BryanTweed16

The Good: Extremely well-conditioned Keith Foster (of Iowa's The Harvester fame) park district track just south of the Wisconsin border is arguably the best value in the North Shore area. Links style layout is relatively flat off the tee but the true challenge is around the incredibly undulating greens. Most holes are very open with strategic bunkering and water hazards. Nice variety in Par 4's and long, challenging Par 5's. Good clubhouse with full restaurant and bar. Staff is supportive and friendly. Pace of play is good for a public track of its caliber.

The Bad: Lack of driving range or short game area is a huge bummer for overall quality of facilities. The greens can be overbearing for the average 15-20 handicapper. Some blind shots from the tee are a little annoying unless you play there often. Benign, forgettable Par 3's on the closing nine. When the wind blows, this place is a bear!

The Verdict: Sans the lack of practice facilities, Shepherd's Crook is a solid, complete golf experience in the North Shore. Just a very fun place to play 18 holes of golf.

Best Hole: The tree-lined Par 4 5th is a brute. A demanding tee shot must find its way between a forest of trees and a downhill approach to a long, thin green.

The Good: Western Chicago suburban course, tightly fit into a condo community, is appealing and quirky. Interesting, waterlogged layout has some very strong holes, in particular some strong Par 5's and driveable Par 4's. Nice fairway and rough conditions, as well as smooth, moderately small greens. Impressive clubhouse with nice banquet area and separate 19th hole. Nice staff and decent overall service. At around $50 during peak season, a good value for an overpriced Chicago market.

The Bad: There are several holes, specifically the Par 5's, that have hazards that require less than driver off the tee. Sand traps are in very poor condition. No driving range or short game practice area is a disappointment. Not much variety in the Par 3's. Limited on-course amenities with no GPS and only outhouses for restrooms.

The Verdict: Glendale Lakes is a short, unique course that can be fun to play, but not for golfers that want to "grip and rip it" on every hole. Needs on-course upgrades.

Best Hole: The dogleg right Par 5 #7 requires a great drive and approach shots must navigate sentinel trees guarding green.

The Good: Settler's Hill is not an upscale facility by any stretch, but the course is very fun and has enough quirk to keep you interested for all 18 holes. Bob Lohmann design in far west Chicago suburbs has more undulation than most courses in the area, with several excellent Par 5's, multiple downhill Par 3's, and some decent Par 4's. Nice mixture of prairie and woodland holes. Good course conditions and well-groomed, tricky greens. Very friendly staff will assist you at every turn. Above average value at $65 during peak season.

The Bad: Some of the green complexes are extremely challenging and severe. Very limited amenities with a ratty barn for a clubhouse and no 19th hole. No driving range or short game area. No GPS and yardarge markers are tough to come by.

The Verdict: Settler's Hill is a fun course without the bells and whistles of a premium public course. There are closer courses to the city that provide a more complete experience.

Best Hole: All the Par 5's are strong, but the 11th is a tight hole that requires a precise drive and then uphill approaches to the longest green on the course.

The Good: Classic Thomas Bendelow design, which was updated in 2002 by Bob Lohmann, has a certain "Bushwood" feel to it. Layout is scrunched into 125 acres, but many holes are beautiful and challenging due to its unique pot bunkering. Very good course conditions and most greens are very challenging and undulated. Several very strong risk-reward Par 5's and some short, interesting Par 3's. Superb old-style clubhouse with full restaurant, bar and banquet area. Very friendly staff and good on-course amenities includes multiple restroom areas and GPS. While slightly overpriced during peak season, some great off-season rates for quality of course.

The Bad: "Chevy Chase" is not as smooth as its Ty Webb namesake: several holes are very close together and the routing is awkward. No driving range or short game area is a big minus. Not enough variation in the Par 4's as most are straight away and similar yardages. Some of the greens have so much undulation that they could be considered unfair.

The Verdict: "The Traditions" is another strong option in the Chicago northern suburbs. A good, quality course with no tricks. Everything is right in front of you.

Best Hole: The short Part 5 13th requires a strong drive over a trap and then an approach to a thin, long green guarded by water left.

The Good: Decent forest preserve country course located very close to I-90 West. Expansive layout is pretty secluded and devoid of housing, which is a nice plus. Fair conditioning and large, slick greens that can be very challenging. Layout is relatively wide open, with huge sand traps as the main barrier to a good score. Very strong Par 5's, a couple of good Par 3's on the closing half, and fair variety in the Par 4's. Practice facility includes driving range, putting green and short game area. Value at under $60/hr is good for quality of course.

The Bad: Overall amenities are lacking, which is expected from a city course. Clubhouse is very limited and does not have large sitting or banquet area. Poor yardage markers and no GPS. No restroom areas on-course. Staff is nice enough, but slow pace of play is not managed. Too many uphill forced carries for the average golfer.

The Verdict: Highland Woods is a fairly average course for the western Suburbs. Good course to play if looking for relatively stress free round (unless the wind blows!), but don't expect to finish in 4 hours.

Best Hole: The long, dogleg right Par 5 is a significant challenge. Drive must avoid trees left and water right. Approach shots are very tough.

The Good: Inexpensive, tree-lined layout about 30 minutes southwest of Milwaukee is no upscale facility and not pretending to be. Some interesting holes, in particular some good Par 3's, as well as some good reachable Par 4 and Par 5's that provide opportunities for birdies. Greens hold iron shots pretty well. Decent clubhouse with banquet area. Fair value at under $50 during peak season; usually has many online deals for much cheaper. No houses!

The Bad: Conditions at Bristol Oaks are not good. The fairways are shaggy and inconsistent, while the greens are relatively slow and bumpy. Not much variety in the Par 4's, particularly on the front half. Limited on and off-course amenities as there are no GPS, restroom areas, and full cart paths throughout the layout. Limited practice facility with only fair driving range and small putting green. No short game practice area. Staff is nice enough, but no real emphasis for on-course service.

The Verdict: At the right price, Bristol Oaks can be an enjoyable golf experience if you don't have high expectations. Otherwise, if you want to pay nearly $50 to play golf near Milwaukee, play somewhere else.

Best Hole: The Par 3's are good, but the best hole is the dogleg left Par 5 #16. A well placed drive over trees can set up an approach to go for the green in two.

The Good: Fantastic RTJ Jr. design near the University of Wisconsin is one of the best campus courses in the country and future site of Senior tour event. Unique design includes two opposing nines, with the front a prairie feel and the inward nine weaves through woods. Excellent risk-reward Par 5's, nice variety in Par 4's, and some strong mid-length Par 3's. Pristine course conditions and large, challenging greens that putt very well. Superb practice facility includes huge driving range, elaborate short game area, and large putting green. Good pace of play and staff is nice enough. At under $100 during peak season, one of the better values in the state. Layout is devoid of houses! GPS on carts is nice touch (and much needed).

The Bad: Greens, while putting true, don't hold as well as they should. Clubhouse is good, but does not have overly nice dining or area for banquets. On-course service and restroom areas are lacking for a course charging nearly a Benjamin.

The Verdict: University Ridge is consistently ranked in Top 5 campus courses in the US, and rightfully so. The premier public course in Middle Wisconsin (at least for now given Sand Valley development). One of the most fun courses you will ever play.

Best Hole: Most holes are great, but the Par 5 16th with a duel fairway and tee cluster to carry is awesome. A hole that can easily lead as many 10's and eagles.

The Good: Beautifully maintained course within a 5-iron of the DuPage Regional Airport in West Chicago. RTJ Jr. design is primarily treeless, but flooded with sand traps and undulating greens. Front nine is fairly benign and several gorgeous, interesting wooded holes on the closing nine. Very nice clubhouse with nice banquet hall. Fabulous practice facility includes great driving range, two putting greens, and three practice holes. Good on-course amenities with multiple restroom centers and GPS. Good twilight and senior rates.

The Bad: The buzzing of overhead airplanes is a significant issue. $100 price tag is hefty for a public facility, especially with several unmemorable golf holes. Some of the cart paths can be very confusing. Can be unbearably challenging in the wind. Nice staff but only adequate service for upscale facility.

The Verdict: Prairie Landing is one of the premier, yet unsung courses in the Chicago suburbs. One of the best manicured courses in the Metro area and arguably one of the most complete complexes in the state. Another RTJ Jr. gem.

Best Hole: The "amen corner" of holes 11-13 are superb, especially the long Par 5 13th. Risk-reward with approach that must carry a ravine to one of the smallest greens on the course.