MikeNowak

This was my first time at Heritage Oaks (IL) Legacy 9. The course was in great shape. I found it challenging enough for a high handicapper who has dreams of playing much better--like myself. The greens were firm and fair. I wish my foursome had played faster but that's what happens when you're hitting the ball all over the place. One compliment I'll bet you don't get very often is my appreciation for the native plants surrounding the course. Rudbeckia, bergamot, Joe Pye Weed, and other pollinator-attracting plants are absolutely necessary to keep our planet healthy. My congratulations to the groundskeeper or whoever is responsible for those plants. Add more!

I had heard about Tam O' Shanter for awhile before finally getting a chance to play there. The staff was coing to my car as I parked, and efficiently guide The course was in immaculate condition on a beautiful May morning. It has a couple of tricky holes, but nothing too daunting. The issues I had were with my game, not the course itself. It's a lovely place to play nine. BTW, I did not use the off-course amenities, so people who rate the courses should be able to use an N/A for that category.

I have been a fan of Willow Hill Golf Course for at least a couple of decades. Lately, the grounds crew has upped its game, so to speak, as the course is usually in excellent condition. It is links style, though the punitive tall grasses have been removed from the rough areas, or they are kept mowed to a reasonable height. I suspect that its history as a landfill keeps some golfers away. But it has a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline, and often, if you can get there in mid-morning, the play is very fast. It also has a driving range (unusual for a 9-hole course), and a new dome, though I haven't stopped in there yet.

It's a wide open course that is still secluded from the big city that surrounds it. We encountered deer on the course, which was a bonus on a delightful day. Folks, this is not a particularly difficult course. But it's a gem in a major metropolitan area. It's the kind of place you bring friends to give them an appreciation for golf while giving them a chance to score well on a few holes. It's been a wet spring and early summer, which might have contributed to the course being in such good shape. Who cares? I had a great time and a lot of casual golfers will, too.