HOTSPOTTS

I've been playing Big Run since 1979. Scroll through and read my numerous reviews below. Big Run is a gem. People come from the city and complain about green speeds. They don't realize that if the greens were any faster they'd 3 putt more than half of them....and then they'd complain even more. No practice facility? Hit some in the nets to warm up you spoiled child. Sure it's rough around the edges in places with some issues. It has an aged sprinkler system and course conditions change from year to year.....that's the BEAUTY of Big Run. It's been in pretty good shape this season...more so than last floggers. Pace of play issues...you're playing at wrong time of day and remember most people can't handle the white tees let alone the back orange tees here anyway (even you...you spoiled child). I recommend the green tees.....still a 133 SLOPE!! From the greens all four of the Par 5's become fun versus double bogey plus slogs for most. Enjoy the spectacular layout & excellent challenges for 5 hours.....the best public old school clubhouse/bar/locker room with showers and now patio area with TV to quench your thirst post round. 4 stars every time I tee it up at Big Bad Run. Quit your complaining about this place it's ridiculous. Course may not be around much longer.....and guess what? You'll be the first one to say.....wow I miss Big Run.....they just don't make em like that anymore.......

You'll find really friendly folks and good golfing at Union County. 2nd time I've played here over the years and conditions from the 1st play have improved to the point where I have no absolutely no hesitancy in recommending for several plays. The greens on old school 1954 front side have lost some size. - but the 1998 modern "back 40" back nine definitely makes up for that. Fun routing, enough elevation changes to keep things interesting - challenges start to finish. Great bang for your buck value. Play it!

Completely disregard all the reviews below. Throw them out!! New owner took over at the start of 2021 and in the process of rehabbing this S. Smyers designed gem of course. Sunk a ton of money renovating the clubhouse, new carts with gps, eliminated some sand traps and totally renovating other traps. I had last played here over a decade ago....back then I was certain this course would close due to neglect and lack of play. What a transformation! Shock and awe ....really stout solid back nine. Interesting well thought out modern design - to the point where I will have to seek out other Smyers designs to play.....lots of chipping areas and well sculpted very fair movements in the green pads. Picturesque in places very open in others so wind plays a factor. Very friendly staff. Only drawbacks - noise from very nearby Interstate 57 on few holes and need to stock some local micro brews versus the usual mundane domestics for thirst quenching. A work in progress in places - new ownership are doing all the right things. Highly recommend a visit when in Southern Illinois....Kokopelli is once again do not miss 4.25 gem for this intrepid flogger!

There's a love/hate relationship with fairly recent redesign of this course...read the reviews below as well as my previous reviews of Mt. Prospect. Great clubhouse and good practice area with a putting green representative of what you'll be faced with on course. The extreme amount of play the course receives (as I surmised in reviews here years ago) the fairways are now getting a tad torn up/ball marked greens/tee boxes getting sketchy. Right now Mt. Prospect is playing so hard and fast I had several drives almost roll out into trouble.....30 or 40 yards longer than normal. The green complexes (after several plays) are completely and ridiculously over the top/some pads to small/many too big....and way too fast on the stimp for the casual player/weekend warrior. As an avid frequent player (as well as my playing partner that day) we have come to the conclusion that the greens complexes are fun the first couple of times - but after those initial few plays it becomes a frustrating nightmare to prox a green to 20-25 feet and not be rewarded at all with a good look at birdie unless you're lucky enough to have a straight uphill putt (which is almost impossible on this course). I'm almost to the point playing the course where you're better off missing the greens on purpose and then chipping onto them to an area where you can reasonably get an uphill non 4 foot breaking putt to attack the hole and just get up and down for par. While picturesque with a lot of cool old school design features - Mt. Prospect basically comes down to a putting examination. If your shot stick is working you'll score very well - if not be prepared for multiple 3 putts and 4 putts. The difficulty navigating the greens also contributes to very slow play especially after the turn. Overall 4 stars. Recommend for at least couple of plays.....several of the reviews below will give you good insight. I definitely try to play Mt. Prospect at least once a season.

With a new clubhouse about to open for both Torch and Sundance tracks we played the Torch course on a hot Sunday morning. The original course at A-ga-ming was in fine form except they decided to turn the Par 5 3rd hole into a Par 4 hole by making you lay up with an iron off the tee or attempt a 190 yard plus air carry over a pond . So go figure - it was a really tough quirky 3 shot hole before and they managed to screw the hole redesign up!! So downgrade a star for that stupidity and downgrade another star due to the complete lack of running water or suitable relief facilities (again) at check in. At least the Torch course goes by the original clubhouse at the turn...the Torch nines were reversed when Sundance was built....and there actually were running water bathrooms....and you could fill your water bottle, wet a clean towel. Normally a four star experience A-ga-ming managed to screw it up for us and many others. Hopefully next year when we return the new clubhouse will be in full operation. It's about time they stopped operating out of that dumpy trailer for almost two decades. Recommend but bring your own water.....they charge $3 a bottle and when they don't even provide clean running water to wash your hands. or even drink....that's simply unacceptable and patently ridiculous.

My huge pet peeve with Ag-a-ming has been their dumpy trailer they've pretty much operated out of since Sundance was built in 1995. They've actually built a new clubhouse! But it's not open yet. Looked to be at least a couple of weeks away. Word from the starter they will have a pizza oven and good pizza/orange whips post round. Arriving a the bad drop for check for at the two courses (Sundance and Torch) they had just one incredibly smelly porta potty available and a complete lack of running water available. Only hot dogs and some beverages.....the guy running the concession was really nice but a pain in the butt for him to serve the golfers. Completely ridiculous. The Sundance course itself is a wonderful challenge but charging full freight with a total lack of amenities at check and the turn was absolutely unacceptable. Also $3 for a bottle of water (only water available bad move guys)...suggest you bring your own water.....Good range and practice facilities. Recommend only if the new clubhouse gets it's occupancy permit/is hope and they quit gouging you for water and greens fees. I'd call first to find out and ask for a reduced rate. Zero star amenities on an extremely hot day. 4.5 stars for the course.

With the hot dry weather Cedar River was playing firm and fast. In great shape as well. One of my favorite courses in the whole wide world I never get tired of playing Cedar River.....it's spectacularly designed and just plain fun to play. Especially knowing just how to route your ball for maximum rollout. This is a Weiskopf gem that's not to be missed if you are in the area. A must play each and every time I venture to Northern Michigan. 4.5 stars. Highly Recommended.

On a perfect warm Wednesday morning we had the course to ourselves. Large elevation changes and another Northern Michigan course that you have to play several times to know where you're going and how the ball will bound and react in several areas. Course was in decent shape....the greens weren't as slick as my previous play several years ago....and I've played Dumaglas at least 10 times. There are some really beautiful views and several holes I really enjoy playing time and after time. The course doesn't come back after the 9th so provision up for the day. Pleased that the course is still open and wish they got more play.....but then they want $91 during the week. If they reduced their greens fee to a say weekday $60 or $65 I bet they'd at least get twice the play or more. Some greens had diseased areas which could come into play. There are some very tricked up parts about Dunmaglas but I still recommend it. Try to play it with someone who's got some local knowledge. You'll still want to come back to attempt several of the shot making challenges this course presents. Some tee boxes need renovation. Folks in the clubhouse are incredibly friendly and want you to enjoy your experience. Got around in slightly over 3 hours. Thanks for a great morning Dunmaglas.....I'll try to return much much sooner if I can. Slightly below 4 stars but a tad concerned about the deterioration of green pads/green speed from last play. Cheers!

Took a 5 year hiatus from the Chief and have played it more than 30 times since it opened in 1996. They've taken out some of the traps, filled in a lot of the frog pond that entirely fronted the 5th green (former 8th - now all land fronting the middle of the green) and significantly rerouted the course so it returns to the clubhouse after the 9th hole (was the 18th hole originally) and the course now finishes on what was the 3rd hole. The Chief is overly challenging and any ball that is just a skosh marginally off line usually results in a penalty or dropped shot. Several holes that you have to play multiple times to even know how to score well on them let alone know where you're going.....In general the course is in very decent shape....better shape than when I played it 5 years ago. Scads of trouble/several longer forced carries......but a beautiful if not spectacular Northern Michigan routing. On a hot Tuesday summer afternoon we likely were the only group on the course. I recommend the course however I also highly recommend you play with someone who has some local knowledge. If not you'll probably get lost making some wrong turns a few times and hit a few shots you'll want back or just remember for next time you play it. Several challenging shots this course demands you pull off. 3.75 to 4 stars.

Over the past 3 decades I've probably played Arnie's Legend at least 30 times. That being said I took a 5 year hiatus from it.....with so many other options in the area it just didn't get put on the agenda for some reason. The Legend is always a challenge....a figure 8 routing and some really difficult green complexes to navigate. Overall the course is in decent shape however there were still old green aeration marks (looked to be from last fall but surfaces were running smooth) and also noticed some diseased areas of some greens. The Legend simply put is getting a tad "long in the tooth" with age. It desperately needs a solid rehab or renovation in a number of areas. Especially the cart paths.....many are crumbling and for a resort course of this stature it's really been neglected. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy playing Legend but Shanty needs to pay attention and invest some funds in to what was their featured 18 holes years ago....otherwise they'll start getting real push back for what they charge to play it. It's a 50/60 course at most right now....definitely not towards the c-note range. The clubhouse/bathroom facilities for the Legend/Summit courses are also is old, smelly and tired. The pretty Legend flower logo in the hillside at the first tee only goes so far guys. Recommend play however Cedar River (and now Hawk's Eye) are the courses not to miss at Shanty. 3.75 stars. Legend is downgraded from my 4 star plus plus previous reviews.

Take the Ironton Ferry (holds 4 cars, 3 bucks a car) to get to the course if you're coming from the south or Charleviox. A few miles east of the ferry you'll find a family owned barely touched 20's design nine and a quaint throwback old school clubhouse with slanted floors. A really nice surprise. The experience is worth more than an emergency nine. Early on a nice Friday summer morning I had the course almost to myself. Surprise views of Lake Charlevoix and a highlight was a fantastic punch bowl eighth green. In really decent shape - drawback is the course fairways are so bumpy you have to drive your motorcart really slowly to save your back. Solid 4 star experience but then I'm a sucker for these old schoolers. Spend a morning or late afternoon...you won't be disappointed.

Based on a thumbs up by a friend who lives full time north of Traverse City I've wanted to venture to Hidden River for several years. I was not disappointed - enjoyed my afternoon and had a wonderful experience. I played just before their summer rates took effect but even then I wouldn't have objected to a higher summer rate post round. Everyone I interacted was friendly and helpful (from bag drop to proshop to food/bar to groundskeeping). They routed us back nine first then to front nine and I have to say it enhanced my experience and after my first round here I would prefer to play the course that way. The first three holes of the front nine are not overly taxing and flat.....and there's a long picturesque drive to the 4th tee.....pleased this was part of my actual back nine. A fun course to play and it was in great shape - tees/fairways/traps/greens running smooth. A well designed track - just enough elevation changes and interesting green sites. The front nine contains several open holes while the back nine flows nicely through the Northern Michigan forest. Full range for warm up. The view from the clubhouse deck is very nice - river view and the downhill Par 3 9th hole green - which was a perfect finisher to my day. Recommend wholeheartedly. Worth seeking out. 4.5 stars.

See my review of 7/6/20 below. 3rd year playing this track with our Golfvisions players passbook. Pretty straightforward but way too tight and tree lined in places. Some of the greens are absolutely huge....course defense are the greens which were in nice shape but there are a few where if you get above the hole you have virtually no chance to keep it close. The back right flags on the 6th & 12th were especially heinous. Group in front of us sprayed a slice at us from 7th tee and hit me on the 6th.......first time
I've ever been hit - unscathed for 50 years. Course knowledge helps a lot at this place to route tee shots into some extremely tight fairways.....and know how the ball will react on approach shots and where a good miss is. No beverage cart and so everything has to be purchased prior or at turn.... clubhouse very rudimentary.....bathroom was a mess.....you'd expect more being in Lake Bluff. Has driving range to warm up. Mat and grass - grass tee is incredibly uneven & divot laced....close half of it and repair please! Course greens fee is very overpriced for the overall experience. $57 during the week and even more on weekends......recommend but it's really easy just pass by Lake Bluff.....much better courses in that area to play.....for less money! A $40 course at best....get a hot deal if you can. Enjoyable but just not all that memorable. Once a year is enough for me. 3.25 stars.

See my review 7/2/17 below. Clubhouse is still not open except for the restrooms. Many traps were decently maintained and they had rakes out. No pool noodles in the cups. Greens were in really good shape and were rolling smooth. Spied a nurse cart out on the course just after 10am.....no water and it appears they do have limited beverage service at the check in counter. Palmira's routing is a real gem in my humble opinion....you can easily run up a big score on any hole here. Greens are challenging lots of movement to them. Fairways were in decent shape overall same with tee boxes. Teed off on a Friday morning at 7am....done by 10am....wonderful round and experienced much better conditions then almost 4 years ago. They do need to wash down and clean/wash out their golf carts...they are pretty filthy.......Highly recommended....solid 3.75 stars...gave it a 4 because Palmira is a really good value $34 senior rate during the week. My playing partners first round at Palmira....he enjoyed it... and already wants to return.

Many have complained about the conditions at Big Run. Frankly they are not as bad as some have described. My round today the greens were very smooth but also slower than many courses in the area. That being said if they were any faster play would slow to a crawl as many hole positions would end up unplayable. The superintendent was in a really bad mood as several of the flags were in areas I've never seen in a long while....despite playing this course well over 50 times plus over the years....I've lost count which is a good thing. Green speeds as far as I'm concerned made the course very playable. Decent grasses in most places. Lots of hills dales and fun putting challenges. Read my previous reviews. Many sand traps still not maintained but I saw quite a few that had been....so hit and moss on that. Very good value for senior at $40 during the week. I heartily recommend this place....it's a challenge even from the green tees with a slope of 133. Most people have no business playing regular white tees or the orange tips.......which can gum up speed of play at times. We had a wonderful afternoon....4 hour round, nice folks and really decent conditions. Hoping the old school bar will reopen for post round beverages soon......the clubhouse/locker room/bar are like going back in time.....a favorite clubhouse of mine. It's just not the same on the outdoor patio. Also fyi we had a few bugs flying around so it may be time to pack the bug spray. Always a solid 4 star experience in my book.

Excellent conditions except for the sand traps which are not maintained - no rakes are provided. Fast smooth greens good tee boxes and nice fairways. Saw my first ball washer in a while....first water jug and no pool noodles in the cups! Face masks are purely optional in the clubhouse and none of the employees were wearing one which was a nice sight especially if you fully vaccinated. Friendly on course nurse. Whitetail Ridge is a very good value at $49 during the week for a senior. It's worth the drive and the extra ten bucks. Love the back nine of this place....it's really solid. The downgrades are the sand traps (no attempt by the grounds crew at start of the season to even rake them out...they are pretty much flat pan)....another 1/2 star downgrade for the bathroom urinals mens room inside where the showers are....really smelly. Yep a full 1/2 star downgrade on that one. The renovated new pro shop/downstairs/patio area and upstairs deck are awesome. Good food in the restaurant so I hear. Nice selection of orange whips on tap. Highly recommended.

Major oversight by Golfweek and their raters. Easily a Top 200 or even a high Top 100 classic course...would definitely rather play PVGC over Riveria and perhaps even BelAir. See my review below. Even more trees have been eliminated since my last play. Challenging, plays long and when windy a real stern test. Superb classic routing and design. Ocean views and great vistas throughout the course and clubhouse. If you're invited to play PVGC do not turn it down!!

I did not pay for this round but when I discovered what my host actually paid I was really disgusted. My second time playing Angeles National. Impossible conditions unless you are a pro - wasn't even remotely enjoyable for either of us. Save your money and just go to a Top Golf to hurt your hands/fingers and shoulders. You play off rock hard concrete fairways the entire round with extremely short grass - no air under your ball. If you don't strike your ball perfectly off your always impossible tight lie....forget hitting a decent one. Unless you've played this course several times to learn and really know the contours of each the fairways/how the ball bounds off your tee shots you end up in one of the always looming penalty areas. Hit one right down the middle straight as an arrow on the back nine....and still ended up lost in the desert right. The greens do putt true and fast....3 or 4 pin positions...if you ended up on the wrong side of them - unfair even for advanced players. Can't hit high spinning iron shots - forget getting close to front flag positions....the greens don't hold or even leave a mark to repair. Sand traps inconsistent at best. Angeles does have a fun interesting routing.....unfortunately it's not a track that any first time normal weekend warrior could actually play well....and enjoy their round for a few minutes. Too taxing too exact. It's a shame there are so few options to play around or near Los Angeles proper.....this course isn't worth more than $75 bucks any day of the week...current conditions....if they get rid of the concrete then maybe $100 because it's SoCal......but they still get people to pay far more than that unfortunately due the lack of choice of venue/tee times. I love golf but not for these types of conditions or cost. No starter even on a busy weekend morning. We had to suss out/argue with the rest of the folks all lined up (several arrived late for their tee times even with light Covid traffic) when we could tee off. Just drive out further (played in Riverside the day previous and it was awesome) or just don't play at all....go to the store buy some Tri tip to grill for dinner and enjoy a really high end bottle of cab instead. It'll still be cheaper - your body & brain will thank me later.

Having moved from SoCal back to the Midwest when this course opened in 2000 I was not familiar with it. One of my buddies booked the time and said we were going to play Oak Quarry. I actually had to look it up....bad me! Oak Quarry has the chops to end up being my best course first time played in my entire 2021 season! Well maintained...my only criticism are greens that get bumpy. They are over watered just enough.....and earlier players can't be faulted for leaving footprints....they just last a long time and don't go away especially in the high traffic ares around the hole. Wonderful extremely picturesque routing and quite well designed....not a lot of surprises....what you see is what you get....easy to decide where to route your ball.... course looks.way more challenging that it actually plays. Enjoyed my first time at Oak Quarry and will definitely return if I have the opportunity to do so. Highly recommended. In the bottom of the top 25 publics you can play in CA by Golfweek mag......wanted to give it 5 stars....it's easily a solid 4.5 plus.

The weather forecast was wrong - a nice afternoon and snagged at $30 rate special on a Saturday afternoon no less. Played Blue/Red and got in a bonus 9 on the White. Carillon was in really really nice shape. Greens smooth & had good speed....the Red 9 the greens are punched - small tines no sand and still were decent. All else well maintained. We really need rain so the grass will grow....it's been tough on courses this early season with the lack of precip. Everyone is really nice at this facility....except for the starter - they should seriously consider only letting him rake sand traps all day and clean carts. Displayed a terrible attitude/acumen.....far from welcoming and really has no business being a customer facing employee.