TODDEGGS

I played Beeches with my 8 year old daughter yesterday. I have been playing this course since they opened in 2007. It's a fun and challenging course. The front 9 plays completely different then the back. Course and greens were almost perfect. Aaron was working the desk and he is great. He offered to let my daughter use some house clubs. She had her own set! Great value on this course especially if you play later in the day...the sun sets super late on the West side of the State. Thank you, Beeches!!

I have been playing at HawksHead since they opened several years ago. The place is great. Course was in immaculate condition. Greens were perfect. We have had a lot of rain this Spring with not so much sun/heat. Course drains well. Played twilight which means the course is wide open. Check out their restaurant and bar after your round. Really, really good food and drinks. Service at this place is A+++++. It all starts with them meeting you at your car with a golf cart to pick you up. What public course does that? 5 STARS!!

Played #1 a few days ago. We learned it was "cart path only" due to the wet conditions. The marshals were out there in force to remind you. I don't think I have ever seen #1 look so bad. They literally didn't do anything for the weeds in the rough. Thousands and thousands of dandelions...some a few feet from the pin (off the green) on par three's. Cog just raised their prices as well calling it "dynamic pricing". Doubt prices will ever dip below the advertised rate. Bad experience with a guest who has never played there before.

I played Willow Run a few days ago on a beautiful day here in Illinois. I was a single and wanted to walk to get some exercise in. I met up with another golfer who was in a cart. Willow Run just purchased all new carts and they are nice. This is an old course. Conditions were ok...definitely not terrible...definitely not close to perfect. All the signs of a small grounds crew were present...down trees/large piles of brush between some of the fairways, etc. The "stuff" to the left of hole one is in a horrible spot (200+ yards out). You go a little left off the tee on your first hole here and you are losing a ball and/or have an unplayable lie. Not the best first impression for Willow Run (of course I went left into the piles of sticks/down trees, etc.). Greens were long and slow. Fairways were good. Rough a bit high. Their website said the round was going to be $16. I guess that was 2018's rates. Rates were bumped up 19% to $19 a round this year...a bit steep in my opinion for this course. You can play it again for I think $5. I wasn't interested as it took a quite a while to get 9 in. Pace of play was slow. This kind of course probably attracts higher handicap golfers and kids. There was a foursome of ladies in front of my group. Overall...I liked playing this course and will be back. The inside check-in area (with the a couple shelves of golf gear behind the cashier) and bar are something out of the 50's. I want to go back and have a beer(s) at this bar as it looks awesome. Wisconsin supper club-ish.