shakes wrote:
How would you compare Erin Hills to Whistling Straits? I assume you've played both. When I played Straits it was over 100 degrees and it was so hilly it turned into the baton death march. With my back, it wore me out and made it tough to swing a club. I'm worried I'll have the same issues at Erin.
YOu ever play any of the nice courses around Milwaukee? Like The Bog or Brown Deer? What about Washington County? We're thinking of hitting that one on the way up to Green Lake (our home base) when they arrive on a thursday afternoon. It looks nice and is ranked in the top 20 public courses in Wisco. The other course we play is we do 36 at Lawsonia which is right across the lake from my parent's house.
What courses do you like in Lake County? I play a lot there, but always end up at the crappy muni courses near where I grew up (sportsman, wilmette, glencoe). I'm definitely looking to expand that to some better tracks in the area.
Erin Hills and Whistling Straits are reallly nothing alike. Erin Hills is more of a straight up regular course as
opposed to trying to make it seem like you are overseas. Just make sure you stretch good before going out.
There aren't as many extreme hills like at Whistling Straits but there is more up and down consistiently. I think
you will like Erin Hills just fine as long as your back holds up.
I used to live in Milwaukee and have played some
of the courses around there although I wouldn't say many of them were nice as I just got out of college and wasn't
making much money. Milwaukee has a couple of nice courses in their public system but they usually get beat up.
I have played Washington County but it has been probably 10 years. I am supposed to play up there with Hawg Ass
sometime later this year. From all I have heard it has held up nice. You'll see a place on the left hand side a few
miles from the entrance to Erin Hills called Kettle Hills which isn't too bad for an everyday play course. They have
2 eighteen hole tracks that have a lot of character. I really can't give you too much more advice on good courses in Milwaukee that I have personally played. I have a buddy who is a member at Tuckaway which is really nice. They
used to play the old Greater Milwaukee Open there back in the day.
When I was married we used to camp at the campground right across from Lawsonia. I never brought my clubs
along to go over there and play. Wish I would have now since I don't really have a reason to head up that way
anymore. It looked great, my buddy played it about a month ago for a tournament and was really impressed.
That is a neat little town.
Lake County has an awful lot of courses to choose from, it all comes down to what you want to pay. The Glen
Club is really nice but very expensive ( not in Lake Co. but in the north burbs ). I will give you a few of my favorites....
Bonnie Brook ( Waukegan ) -- an old school design that is taken care of very well and is just a fun course to play.
Reasonably priced. Only bad thing is they don't really have a range to warm up.
Pine Meadow ( Mundelein ) -- great course and usually in excellent shape. Huge greeens and wide fairways make
it very enjoyable to play and they have hands down the best range and practice facility I have ever seen. Close to $100 for a round with cart
Steeple Chase ( Mundelein ) -- Real nice layout with challenging greens and quite a few elevation changes. Relatively wide open layout. Not sure about price but under $70 with cart I think.
Lake Bluff ( Lake Bluff) -- Believe they play the county open here. Nice little course with a nice layout. I haven't played there in a long time but I am sure it is reasonably priced.
Countryside Prairie Course ( Mundelein ) -- A nice park district course they built less than 20 years ago. It has grown up to be a nice track and is pretty wide open so more fun to play if you spray the ball a little bit. Played here with Frank some time ago and I think he liked it alright. Very reasonable price wise.
Thunderhawk ( Beach Park ) -- Really nice course that is less than 20 years old. A couple of holes that don't fit but it is a fun course to play and always in really good condition. A bit on the spendy side for a county course.
Sorry if I got a bit long winded there but those are some of my personal favorites. Top recommendation would be
Pine Meadow for fun factor and playablility.