![]() Hopefully one day it will be treated the way a historical landmark and one of the most important courses in American golf history deserves. The original holes are good (4, 7, 8, 9), and for a history buff, it’s worth a spin or two. It is easy to see why Macdonald picked Downers Grove for the site of his first golf course, the land is stunning with dramatic topography. ![]() It’s disappointing that the community hasn’t protected much of the design, with only four original holes remaining. The original Chicago Golf Club remains partially intact at 9-hole municipal course Downers Grove Golf Club. Of all the older municipal courses in the area, Bonnie Brook stands out with its fun and historic design.ĭowners Grove Golf Club (9 holes) – C.B. The conditioning is typically good, and the course plays the way it should, firm and fast when the weather is cooperating. Bonnie Brook’s design is extremely walkable and playable with interesting green complexes. Foulis and his brothers came stateside to run the Chicago Golf Club and got into the design business shortly after. Open Champion (1896) James Foulis, who grew up working with Old Tom Morris at St. Notice a theme here?īonnie Brook Golf Course – James Foulis – Waukegan, ILĪ little known fact is that the Waukegan municipal run Bonnie Brook was designed by the second U.S. The fairway lines and tree management could use some work. The land is some of the most interesting in Illinois, particularly on the back nine where the ravines come into play. The #2 course at Cog Hill was built in 1929 and amazingly managed to escape complete destruction during a Joe Lee refresh. One of the least famous designs at Chicagoland mega-facility Cog Hill is actually the most enjoyable. The course has wide fairways, large greens and well-placed bunkers that allow it to be both playable and interesting.Ĭog Hill #2 “Ravines Course” – David McIntosh & Bert Coghill – Lemont, IL The community and architect, Keith Foster, added nine holes that play around an old quarry, which gives them a unique setting. The far-reaching suburb completely rehabbed their old defunct golf course “Spartan Meadows” into a new 18-hole course. Highlands of Elgin – Keith Foster – Elgin, ILĮlgin is another community that deserves credit for investing in golf. Kankakee Elks C.C. – Langford & Moreau – Kankakee, IL Word to the wise, if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction, you might be met with a strong landfill stench, a small price to pay for good affordable golf. The course rarely plays as firm and fast as it should, but the architecture is still rock solid. What it does offer is a thoroughly interesting golf course that has a links feel. Built on top of a landfill, “The Crook” flies under the radar because it doesn’t have a driving range. Just within the Illinois border is the Keith Foster gem, Shepherd’s Crook. Shepherd’s Crook Golf Club – Keith Foster – Zion, IL For less than $58 dollars during peak times, golfers can experience the thrills of playing famed green complexes such as the Redan, Biarritz, Double Plateau, Punchbowl and more. Macdonald and Seth Raynor displayed at the area’s two premier private facilities, Shoreacres and Chicago Golf, to a public setting. The course offers the architectural principles that C.B. The community should be commended for thinking out-of-the-box and not maintaining the status quo that muni golf should be boring. Prospect GC from your run of the mill municipal course to a must-visit in the Chicago area. Due to the full-time move of the first FedEx Cup event, formerly known as The Northern Trust and played on the Eastern Seaboard, to Memphis, the BMW has also begun to visit courses back East which were formerly part of the Northern Trust rotation as well.Dave Esler transformed Mt. ![]() While the tournament has been played four times at Cog Hill (the "spiritual home" of the old Western Open) and seven times total in Chicagoland, the tournament has made stops elsewhere in the Midwest, namely the Indianapolis, Denver, and St. Jude, like the regular-field event of the same name that preceded it, is always at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, while the Tour Championship has settled at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta initially due to a sponsorship agreement with Coca-Cola), the BMW Championship has had no fixed home throughout its history. Unlike the two other FedEx Cup Playoff events (the FedEx St.
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