The Toughest 18 holes in the South Suburban Chicago/Northwest Indiana Area. (Golf courses that are priced less
than $70 green fee cart included). If you get a chance, right down these holes on a sheet of paper, and when you
play these courses, put your score next to the holes. I'd be willing to bet that you would not break 90 on these 18
holes (Bogey Golf).
Par 4 - 5th Hole at Longwood
This hole is a dogleg right about 60 degrees. Your tee shot has to be at least 240 yards just to see the green. Then
from the tee box all the way down the right side is a line of trees that marks OB. There is nothing on the left. But if
you go left you are making it an incredibly long hole. The hole itself measures over 400 yards. The fairway doesn't
start turning until about the 200 yard marker. Then when it turns its downhill it heads towards a small creek that runs
across. This creek is about 100 yards away. Then the hole goes uphill from the creek. Your shot into the green, if
you have one, will be a long iron or fairway wood into a small green that is severely sloped from left to right. If you go
pass the green you are OB. If you go off to the right, then you have a difficult chip on a downhill green. It will
normally take you at least three shots to get onto the green and a good possibility of a three putt.
Par 4 - 3rd Hole at Lost Marsh (Click Here to view).
So you think you're a golfer, huh? Then par this hole. Your tee shot has to be placed in the fairway which is
basically a long island. Even if you hit a good tee shot, your second shot which will be with a long iron or fairway
wood is hit into a three-tiered green. With yet another body of water on the right to catch all the slicers, an OB fence
which guards the next hole also on the right, a hazard of trees and bushes on the left, and plenty of bunkers must be
dealt with. The green, which is not an easy one is three-tiered with the back of the green being the highest tier, so
don't be long. A short shot can find sand.
Par 4 - 4th at George Dunne (445 yards from the tips) Click Here to view
This hole is a 90 degree dogleg left, with a small lake guarding those that wanna take a shortcut. I have seen long
hitters come within 100 yards of the green off the tee from closer tee boxes. But for the many that can't cut off that
much of that lake, then we have to be wary of it and the bunkers that run along that help to surround the fairway.
You hit short your swimmin wit da fishes. You hit long your in the bunker. Play it safe and you have a 200 yard shot
into a very large green with bunkers guarding on the left and the right.
Par 4 - 10th Cog Hill Ravines Course (430 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
Your teeshot into this narrow fairway has to be long and a little to the left side of the fairway. The green which is a
small one is guarded by a sand trap to the left and OB all around it. Even if you hit a good tee shot, it is your
approach shot that will determine your success on this hole. Trees and bushes are all around and it is highly likely
that your approach will find the bunker.
Par 4 - 8th (Grey Course) White Hawk (380 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
This hole is a dogleg left. But its your tee shot that brings huge trouble. You cannot use a driver off the tee, and the
landing area is a narrow fairway that runs perpendicular to the tee box. If you slice and go left then your OB. If you
hit short then you're in the hazard, and if you go long then your OB. Your tee shot must be between 180 to 210
yards. There is no cutting off this leg, cuz water guards those who try. Then your approach shot is to an uphill green
guarded in front, and on the right with bunkers.
Par 4 -15th at Cinder Ridge (392 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
An uphill fairway with trees and OB on the left and much closer to the hole on the right. It is not your tee shot that is
the problem. The fairway is pretty big. Its the second shot that will give you fits. You will have an uphill or side hill lie,
then have to hit into a small green that is severely uphill. There is a bunker guarding the green on the left, and OB
on the right and pass the hole. Basically the only landing area is the green. Anything right is OB. This is an
extremely tough hole.
Par 4 - 3rd at the Sanctuary (357 From the Tips). Click Here to view.
This is a short par 4. But extremely dangerous. This hole runs adjacent to the train tracks, which is where your ball
will be if you hit too far left or too far straight. On the right, water runs up the entire hole. The fairway is only about
20 yards wide and guarded with bunkers. Hitting an iron off the tee is your best choice. OB runs up the entire left
side so you must be careful. Although this hole is short it will jump up and bite you. The green is not easy either and
not very large. Your landing area on your approach shot is very small as the green is guarded by OB sand and OB
on the left. Sand and water on the right, and water if you go too far.
Par 4 - 12th at Aberdeen (400 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
You tee off from an elevated tee box, onto a dogleg right green location. If you use a driver and go too far, then you
will land in the water hazard. You can cut off some of the leg, but you can go OB on to homeowners property if you
hit your drive too far. If you go too far right with a slice you are in the hazard. Most people will use a 3-wood and
leave themselves with an approach of 175 or so. Your second shot is hit into a blind green because of high
plantation in a water hazard. The green is sloped severely from right to left so putting is difficult. This hole is just
before the long and difficult par three 11th hole.
Par 4 - 16th at Tamarack (456 yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
The fairway is a peninsula with water covering three sides. It is also very narrow. Hitting a driver is not advisable on
this hole. Even if you do hit a good tee shot, your second shot is sure to be with a wood onto a green guarded
heavily by bunkers.
Par 4 -16th at Glenwoodie (450+)
This is the longest par 4 on the course. A forest guards the entire right side of the fairway and marks OB. There is a
sand trap that also sits on the right side of the fairway. On the left are more trees. A shot of about 275 yards+ will
allow you a clean look at the green and your shot may even roll down the hill. But for the shortknockers you will be
hitting a 200+ yard approach uphill to a green that is sloped hard from back to front. If you come up short,
then you are chipping uphill onto this green, you will not par this hole from here.
Par 3 - 17th at Deer Creek (200 Yards from the tips)
This long par three is guarded by bunkers. A short shot is in the sand, and a low line drive will go into the back sand
trap. Their is water on the right to catch a slice and OB on the left if you hook one. The green is large but
unforgiving. Good luck trying to get a par.
Par 3 - 6th at Mistwood (195 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
Of the 195 yards to the middle of the green. 180 of it is a carry over water. Your tee shot is from an elevated
position hitting down to a long but narrow green. Too far and there is bushes, sand, and OB. Too short and your in
the water. A good test of long iron/wood hitting on this hole.
Par 3 - 16th at Balmoral (171 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
Though not long, this is a difficult hole. The trick is ball position on the green. This green is heavily sloped from back
to front. So three or four putting is very possible. There are sand traps on the left and the right guarding this hole
and if you go past the hole you're in trouble. Your best bet is to hit short of the hole and either putt uphill or chip up
hill. Too short of a shot however will land you in water.
Par 3 - 15th at Bolingbrook (156 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
A true island green that requires correct club selection. This is the signature hole of the course, but when the wind is
blowing you never know what to do here. Just hit your shot and hope it lands on the green.
Par 5 - 17th at Palmira (609 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
This is one of the toughest courses in all of the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area. This par 5, regardless of the tees
you play will eat you up. The tee shot is not very imposing. There are trees and a hazard to the right, but the left is
pretty open with only a few sparse trees. Your second shot however is hit blind up a hill. On the right is more trees
and bushes that mark a hazard. This goes all the way up to the green. On the left there is a small creek and more
trees. A good second shot will leave you about 140-170 yards to an uphill turtle shelled green, heavily guarded by
trees. Good luck, a bogey is a good score on this hole.
Par 5 - 7th at Balmoral (548 Yards from the tips) Click Here to view.
This is a dog leg left. OB on the left, OB on the right, and OB if you go too far straight. Super Long Hitters can take
a risk and try to cut some of the leg off by going over the trees, but for most players a three wood of the tee is the
play. There are bunkers guarding the safe landing area to the right. OB guards the entire left side after you've
turned the leg. Trees and OB guard the entire right side. There is a creek just before the green that extend outward
about 50 yards so hitting a second shot must be with an iron, plus the hole is downhill from here so rolling into the
water on your second shot is possible. The green is huge, two-tiered, and sloped severely. There is no sand to
guard the green, but this hole doesn't need it. Trouble is everywhere!
Par 5 - 5th at the Santcuary (568 from the tips) Click Here to view.
This hole follows the short par three. This is a dogleg left. There is a wall of trees on the left about 250 yards up the
fairway. If you go left, you will be ok, but don't go too far left and too far up the fairway or you will have to punch out.
The right side is guarded by a bunker and high grass. Your tee shot is really not the problem on this hole. Your
second and third shots are what drives up scores. The fairway is only about 20 yards wide and guarded heavily by
trees on both sides. If you go left then the trees will swallow your ball and leave you in a hazard. If you go right then
you might lose your ball in the tall grass, even if you find it your only choice will be a punch out. But with the fairway
being so narrow and trees hanging all across it, your third shot must be well placed. You hit into a severely sloped
uphill green with well placed bunkers.
Par 5 - 4th at Broken Arrow (North Course) (580 from the tips) Click Here to view.
This hole follows a short par 3. There is a wall of trees on the left about 200 yds away and fiscue on the right. There
are also trees on the right. That will fuck with your second shot if you go too far right. This hole has a split fairway
with a creek that swallows anything that's headed its way going directly down the middle of the fairway. This is one of
those two green holes. If you are playing the easy green then this hole becomes much easier. But if you are playing
the harder green, then your approach shot is hit onto a small landing area surrounded by hazards. The green is
sloped heavily from back to front as well. The best thing to do here is to hit a good tee shot and place your second
shot well. But if you are errant on either your drive or second shot, your third shot will be a drop.
The 2011 Shank'em Classic Golf Tournament
Sunday Group Recap
Random Golf Thoughts...July 2011
Hacker's 2009 Golf Review
Random Golf Thoughts...June 2011
To view the results and players from the 2010 Chili Dip Open, click here.
To view the info for the 2011 Chili Dip Open, Click here.