Illinois Top Courses

[CEValkyrie]

Here are my REVISED top 10 courses in IL with Collinsville added.

1. Northwoods Park,Morton, IL
2. McNaughton Park, Pekin, IL
3. Lincoln Park, Springfield, IL
4. Woodland Park, Collinsville, IL
5. Sinnissippi Park, Sterling, IL
6. Anna Page Park(Original), Rockford, IL
7. The Oaks, Mokena, IL
8. Bradley Park, Peoria, IL
9. Douglas Park, Springfield, IL
10. Coumminity Park, Channahon, IL

[Dan Michler]

once we make a QC trip, then that will be changed a bit.

[Bruce Brakel]

Top 10 midwest courses:

1) Flip City, Shelby, MI
2) Kensington, Milford, MI
3) Hudson Mills Monster, Dexter, MI
4) Hudson Mills Original, Dexter, MI
5) Stoney Creek, Utica, MI
6) Earl Brewer, Grand Rapids, MI
7) Ludington Beast, Ludington, MI
8 ) Ludington Beauty, Ludington, MI
9) Cass Benton, Northville, MI
10) Grand Woods, Lansing, MI

Ooops, ran out of numbers before I ever got out of Michigan!      

The Beauty is going to be pulled and that portion of the property is going to be logged.  A few who read here have played the course.  There will be a final round of $5 doubles there on Sunday.  

[Chris]

Brett,

I know what you mean about playing ALL the IL courses. I've resigned myself to trying to play all of the IL 18 hole courses. They actually just put in another 9 hole here in Oakbrook about 2 blocks from work. (sigh)

I've played Peoria w/the exception of Camden. McNaughton is awesome.

Look forward to seeing you all at the IOS events this year!

[whofarted]

galesburg deserves a mention on this thread - it has the long shots, tight fairways, mud hazards, and is just a generally nice place to play.  its not on the way to anywhere and i wouldnt recomend making a day trip there if you can save yourself 40 miles and play multiple courses in the quad cities, but if you do find yourself in that direction it is worth a stop.

[stpitner]

Brett,

I know what you mean about playing ALL the IL courses. I've resigned myself to trying to play all of the IL 18 hole courses. They actually just put in another 9 hole here in Oakbrook about 2 blocks from work. (sigh)

I've played Peoria w/the exception of Camden. McNaughton is awesome.

Look forward to seeing you all at the IOS events this year!

Dude, where do you work?  I work on Kensington in the 1420 building, essentially 2 blocks away away from the Oak Brook course as well!  You should seriously check it out.  It's a lot more challenging than Lombard (I feel) because of the need for high accuracy going around the trees.

Maybe we'll bump into you at some point out on the course!  We try to go out there at lunch time every day, but we will sometimes play Westchester or do 11 holes at Lombard instead.

Scott

[Mukey]

Scott,

    I'm in one of the buildings in Highland Parkway, pretty much Highland & I88. I have checked that course out a few times & it is pretty challenging. I don't usually play during lunch as I don't like to be "funky" when I come back to the office.

It's more challenging than Lombard in respect to shot accuracy, but Lombard is a pretty good distance course. That's where I learned to throw a forehand roller. Now if I could only throw a backhand drive as far....

There's just something about not having 18 baskets. Maybe my experiences at Naperville have turned me off to them, but even if a 9 hole is decent the possibility for backup and course crowding is too much.

[stpitner]

Scott,

    I'm in one of the buildings in Highland Parkway, pretty much Highland & I88. I have checked that course out a few times & it is pretty challenging. I don't usually play during lunch as I don't like to be "funky" when I come back to the office.

It's more challenging than Lombard in respect to shot accuracy, but Lombard is a pretty good distance course. That's where I learned to throw a forehand roller. Now if I could only throw a backhand drive as far....

There's just something about not having 18 baskets. Maybe my experiences at Naperville have turned me off to them, but even if a 9 hole is decent the possibility for backup and course crowding is too much.

I don't think I want to know what it is to be "funky" when you get back heh.  I drive by the Highland Parkway buildings every day on the way home from work   My wife used to work on the other side of I-88, a little further East at Butterfield & Meyers.

Don't get me wrong, I love Lombard, and most days I actually prefer playing there.  Oak Brook just has it beat with the technicality of the course.  It will improve even more once the rubberized tees are installed (they spray painted the corners of the tees so hopefully the rubberized tees are going in soon!)

I've seen a couple guys do some amazing roller shots at Lombard (especially a really nice one on hole 19... wow is all I can say)  I'll just keep working on my backhand for now

[CEValkyrie]

1. McNaughton Park, Pekin, IL
2. Northwoods Park,Morton, IL
3. Lincoln Park, Springfield, IL
4. Wildcat Springs, Hamilton, IL
5. Woodland Park, Collinsville, IL
6. Sinnissippi Park, Sterling, IL
7. Anna Page Park(Original), Rockford, IL
8. Bradley Park, Peoria, IL
9. The Oaks, Mokena, IL
10. Everwood Park, Macomb, IL


Honerable Mention (Any 18+ hole course i've played in IL not in the top 10)
Aurora
Canton
Channahon
Chicago-Edgebrook
Crystal Lake
East Peoria-ICC
Eureaka
Freeport
Galesburg
Geneseo
Joliet-West Park
Joliet-New Lenox
Joliet-Haine's Wayside
Lombard-Madison Meadows
Normal
Olympia Fields
Rockford-New
Rockton
Round Lake
Shorewood
Streamwood
Washington

18+ hole courses in IL I have yet to play.
Effingham
Milan
Quincy
Rock Falls
Rock Island

[whofarted]

once you play geneseo that'll be on the top courses list - a very fun course and a whole lot of golfing right near by if you are in it for the day or a weekend.

anybody been to sterling lately?  they made a pedestrian walking path that goes right across holes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.  all shots from the tee are blind to this potential hazard.  very poor design on the park districts part.

[SIUFrolf]

There's also a new course in Centralia.  It's been there for about 5 or 6 months.  It is sweet!!! Long with some good use of elevation and rivers.  It's been put together by the River City Flyers out of St. Louis.  It has an 18 holer and a 9 holer.  If you are going to effingham, make time to travel the hour south to centralia. you won't regret it.

[Cannon Boy]

Leo Leathers park, best park in the state by far.

[tjdub42]

18+ hole courses in IL I have yet to play.
Geneseo
Hamilton-Wildcat Springs
Effingham
Milan
Quincy
Rock Falls
Rock Island

QCDGC just added an 18 hole course in Moline at Prospect Park.  Very hilly, wooded, and reasonably long.  They're having a tournament 6/17 playing a round at Geneseo and possibly a round at Prospect.

[toast]

had to get in on this one:

tops::::
Jerhico; Aurora
Anna Page East; Rockford - gotta say I prefer this condition of this one to the West course
Campton Hills; St Charles (9 holer) can play in under 40 minutes - commute included!
Central Park; Oak Brook (9 holer)
Lewis University; Romeoville (9 holy)
Woodlands; Rockton


with the exception of Rockford, they are all rather short, but I don't have a 300' drive yet, I'm waiting on Innova to get their speed up to a 12 or 13!

[SIUFrolf]

I played Prospect Park in Moline two weekends ago and all I can say it wow.  I loved that course, it has definitely moved up to top 5 for me.  It's like mokena on steroids.  the town (with the help of the Quad Cities Club) put it in for the anniversary of the park (25 years maybe? I didn't pay too much attention to that part.)  All I can say is that it totally rocked and if you are in the area I would definitely get out there and play it.

[tjdub42]

Prospect is a good, tough course, but the flow could cause a lot of problems.  Some of the fairways/pins/tees almost cross in a few locations, and the finishing holes are way to close to the community theater located in the park.  I can only imagine what it's like when the park is full of chuckers nailing that building with every other throw on those holes.

Apparently, the QC club designed a sweet (& safe) layout that was changed by the city.  Despite its problems, it's definitely worth a try at least once, after which you can check out the other QC courses.

(I did my best not to let my poor performance on this course influence in any way my critique thereof .)

[dancole]

new course in centralia, need to come play. it will make your top 10

[CEValkyrie]

new course in centralia, need to come play. it will make your top 10

The next time i get down to Collinsvilee i'll play it. I'll also hit Litchfield. That is 5+ hour trip from Roiund Lake.

[dancole]

CEValkyrie:

          here is my cell # 618-322-5429. give me a call before you come.  I'm a member of our local tourism comm. we are trying to put together
          trips to centralia with hotel stays. trying to start a club in centralia to promote our course. lets get together.

[CEValkyrie]

Updated list.

1. McNaughton Park, Pekin, IL
2. Northwoods Park,Morton, IL
3. Wildcat Springs, Hamilton, IL
4. Lincoln Park, Springfield, IL
5. Woodland Park, Collinsville, IL
6. Sinnissippi Park, Sterling, IL
7. Anna Page Park(Original), Rockford, IL
8. Bradley Park, Peoria, IL
9. The Oaks, Mokena, IL
10. Everwood Park, Macomb, IL


Honerable Mention (Any 18+ hole course i've played in IL not in the top 10)
Aurora
Bartlett
Canton
Channahon
Chicago-Edgebrook
Crystal Lake
East Peoria-ICC
Eureaka
Freeport
Galesburg
Geneseo
Joliet-West Park
Joliet-New Lenox
Joliet-Haine's Wayside
Lombard-Madison Meadows
Normal
Olympia Fields
Rockford-New
Rockton
Round Lake
Shorewood
Streamwood
Summit
Washington

18+ hole courses in IL I have yet to play.
Effingham
Milan
Moline
Quincy
Rock Falls
Rock Island