chicago biz trip

[paultimore]

hey folks,

i'm going to be in chicago for a class sunday through tuesday july 16-18.  i think i'll have most of sunday and some of monday evening to play and would like to make the most of it.

what courses(s) should i not miss when in chicago?  i'll likely get a rental, but time might be an issue.

are there any nearby weeklies?  anyone up for a match?  how's the edgewood fly18 that i've read about?

thanks

paul from baltimore, 21954

[Mike S]

It depends on where you are staying.  If you're in the city, its at least a 45 minute drive to any courses worth playing.  I live in Wrigleyville (North Side) and play Lombard a lot, because I find that its the most accessible from the city.  The best courses in the area are on the south side, in the Joliet area IMO.  Mokena and Channahon are two of my favorites.

[paultimore]

thanks for the reply.

my class will be at the sears tower so i guess i won't be staying too far from there.  haven't decided where i'm flying into, but it'll be early sunday so i can make a beeline to the nearest best bet (or wherever i can find a game).  so maybe i'll head to the southside when i arrive on sunday, then try to squeeze a game in monday evening (if i can find one).  i did this recently in cincinatti-- flew in on sunday, played idlewild, then mt. airy forest monday evening-- and it was a blast.

i guess i'll post here to look for a game as the trip gets closer.  i don't like playing by myself, let alone at new courses. 

thanks again.

[mirth]

if you land sunday morning by 8 you can make our 10AM best shot in Waukegan. About an hour North of OHare on I94.

[paultimore]

thanks.  that means i'd have to have a 6AM flight out of BWI-- not sure that'll happen, but maybe if i decide to fly in saturday i'll keep it in mind. 

correction-- was just looking at flight times, i could leave here at 7 and be there by 8, a definite possibility.

[Bruce Brakel]

I'd agree with those saying if you have the time you want to get down to Joliet to play Mokena and West Park and Channahon.  They can argue about which one is best or worst.  If you don't have the time, Lombard is closest best, but it is nothing special like Idlewild.  Edgebrook has baskets, golf carts and tee times.  Could be a slow round if it is busy.  Can you expense the greens fee?  It is not that expensive if you are from Baltimore.  It woud be expensive if you were from some arm pit town like [hmmm, who never comes to out tournaments...] like Reykjavik, Iceland.     Hey, do you know Stewart Widowski? {I love it when people do that; like you are going to know everyone from Baltimore!}    

The Peoria tournament IS going that weekend, but you're too high rated to play Sunday if you got in Saturday. 

[Mike S]

I'll be the first to argue about the courses.  West Park is good because it probably has the most elevation change and a couple of the most unique holes....  But the length and upkeep of the course are terrible.  If it has rained recently the course is miserable, the teepad areas get excessive wear, the baskets aren't great, and the walking paths are shitty.  There are really only one or two holes from the regular tees that require a driver, everything else is a roc or putter shot.  Mokena is beautiful, long, and well-kept.  My favorite of the three.  Channahon has some great holes and is suprisingly well-kept for how wooded the course is.  Some of the baskets suck, though.

[Mukey]

Channahon has some great holes and is suprisingly well-kept for how wooded the course is.  Some of the baskets suck, though.

Just want to give props to Frank Grimes, he takes really good care of Channahon and the course looks better & better with each passing year. Best bet if you don't want to drive to Mokena. Could play West & Channahon, they're close together.

[Mike S]

Channahon has some great holes and is suprisingly well-kept for how wooded the course is.  Some of the baskets suck, though.

Just want to give props to Frank Grimes, he takes really good care of Channahon and the course looks better & better with each passing year. Best bet if you don't want to drive to Mokena. Could play West & Channahon, they're close together.

Before the construction started on the Ryan, it took less time to get to Mokena from Chicago then it did to get to Channahon.  I dont know now, though.

[Tom McManus]

Just want to give props to Frank Grimes, he takes really good care of Channahon and the course looks better & better with each passing year.

I second this.  Frank does a great job donating his time and money for this course.

[airspuds]

fly in sat late

then u will be able to play all day sunday

avoid the dan ryan if you can

hit shorewood, channahon, west park , mokena 

skip new lenox

www.jolietdiscgolf.com  for list of courses on joliet area

[paultimore]

hey airspuds,
if you hold your mouse over the bar under butkus and shake it back and forth, you kinda get some football action animation.  cool.

thanks for the advice, everyone.  i'll make my flight plans within a week and post later to try and land a tee time. 

[paultimore]

The Peoria tournament IS going that weekend, but you're too high rated to play Sunday if you got in Saturday. 

what's going on in peoria on saturday?  getting to a tournament might tempt me to make a long weekend of it.

thanks

(btw... that's the first time anyone has suggested my rating would be too high for anything  )

[spike]

yo paulie...

i live in chicago now (about 5 minutes from the edgebrook ball/disc golf course and 15 minutes from o'hare), but was born and raised in baltimore.  my entire family still lives there, and i get back a couple of times a year to visit.  i grew up playing druid hill, etc...   i'd love to meet up with you, play some rounds, and show you around when you visit chicago.  send me an e-mail and i'll give you my #.  also, if you need a place to stay, i've got a spare bedroom.

[paultimore]

great!

druid hill is my home course (i live in hampden, right around the corner) and i've run thursday night triples--yes triples-- there for the past three years.  i'll bring some TNT-shirts out for whoever can show me around.  let me know when you are in town and we'll play a round at rockburn-- maryland's newest gem.

i appreciate the accomodations offer, but fortunately my company will be taking care of this one.  i might try to visit wrigley for the cubs game tuesday the 18th.

i've already had several offers to play and my trip is over 2 months away.  the tight community of disc golfers is one of the best things about this sport.


-paul

[Bruce Brakel]

The Peoria tournament IS going that weekend, but you're too high rated to play Sunday if you got in Saturday. 

what's going on in peoria on saturday?  getting to a tournament might tempt me to make a long weekend of it.

thanks

(btw... that's the first time anyone has suggested my rating would be too high for anything  )

There is a PDGA sanctioned tournament at Northwoods and McNaughton which are really good courses, two of the best courses in Illinois.  We have not submitted the paperwork yet because we just got approval from the Brent Hambrick to go in their 500 mile radius AREA.  We are running Pro and Advanced on Saturday at our tournaments this year.  If you came in early enough to play the tournament on Saturday, you could play Bradley on Sunday, or head north to the Joliet courses, or all three. 

[paultimore]

i gather peoria is about 2 hrs south of chicago?  where can i find info on the tourney/pre-reg?  i might be able to get the flight in on friday and pay for the rental/hotel myself for two nights (before the trip is justified for bizness).  maybe even come in early enough on fri to practice. 



thanks for the info