwards. We'll be back.

Course was closed for 3 years and just reopened. Got a great Hot Deal price and gave it a try even though it's not one of my favorites as it's too tight for my skill level. It had rained over the weekend and the course was soaked which meant cart path only. This entailed some walks of 100 yds back and forth from the cart path to our ball. The course was empty, but it still took 5 1/2 hours to play. The range and restaurant were not open and there was no cart girl. And it was cooler and windier than forecast, so not great for golf. It was nice to get out after such a miserable spring, but next time I play it'll be dry, sunny and 70.

We took advantage of 50 degree weather to play in December for the first time ever (one benefit of global warming). It was our second time playing the course and we were all impressed. A very nice layout with interesting holes and three tough finishing holes. We'll be back next year. Only drawback it the lack of a driving range and REALLY SLOW service in the bar at the turn.

Played on probably the last nice day of the year and had a wonderful time. The course was in great condition and got a bargain Hot Deal. I used to play this course every Sunday about 20 years ago when it first opened, but am impressed how much the trees have grown and it's a much more mature course. It has plenty of water hazards and a great combination of unique holes. We all agreed that the 18th is the toughest par 4 in the Chicago area. The restaurant bar is nice and the staff was very friendly. The driving range is so so, and the putting green is tiny, but I highly recommend giving this course a try if you haven't played it.

Took advantage of a dirt cheap Hot Deal to play this course for the first time. My cousin had played there 7 years ago and was not impressed, but after talking to the pro shop, we decided to give it a try. I'm glad we did - we were impressed with the layout, course conditions and beauty. It's an old style course with wide blue grass fairways, mature oaks , and small greens. The elevation changes are unique to the Chicago area and offer some great views. From the white tees at 6,160 yds it's a good test of your skills. It rained the day before, and we got caught in a 20 min. downpour on the 10th green, but the course drains well, although the traps were wet, only the 16th fairway had standing water. The only drawback is the lack of a driving range, and you better have GPS to find your way to the course. We will be back.

Played Bliss Creek for the first time on a beautiful fall day with a great Hot Deal price.
We were all impressed with the layout - each hole is unique, no homes anywhere near the course, and the fairways were in good condition. Some of the second shots were blind, which is a problem the first time you play, but we'll know better next time. The only negative would be the rock hard rough in some areas (sort of like my backyard), due to the lack of rain recently.
It's only 5,632 yds from the white tees, but as a par 70 the course play like 6,000 yds.
It's a mature, old style course with lots of trees, water hazards, prairie grass and bunkers.
Definitely need to be straight to score well. The greens look to have been aerated a couple of weeks ago, but rolled fine. We will be back.

Played on a perfect day for golf. Course is interesting with lots of different holes. Several water hazards present a challenge. Plenty of soft sand in the bunkers will test you. Greens had lots of undulations but rolled true. None of us played very well, but had a good time. Masks are now required indoors, but we sat on the impressive patio for a couple of beers afterwards without masks. Nice driving range and practice area. Will return to this course next season.

Saw this $11 hot deal in DeKalb and glad we gave it a try. This is a fun course with beautiful mature trees, lots of water hazards, prairie grass and several unique and challenging holes (especially the 6th hole par 4 and the 10th hole par 3). There was a t'storm the night before, so some of the traps had standing water and the fairways and rough had not been cut, but this was to be expected and didn't detract from the playability. The greens had some slope and were in great shape. There is no driving range and the putting green is not the best, but overall we were very pleased. The lady in the pro shop told me the rate didn't include the cart, but when I explained that the GolfNow ad showed the little cart icon, she gave us carts at no charge. We stopped at the turn for excellent fresh grilled brat's and a beer all at reasonable prices. The normal weekday senior rate is only $25 w/cart, which is still cheap. The course is very walkable as well. Don't be put off by the low price - it's worth the drive.

Played this course a few years ago and remembered it to be a nice layout. It was even better now. They have 3 nines and we played the Tournament and Players courses. Both were in perfect shape from tee to green with plenty of sand in the many bunkers. The greens have lots of undulations and were extremely fast - so much so that most putts from above the hole wound up 5 - 10 feet past. Lots of water and prairie grass to avoid, but it's a beautiful course. We found a Hot Deal which seemed to be a great deal, but didn't notice that carts are extra at $20 each, which is rather high. We let 2 twosomes play through and then got scolded by a less than pleasant ranger on the 16th tee for being 15 mins behind. Still finished in 4 hrs 20 mins. They have a nice driving range with plenty of natural grass stations. The restaurant looks inviting, but we didn't eat there.

Hadn't played Phillips Park in a few years and glad I did.
This is scenic, mature, old style course with huge oaks, plenty of elevation changes, a few water hazards and thick rough. Every hole is unique, and no homes bordering the course - . Course conditions were perfect and we finished in 3 hr 50 mins even though we were paired with an older married couple (she played very quickly).The Hot Deal price was a steal for this quality golf course. The only drawback was lack of a cart girl on the course, and the humidifiers in the bar area were so loud we had to bring our $3 beers outside to talk.

Played on an absolutely perfect summer day - upper 70's, light winds, and a few high clouds. The course was in spectacular condition from tee to green. The layout is very interesting with several unique holes. Lots of water and trees, so you need to keep the ball in play or you're looking at a big number. Highly recommended especially if you can get a Hot Deal.

I played Blackberry every Saturday about 20 years ago when it first opened, but this was the first time in several years. The course has matured beautifully and has a very interesting layout with some very difficult holes.
It was a beautiful day and the course was totally booked, so much so that we had to wait for a cart and teed off about 15 mins late. The only criticism is the condition of the sand traps - they were hard as rock and full of stones (due to heavy rains a couple of days ago).

Played on a beautiful fall day which happened to be June 22nd. Low 70's, windy and clear. Finished in less than 4 hours and thoroughly enjoyed the round. The layout is interesting with a few brute par 4's and some easy ones. Fairways were in pretty good condition considering the lack of rain the past 2 months, and the green were fast. Only drawbacks are the lack of a driving range and the kitchen is closed for the year. The cart girl, Anne, was very friendly and attractive. Out in the country and very scenic. It has houses bordering some holes, but they are way back and no danger of hitting one.

This is s a semi-private course in a gated community that far exceeded our expectations. The fairways, tees and greens were all in excellent and the layout is excellent. - very rolling, heavily wooded and every hole is unique. At the Hot Deal price it is a steal. My only complaints are the hard sand traps which were impossible to blast out of, and the lack of a snack bar or cart girl, although they did have drinking water on a couple of holes. We will definitely return to this gem.