Help me decide where to play my Father's Day round! (Chicagoland area)

[Soup Fan]

I have not played any of these courses, so if anyone here has some first hand reviews they would be well appreciated. Looking for something a little different and more challenging than I am used to. Probably won't end up playing until a little later in the month, so I have some time. I have narrowed it down to these courses, although similarly priced alternatives would be considered if you have a suggestion.

Hilldale Golf Club
6431 - 71.6 - 135
Robert Trent Jones design. Hear it is tough. Looks fairly wide open compared to what I am used to.

Oak Meadows Golf Club
6718 - 71.9 - 127
Ben Hogan won the 1941 Chicago Open here when it was known as Elmhurst Country Club. Looks loooooooooong for me.

Poplar Creek Country Club
6321 - 70.5 - 133
Nugent design, IIRC. Lots of water. Super cool GPS carts.

Highlands of Elgin
6707 - 72.5 - 130
I don't know much about this course but from what I have seen it appears to be a very wide open, more links-style track. Long and rolling.

[sam004]

Haven't played Poplar Creek but the GPS looks cool.

I've only played Oak Meadows. I liked the course, lots of mature trees
lining fairways.

Nice club house but bar is under repair [BIR ? no free drops :)]

I also found the the course in shabby condition compared to the last time
I played. Too be fair it was early in the season this year

Which one did you end up playing and what did you think ?

[Soup Fan]

Haven't gone yet. I will be going on the 26th and it looks like we will be playing Hilldale because it is centrally located to the people I will be playing with and because the name Robert Trent Jones is just kinda enticing.

I will post about the trip on my blog and on here. I'll probably snap some pictures of the course, too.

[sam004]

I wanted to point out another course of historical interest, for those who may not be aware of it. I find it challenging, nicely maintained.

Downers Grove Golf Club http://www.dgparks.org/catalog.cfm?d...kon=subsection The golf course was completed and ready for play in the late spring of 1892. Thus America's first golf course west of the Allegheny mountain range had been established. Perhaps a new thread of historically significant public access golf courses ?

[Soup Fan]

Consider it added to my "to-play" list. Can't beat < $18 for a a par 36 9 hole course.

Haha. I jsut checked out the map and it is just down the road from where I play on Sunday mornings (Ken Loch).

[sam004]

Consider it added to my "to-play" list. Can't beat < $18 for a a par 36 9 hole course.

let me know what you think of it after you played it.

[sam004]

As luck would have the local publication 'Chicagoland Golf' has an article on CB Macdonald and his work at Downers Grove, amongst others in there current issue.

Found at fine golf courses around the Chicagoland area.

http://www.chicagolandgolf.com/

[Soup Fan]

They used to carry it at Top Golf which is where I was getting it, but I have not seen it there in the past few weeks.