GOLF EQUIPMENT REVIEW: FootJoy

As you have likely read by now, I play a lot of golf. I don't play as much as I like, and certainly not as often as some others, but I play at least once every week, sometimes more, and at least once a year take a pretty aggressive golf vacation consisting of 36 holes a day for several days straight. You also might already know that as often as possible, I walk the course. That, along with the fact that I like getting new stuff, has caused me to buy more than my share of golf shoes over the years.

I have worn several models of FootJoy, Etonic, Ecco, Nike, and even those Bite golf sandals for several unfortunate rounds back in the day. No shoe from then until now has ever impressed me more than the FootJoy Contour...so much so that I have recommended them to several others who have tried them and love them as well.

The funny thing is the way I discovered them. One morning, I was running a little late for my tee time at Bolingbrook Golf Club (a really nice, but overpriced track in Chicago's SW suburbs - but we'll touch on that in a later post). Well, it wasn't until I parked the car that I realized I had forgotten my golf shoes. I knew I couldn't be the only person to ever do this, but felt pretty dumb nonetheless. Time was not on my side, so I would have to bite the bullet and buy a pair in the clubhouse.

Ack! I was sure that the course markup was going to make this one hurt, and since I was buying shoes anyway, I thought, why not get some good ones, like DryJoys, maybe? I quickly perused the selection in what is a very fine pro shop, I must admit, and grabbed a pair of DryJoys. Double Ack! They did not have my size in the DryJoys, so I grabbed a different pair that looked nice enough. I had never heard of FootJoy Contours (must be new), but they looked good and were significantly less expensive than the DryJoys, bonus!

They had my size, so I paid the $90, plus my ridiculous Greens Fee, and put on my new shoes. Then, and only then, did the dread set in. You know that torturous walk that is the traditional breaking in period for golf shoes. I was sure to be treating some large blisters that evening, I thought. I only hoped that it wouldn't impact my game too much.

Of course, as always, the only thing that impacted my game that day was my inability to hit the ball well. What did not impact my game were my new shoes. Oh my God, these new shoes had to be the most comfortable shoes right out of the box I had ever worn...and I mean compared with ALL shoes, not just golf shoes. I walked the course that day with nary a blister, and an only mildly bruised ego after playing the brutal closing holes at Bolingbrook.

I have since purchased no less than four additional pairs of Contours, and yes, did buy a pair of DryJoys as well since. I can tell you without a doubt...save your money, and buy Contours before you ever buy another shoe. If they aren't the most comfortable golf shoe you have ever worn, be sure to let us know right here on this blog. If you love your Contours, of course, let us know that too! FootJoy makes the Contours for both men and women.

Oh, and by the way, several pairs are on sale now at Golf Galaxy for only $79.99. Just click on the Golf Galaxy link on the right to take advantage of this weekend's sale good through 7/18/09.

Fairways and Greens!

GOLF COURSE REVIEW: Erin Hills

While I experience some level of anticipation before every round of golf, there are some places before which I have actually felt butterflies in the gut. Rounds at such courses as Bethpage Black, Pinehurst #2, Doral's Blue Course, Arcadia Bluffs, and, of course, Bandon Dunes have all been precipitated by that same feeling of excitement, hope, and trepidation that I am bringing anything less than my best game to the course. Erin Hills fits into this category.

Not more than a 2.5 hour drive from downtown Chicago, the Erin Hills golf course sits on surprisingly rugged land smack in the middle of Wisconsin. As you approach from the east on Holy Hill Rd. take note of the Basilica of Holy Hill perched atop what I have to call a mountain peak relative to the otherwise pancake-flatness of the Midwest. You can see this Basilica from almost anywhere on the nearby Erin Hills course.

Beware as you approach the entrance of the course. You will shortly discover that Erin Hills golf is minimalist in every way...almost to the point of secrecy. As you approach from the east, you will cross highway 83, past the Subway on your left, and drive for 1.1 miles. Keep your eyes peeled on the left side of the road you might catch a glimpse of the front entrance as noted by the tiny sign saying Erin Hills golf course (see below).

Drive up to the small parking lot where staying on the paved lot is apparently optional as several cars were simply parked on the grass. We guessed that those were likely the staff's vehicles so that golfers could use the small lot. The service right off the bat was outstanding. The driving range sits adjacent to the small lot, so we left our clubs with them and headed over to the clubhouse to pay, and hopefully grab a bite to eat before our Noon tee time.

Entering the clubhouse felt a bit like breaking and entering into someone's country cottage, though admittedly we did enter through a side door rather than by the (front?) deck area near the putting green and pro shop. We checked in and paid a very friendly and loquacious fellow for our round. I purchased a logo ball as well because I collect logo balls for all the courses I play. The logo ball simply has Erin Hills in their branded script...minimalist, I like it.

We took a seat at the bar in the small dining area and ordered a quick lunch. My burger was very good, Brad claims his chicken sandwich was as well, but the best part were the delicious fries. What else should we have expected from a little piece of Ireland in Wisconsin? During our meal we even got to catch about 20 minutes of the 5th set of the Federer/Roddick Wimbledon Final. It was tied up at 10-10 when we had to scoot out to the range to warm up.

Our clubs were waiting for us, and we had about 15 minutes to bang on some Titleist NXTs at the range while warming up our swings after the 2.5 hour car ride. After getting some feel for the greens (firm and fast), we were greeted by a most helpful starter who escorted us to the first tee. Our first dilemma before even hitting a shot came next - what tees to play?

Don't get overwhelmed by the six tee options when you arrive. First of all, the "Back Black" tees which stretch the course to over 8,000 yards and include 5 holes well over 600 yards in length aren't even available to play right now. The course is still under quite extensive construction, something I will touch on later. We opted for the Green tees playing at something like 6,500 yards on the card, but as I mentioned, the course was still under extensive construction, so that is just an approximation. I would take one step back and play the Blue tees next time as a 9 handicap, but anyone playing over a 10 handicap should probably swallow their ego, and play the Green tees...at least the first time there.

The important thing to remember is that this course was modeled after true links courses in Ireland, and I have to admit, I was surprised how much like a true links course it played. The entire course is very firm and very fast. Low running shots are definitely the best way to play this course, and the yardage is long because it has to be. Between the firm ground and the significant changes in elevation, it plays much shorter than the yardage would indicate.

So, on the first tee listen to the starter, or your caddies should you choose to take them. While I am at it, let me suggest you take at minimum a forecaddy for your group, if only to navigate you from hole to hole. There are blind shots everywhere on this course, and often you would actually need to walk 200 yards ahead just to see what direction you want to go. The Par 5 first hole, while not "blind" is no exception. The tee shot plays much longer than it appears due to undulations all over the fairway, and you do not want to go left on any shot through this entire hole. This might be the first hole I would like to replay. Hit a good drive to the middle of the fairway, and you will be left with a decision to lay up or go for the green. I hit my drive about 295 yards down the center of the fairway and was left with 220 to the green. Instead of risking the disaster area on the left side, I grabbed my 8-iron and hit a very solid shot down the middle of the fairway. Ah, but that 8-iron hit hard and ran much farther than I expected, leaving me only 75 yards from the green running away from me. Next time, I would hit a 5-iron or 4-iron down along the same line and let the course bring the ball down to the green for a chance at an eagle chip or putt.

The second hole is a blind Par 4 with a ridiculous green that falls away on every side. My advice is to hit driver off the tee and get as close to the green as you can on your first shot. It might take a chip or three to get the ball to stay on the green, so aim for the middle of the green regardless of where the pin is. Don't let the hole placement even enter your mind until you are holding a putter and marking your ball.

Number three is a Par 4 that looks harmless enough, and plays off an elevated tee. Hitting the fairway isn't the challenge here, but getting your approach shot onto the correct tier of the green is crucial. If the pin is on the bottom tier, and you are up high...good luck, a 3-putt is likely in your future.

Another harmless looking Par 4 awaits on the 4th. Get that drive down there to have as short an iron coming in as you can. I would also advise staying left on this one. This might be the most difficult green to hit on the course, especially if that pin is on the right side. The day we played it, I would call it borderline unfair, but that's the breaks, right?

Assuming you can find the tees, the Par 4 5th hole is a great chance for you to hit one of the biggest drives of your life. Hit a solid draw up the right side (even to where it appears to be too far right) and your ball will carry almost all the way down to the green some 390 yards away. This is a big green with only minimal trickiness so great chance for birdie.

The next hole is the first Par 3; a hole with no real hazards save a 50 yard deep green. Just check the pin placement and hit the club that the yardage calls for as the wind will likely help offset the uphill shot. Depending on the wind and pin, you might be able to hit any club in the bag on this hole! Aside from being enormous, the green is relatively docile once you get there.

The seventh hole is possibly the one most impacted by the ongoing construction. A Par 5, but playing well under 500 yards, this is an excellent chance for birdie. Hit a solid driver in the fairway, and at most it will be hybrid or long iron to the uphill, but large green.

Number 8 demands a forecaddy...or print this review and bring it along. This Par 4 is not long, and a good chance for par assuming you know where to hit your drive. From the tee it suggests a slight dogleg left, but you can go much more left than it appears. Go ahead and hit your driver over the top of the hill on left of the fairway and you will end up in a great position. Don't do what I did and aim down the middle, then hit a big slice down by the trees right of the fairway. Even if you find your ball (I didn't), you will be looking at a long uphill shot from some decent rough.

The Par 3 ninth plays short from the elevated tees, but protects the pin very well with a multitude of wild and deep bunkers and a very fast green with a crazy depressed area on the middle right side. Though you will likely be hitting no more than a short iron here, you should be most pleased with a par.

Grab a quick snack at the quaint halfway house; you don't want to play the back nine on an empty stomach. Oh, and now would be a good time to find that forecaddy because the 10th hole is a mystery. A long Par 5 on the card, the first riddle to solve is where to aim the tee shot. It's anyone's guess, so we aimed down the middle of the visible fairway at a tall tree in the distance. Directly at that tree or 35 yards right of it is all good, left of that tree isn't disaster, but it makes the hole significantly more difficult. Next comes the conundrum; where is the green? The left side is fairly well defined by a series of deep bunkers edged by brown scrub grass. Stay right of those, and the hole will open up for you. The green is amazing and ridiculous, shaped like a saddle flipped upside down, and measuring something like 75 yards long. I'm not a fan of the 10th hole.

The Par 4 11th is another birdie opportunity. Not too much off the tee, just hit it to your favorite yardage, get on the green close, and make that putt. The green slopes very hard from left to right, but will roll true.

Number 12 is another Par 4 with a completely blind tee shot. This time, aim off the right side of the fairway, and hit it hard. If you can execute that shot, your ball should funnel down to a low area of the fairway, from where you can hit a solid approach to another undulating green. Take your par if you played it right, then move along.

The Par 3 13th features the only water hazards on the course, though they really shouldn't come into play. You will suddenly feel out of place on this hole, though it is the one hole that is most similar to the actual landscape surrounding you in south central Wisconsin. The shot calls for a mid to long iron from the tee, and the green is plenty big. Don't get cute with this shot, just hit it hard and take your par.

Here is where I felt like the course really geared up for the finish. On number 14, you are looking at another reachable Par 5 with a very difficult green. Hit a solid drive, and again you may be reaching for an iron to get home. Chances are you will miss just a little short and right of the green and funnel down to an area some 25 feet below the putting surface. Getting up and down from here will be very difficult, so unless you can get onto that green in two, walk away pleased with par.

The Par 4 15th begs you to hit driver as it is barely over 300 yards from the Green tees. Don't give in! This green is another diabolical one with crazy breaks, and a patchwork of sodded grass right now...hardly ideal for delicate downhill putts. Hit to your favorite distance off the tee again to make sure you get on in two...a 3-putt is a very real possibility here.

The sixteenth might be my favorite hole on the course. A medium length Par 3, the green is protected by bunkers on all sides that run right into the edges of the green. This hole reminded me a lot of Pacific Dunes in Bandon, and probably reminds others of some of the classic courses in Ireland. The green slopes hard from back to front, so stay below the hole if you can.

Number 17 is a little boring, actually, after the ride this course has taken you on. Another blind tee shot on this Par 4, so keep your drive left to allow it to funnel down to the middle of the fairway. The green is big, but very firm, and long low shots will likely run off the back to a landing area. Get on the green and close to the pin to make your par with a well rolled putt.

Finally, the closing hole! Number 18 appears as though you will never get home, but don't let that distance spook you. With the prevailing wind at your back, just stay out of the bunkers which are very well placed to catch any but the longest of wayward drives. Land in the bunkers, and par becomes a chore, but hit the fairway, and you may be surprised how far your ball rolled. Can you hit your 3-wood far enough to get home for glory? If you don't know by now, than you haven't been paying attention. Just don't go left into the minefield of bunkers that may have actually been dug by WWI soldiers, and you will at least be chipping for the eagle. A layup is fine, but watch that green sloping hard away from the clubhouse. Miss that chance for glory, and a par to close is always nice.

We were greeted at the eighteenth by a kind gentleman with a extended cart to drive us back to the clubhouse, and after a rugged walk, it was welcomed. Once at the clubhouse, I would recommend a shower in the locker rooms downstairs. You will be surprised how dirty you got, even if you avoided to omnipresent sand all day. Remember to tip your caddies, and perhaps order a drink and relax on the outside deck for a while to discuss the round (or not).

Sounds great, doesn't it? Not so fast!

Erin Hills opened 3 years ago to rave reviews. One of the three course designers is Ron Whitten who happens to write for Golf Digest magazine; the same publication that ranked Erin Hills the best new public course the year they opened. Erin Hills was also the first course to be awarded the U.S. Amateur tournament before anyone had even played a round of golf there. It is widely speculated that they are going to be awarded to 2017 U.S. Open as well (yup, before Cog Hill gets it!). So, why, if it was so good, are they doing some rather massive reconstruction of the course after only three seasons? They must have known they were going to try for the Open, so why not build it that way to start with?

We were told before coming up that the rates were reduced because it was their re-opening week, so they were offering a special rate (still $100). It was not advertised that virtually the entire course was still under construction making an enormous amount of the course unplayable, assuming you don't play down the middle of the fairway all day long. At best, the course looked extremely terrible, at worst it played that way. In several places, even on the fairways and greens you encounter fresh laid turf and a patchwork of grasses. They claim to serve up a rough style of golf on their website, but this is extreme, and disappointing to say the least.

And minimalist is cool, but please...a little help. At the starter station, we were offered a complementary bottle of water, but never saw water again until one of our foursome spotted a small cooler of the stuff hidden next to the ladies tee on #14. There is not a single large cooler or dispenser on the course, and if you buy that same bottle of water from the beverage cart it will cost you $2. Not cool, and not environmentally friendly either.

Read my earlier posts, and you will know that I believe in walking a course, especially a links style course like this. Hey, Erin Hills, how about some signs? We managed to find our way around, but it took some navigation and more than a few shortcuts were missed along the way as the cart paths were usually our only lifesaver. Don't force me to purchase a forecaddy (yes, I did recommend them) just to find the holes. And as for all those blind shots, I am just not a fan. You may be modeled after Ireland, but you are in America, and therefore will be compared with courses like Bandon Dunes and Arcadia Bluffs among only a handful of others...they don't have blind shots! Blind shots are boring and for me, take away from the enjoyment of a course.

So, in the end, Erin Hills Golf Course was really a mixed bag for me and my companions. The course concept is outstanding, and when they are finished building it, I am sure it will be consistently rated in the Top 50 public courses in the country. I feel somewhat deceived, however, by the fact that they re-opened under pretense of construction being complete which it most definitely was not. I will be back, but perhaps not until 2011...playing in the U.S. Amateur, perhaps? One can always dream!

Fairways and Greens!

GOLF COURSE REVIEW: Ravisloe Country Club

Ravisloe Country Club was established way back in 1901, and was a private course right up until April of this year when the new management group opened the doors to the public. This is a very good thing for Public Links golfers in the area, because this course is a beauty! While not a true Donald Ross course, at least portions of this course were redesigned by the famed golf architect, and David Esler's 2001 renovation of this course most certainly kept to Ross elements quite intact.

I am sorry to say that I do not have any photos to post on this course yet. On the day I played, it drizzled rain through almost the entire round requiring me to negotiate my bag, umbrella, and yardage finder...a camera would have required a third hand for certain.

First, Ravisloe Country Club is only about a 30 minute drive from downtown Chicago in light traffic, making it an attractive draw right off the bat. We paid $69 to walk the course on a Saturday morning - and by the way, please walk this course, it might be one of the most walker-friendly courses I have played in this city. This is not an unusual price to pay for an upscale public course in Chicago, but once you cross that $50 threshold, it better be good!

At Par 70, and only 6,321 yards from the back tees, I have to admit to being skeptical about the challenge going into this round. I have read some of the early reviews from others on the course, and have heard more than a few suggest it is too short for an accomplished golfer.

So, despite my early skepticism, let me just say that I am hopeful to see a few more private courses fall by the wayside and open their doors to the public. Ravisloe Country Club is a terrific track, and a great addition to Chicago golf.

Having played Pinehurst #2 just a couple of summers ago, I know all too well what a Donald Ross course will do to your game. Though some might consider6,321 too short, my guess is that is just their ego talking. This course is a true golf course, and at Par 70, that 6,321 plays more like 6,700 yards on a Par 72, a yardage that only very low handicappers should be stepping back from. Ravisloe features 3 Par 5s, one of which, the 490 yard 3rd, is forgettable. The 535 yard 2nd is acceptable and the 550 yard 13th is spectacular. The five Par 3s (honestly, who doesn't love playing Par 3s?) measure respectably at 181, 135, 203, 226, and 146 yards. The only thing that might make someone consider this course "short" is the lack of any true bomber Par 4s, with the longest measuring 410 yards.

What the course may lack in distance for some gorillas out there, it makes up for in shape, contour, challenging greens, and, oh those wonderful Ross bunkers. Ravisloe will make you think about how you want to approach each hole from your drive to your approach. The bunkers are deep and wild, but maintained beautifully so that a good crisp shot with the right club will get you out of every one without too much headache. As at Pinehurst, the bunkers protect every vulnerable area of the fairways and greens very well, and if you are able to negotiate them, the greens will get you next.

Most of the 18 greens are heavily contoured, firm, and relatively fast as compared with other public courses. While challenging, they are almost all fair, and as with the bunkers, well struck putts will roll true (if you read the greens correctly, that is). Of special note is the Par 4, 390 yard 16th and its diabolical green. From the fairway, this green appears as basically flat, but sloping from front to back. Beware, however, that even an normally good shot that lands on the green will careen off the back side in the blink of an eye. If you are going to miss the 16th green, go ahead and miss it long so that you have an uphill chip and putt for par.

So, to sum it all up, I am more than a little pleased to have this "new" course available to play. An old school beauty, and definitely the purest Ross design I have found outside of Pinehurst, I will most certainly return there this summer to attempt a round without the umbrella. Do not let the length or the Par value scare you away! As I mentioned, unless you are able to qualify for the U.S. Open, this course is plenty challenging for you, and since when is having the opportunity to shoot a good score a bad thing? I do think that the cost is a little high at $69 to walk with an extra $16 for a cart (remember to keep that $16 for a round of drinks and get yourself some exercise). With other high quality options nearby like Balmoral Woods and George Dunne, they should drop that by about $10 to make it a top draw for residents of Chicago proper.

Finally, to those former members of the private Ravisloe Country Club including as Bert Winston, Steve Goldberg, and Josh Krengel, let me say that your "loss" is Chicago's gain. While I can't say I wouldn't want to be a member at a private club if I had the means to do so, it is frustrating that as a lover of the game, I can not play some of the most storied and famous tracks in the land. While Ravisloe is far from Augusta, it is a delightful place to spend an afternoon of golf and conversations, and I am pleased that I can do so now without dropping several Gs.

Fairways and Greens!

GOLF COURSE REVIEW: Spirit Hollow Golf Course

In this first of what I intend to be a rolling series of course reviews, I would like to share with you one of my favorite "hidden" golf courses, Spirit Hollow.

Spirit Hollow Golf Course is a public daily fee course in Burlington, IA. Burlington is about an hour's drive south of the Quad Cities, and almost equidistant from both Chicago, Des Moines, and St. Louis...not exactly on most people's "beaten track".

Burlington is not so quaint that there is nothing to do, however. They have a multitude of dining options, including some very nice upscale fare at restaurants like The Drake and Martini's. They have a Resort Hotel/Water Park/Casino/Bowling Alley/Arcade known as Fun City, and even feature a minor league baseball team, the Burlington Bees.

Spirit Hollow is a short drive south of the city proper along Hwy. 61. The upscale 18 hole track plays mostly through a small river valley which contributes to its picturesque holes and significant elevation changes. The course conditioning is top notch with bent grass tees, fairways, and greens. The greens are firm and fast with very deceptive breaks...more on that later.

The clubhouse features a friendly and professional staff. On the evening before my most recent rounds there this past week, I went out to get in some practice. When I arrived, they had just sent off their last tee time of the day, so technically the range was closed. With nothing more out of my mouth then "oh, that's too bad", he told me I could go out and hit whatever balls were left on the range and use the chipping area and putting green as long as I wanted to...for no charge! I hadn't even indicated I was going to play a round there yet. That is rare customer service!

One of my only complaints is that the course requires you to take a cart. With that said, the cart is fully furnished with GPS, course routing, playing tips, 4 cup holders, and even a holder for things like cell phones and keys. Also, this is a course that I would not call walker friendly with some sizable gaps between holes, and the aforementioned significant topography. I would have preferred to walk, but it would have been a workout.

Spirit Hollow offers four distinct tees from which to play the course, and they differ enough that anyone can have a challenging and fair experience. From the back Gold tees, the course stretches out to 7,301 yards with a daunting 74.8 rating and slope of 134. I noticed that on almost every hole they have tucked away special tee boxes that would surely allow this course to stretch out even further...probably past 7,500 yards. I acknowledged my 9+ handicap, and chose to play the Black tees at 6,580/71.4/124. I have played harder courses, but those Gold tees were a bit much for a casual round on my own. The forward White tees play to 6,010/69.0/117, and the Ladies' Rust tees at 5,053/70.3/116. The ample fairways and landing areas constrain a higher slope and rating from all but the back tees, but beware, there are plenty of opportunities for lost balls and wasted shots on this course.

The first hole is outstanding! No need for the Driver right from the start as this 391 Par 4 plunges over 100 feet into the river valley as it doglegs left. A fairway wood or even a hybrid or long iron will leave you a mid to short iron off a downhill lie to a good sized green protected by a bunker on the right. Don't get over-excited and try too much here...take your 2-putt par and move on.

Number two is a reachable Par 5 playing at 507 yards...but you best have a controlled draw off the elevated tee if you want a shot at glory. Most of us will just hit it to the right rough, layup with a medium to long iron, and take a wedge into the green. I will guarantee nobody a 2-putt par here as you better start paying attention to the prevailing landscape as you read the greens. The greens may have breaks that appear to impossibly break uphill. The lie of the land might have more sway over putts here than anywhere I have ever played outside of Kapalua in Hawaii!

The Par 3 141 yard 3rd hole is a beauty. Pick your club to hit the distance, then put it away and take one extra. Do not miss this green short! You will be faced with a severely uphill lie in some nasty rough at best...a water ball at worst. Another hole where putting will be at a premium and Par is a good score.

The fourth hole is a 532 yard Par 5 reachable only by the biggest of hitters. This hole takes you back out of the valley and plays more uphill than it appears while facing the prevailing wind. Keep it left and swing smooth and getting home in three should be a walk in the park. Miss right, and this hole opens up some large numbers. Beware the front pin placement as the green has a crazy slope on the right front edge.

Number five is one of the easiest holes on the course...aside from its exposure to the wind perhaps. At 384 yards, the Par 4 plays pretty much straightaway and is protected by a small handful of bunkers to collect poor drives. Keep it out of the sand, and you should have a relatively easy approach shot to a green that behaves like it appears. If you are going to make a birdie, this might be a good place for it.

The Par 4 6th is not as difficult as it looks. This hole's 408 yards can play significantly shorter if you hit the right shots. Though you don't want to go too far left, an easy draw off the tee should bring you close enough to hit a short iron on your approach, perhaps taking the pond on the front and left side of the green out of play. Hit too far left, however, and assuming you can find your ball, you may be facing a difficult side hill lie above your feet from deep rough over the water to a tucked pin...good luck.

Number 7 looks like, and should be your second good birdie opportunity. This Par 3 measures 136 yards on the card, but can vary by 10-15 yards shorter or longer depending on the whim of the greens keeper that day. It also plays about a club longer than the yardage because it is much more uphill than it appears. Take a smooth confident swing with one extra club, get on the correct tier, and make your birdie putt.

The Par 4 390 yard 8th is another hole that looks more difficult than it is. The big gorge you need to carry off the tee is really not in play with any decently struck drive. Before you tee off, check out the back deck of the house to the right...incredible, this is Iowa? Once you cross into the fairway, the approach shot is very straightforward. Rule of thumb should be center-left on the drive, then center-right on the approach. Do this, and you will make a happy par.

The tee on number nine is the beginning of the most beautiful stretch of holes on the course. Get ready to enjoy the ride, but don't forget to pay attention to what you are doing. The Par 4 9th measures only 365 yards, so just swing a comfortable club off the tee...a hybrid worked perfectly for me. Once you get your ball comfortably in the fairway, you will be looking almost straight downhill maybe 80 feet to a long narrow green with a stream running along the left side. If you miss on this shot, miss to the right as there is a landing area in front of the green and everything funnels the ball to the left towards that stream. Par is a good score, though I made a sweet birdie by holing a 28 foot putt. I would love to hear if anyone has ever tried hitting driver straight at the green from the tee. It appears as though a 290-310 yard drive could get home directly over the lake and trees in front of the tee box.

Grab a quick bite and a beverage, then stop a moment and admire the view up the 10th hole from behind the gold tees. Now, back to the game, the 502 yard Par 5 10th is definitely reachable in two, but don't get crazy and pull one left. Hit one in the stream, and you will have no shot at the green and will be lucky to make bogey. I made birdie here with a well-struck drive to the right side of the fairway, a 2-hybrid just short of the green, an average chip, and another great putt from about 18 feet.

The 338 Par 4 11th is not my favorite hole out here, but it sneaks up on you just the same. You need to hit a short-ish club into the fairway laying short of the stream that twice meanders across your line. Do that well, and keep it left to get the best approach angle on a very difficult green guarded by a false front and a very deep and well-placed bunker. Play your first putt too aggressively, and you may be looking at a big score here as well. Still, you should make par.

On 12, you will face a very innocent looking Par 3 measuring 186 yards. Listen to the course advice here and do not miss left. It looks like that is exactly where you want to miss it, but if you do, even a putt from the fringe might roll off the other side of the green. Hit the green near the pin, and you might make birdie, but if you miss, short and right isn't bad.

Round the corner to the Par 4 13th, and catch your breath again. This hole is simply stunning from the tee, and at 418 yards, plays tough, but not as tough as the course would lead you to believe. Hit a solid drive to the left side of the fairway, not too far left, though, we don't want any severe side hill lies on the approach. From the left side of the fairway the green is easy enough to hit with a middle iron, but miss right off the tee, and the HUGE trees will surely have you chasing bogey. Should your fortune bring you this situation, heed my advice, take your medicine and chip back to the left side...nothing is getting over or through those trees. Once on the green, just remember that everything will be fast towards the clubhouse even if that looks uphill to you.

Number 14 just keeps the scenery coming. At 393 yards, this Par 4 plays shorter than its big brother the 13th, but you would do well to have a controlled draw in your bag to stay on the left side of the fairway. I find that approaching the green from the right makes this hole slightly more difficult than 13. On the green, remember what you learned on the 13th and ignore the read, but heed the big hill to the left.

Ah, finally a sweetheart of a hole. Assuming you don't have the inability to hit over any body of water, this short Par 3 is a birdie opportunity for sure. At 145 yards, and with a big green backed by bunkers, a well struck short iron, or even wedge is all that it takes to get one close enough to give it a run. Just remember that the green is very fast towards the lake, and you will be fine.

Could the 378 yard Par 4 16th be yet another birdie? Maybe, but surely a par at least, right? This hole is not terribly difficult if you can do a couple of things. First, play your drive down the left side. I mean really left...the only shot from the tee that is too far left is in the weeds left of the cart path. Once your ball rolls from the left side of the fairway all the way down the hill and across to the right side, you will be staring straight uphill to the average sized and contoured green. Take one, maybe even two extra clubs for this shot, and strike it well or it may roll backwards for a while. Once you are on, make your birdie or lag it close enough to tap in for par, you will need all the shots you can get for the finish.

The 17th is a big 445 Par 4 on the edge of the course, unprotected from the wind. The only hazard to worry about from the tee are the woods on the right side, but you need to hit everything you have here, or treat it as a Par 5. Get a great drive close enough for a mid to long iron in, and you might survive with a par, but don't lose your approach shot left as there are three bunkers waiting to grab your ball if you are lucky. Go right of those bunkers, and you may be gone. Once on the green, remember that the ball will break down to the woods hard.

Gosh, are we done already? Not yet...the Par 5 is an outstanding risk/reward hole, and easy on the eyes to boot. Measuring 521 yards, the elevated tee makes it play no more than 500. Hit a well struck driver right of the large tree straightaway, and you will be hunting an eagle on the last. Miss left of that tree and all is not lost, just stay left of the stream that bisects the fairway and you will have a very manageable approach shot to an well contoured green that acts more like a backstop the closer you get along the left fairway. Despite the fair chance at eagle and birdie, be happy with your par, and head up to the clubhouse for an after round beverage.

Spirit Hollow has reasonable rates for anyone used to playing upscale public courses, though the lack of resident and twilight rates make it pretty expensive for the folks in Burlington. It remains a must play in my mind if you are "in the area", and by that I mean anywhere from Peoria to the Quad Cities to Iowa City. Despite its beauty, for $60, it would be tough for me to suggest that anyone travel more than 60-90 minutes to play here though, so maybe I should just suggest you find a reason to visit the area, and definitely play the course along your way. Look into touring the Great River Road from Dubuque all the way down to Keokuk, you won't be disappointed.

Fairways and Greens!

Good Review of the TaylorMade R9 Driver

http://tinyurl.com/kkrh8e

Please use the Golf Galaxy link to the right to make this new driver your own!

Get your JELL-O butt outta the cart!

So, today I thought I would tackle one of my biggest pet peeves in public golf...the golf cart.

I should start by admitting that, yes, I have used a golf cart several times in the past, but generally speaking I only do so when the course forces it upon me. For example, if you play golf in Florida during the summer months, many courses will not allow walkers due to the "liability". On the other hand, while almost every golfer who plays at the famed Pinehurst resort uses the "complementary" cart, during a summer trip there back in July 2007, my friend Brad and I walked all 4 Pinehurst courses we played along with Tobacco Road. The starters all look at you like you are an alien, but we were just fine.

See, in my opinion golf was meant to be played while walking. Walking helps me stay in a rhythm, to follow/find my ball easier, and to play my own game. All too often when you are sharing a cart with someone you end up driving all over the course as inevitably your partner will slice while you hook. Simply put, I generally play better when I walk, and I bet many others would find they would as well, if they tried it.

A second issue I have is the way so many golfers just shun the fact that they could use the walk. Watching an overweight dude squeeze himself out of the cart, waddle the four feet to his ball, then shank it into the bunker 20 yards away, only to return to his seat and drive the next 20 yards just sickens me! Are your legs not functioning? These are usually the same guys who have their teeth clamped around a fat cigar as they use their belly putter to miss short and on the low side once again.

Finally, and perhaps the more objective issue is the ever present and ugly paved cart paths. Sure, a shot that is bad enough to hit one of the fairway bordering runways might deserve a bad bounce, but that isn't always the case. At least a couple times per round on many of the better public courses in Chicago, you have a paved path cut directly through the middle of the fairway. I guess if you need the extra distance on your shots, go ahead and aim for it.

The most appalling example of this is one of my favorite courses, in fact the one where I maintain my handicap...Orchard Valley in Aurora. Orchard Valley is a short layout with hazards everywhere (far too much OB due to houses, but that is another subject). This is a VERY walkable course...VERY walkable. You should be ashamed of yourself if you ride in a cart at Orchard Valley.

Just last year, Orchard Valley unnecessarily ADDED more cart paths...most notably between the 7th & 8th holes, then again along the left side of the 9th hole. The 9th hole is a straightaway, but LONG Par 4 which in the summer generally plays into a SW wind. The tee shot calls for a big drive with a slight draw to grab as much distance as you can to avoid hitting a fairway wood or long iron on your 2nd shot. The problem is that just left of the hole is Orchard Rd., getting busier all the time. Anything overhooked has always gone near, into, or even across the road, but now the course has added a paved cart path atop the ridge all the way up the left side. This now makes even a slight overcooked draw fodder for the road at best...a car seeking missile at worst. Not only does this make your score worse, but is downright dangerous.

Meanwhile, on the very cool 15th hole where you have to choose to hit a conservative shot down the left fairway or take a driver directly at the green over the lake, they REMOVED the walking bridge that allowed walkers to avoid the longest walk on the course around the back of the green. Yes, the previous bridge was a bit hazardous, but certainly they could have just built a better walking bridge and saved the expense of the additional cart paths on the front, right?

Whatever, it is obviously all about money, right? So I implore each of you to skip the cart, buy a lightweight bag (check out Sun Mountain's Ultralight 3.3 ounce bag - heck, use the Golf Galaxy link on the right to browse walking bags), and get some badly needed exercise! Your husband/wife and your doctor will join me in applauding your effort.

Fairways and Greens!

Congratulations to Lucas Glover!

So, Lucas Glover won the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. Congrats to Lucas, and hopefully he can legitimize this win with many others in the future. Y'know, not many flukes win the U.S. Open, but this really could be the year that one does. I do hope I am wrong. I have no real feeling about Lucas Glover positive or negative, but doesn't this year's Open just feel like good fortune played too large a role?

Weather is impossible to control. Everyone knows that weather can be unpredictable, especially golfers who get out on at least a weekly basis. It is also hard to fault the USGA for their handling of this year's Open...I mean, they have a TON of logistics to deal with (read the John Feinstein book entitled "Open" about the first time the USGA came to Bethpage in 2002).

Despite that, the fact is that the golfers did not play on an even field. Many, including past Open Champions like Woods, Ogilve, and Cabrera were forced to play in downright miserable conditions during the height of the rains on Thursday's round one, while many others, including Mickleson and eventual winner, Glover, did not have to hit their first shots until Friday, which was quite a pleasant day from what I understand, on a course that was laying down like a lamb when compared with other recent Opens.

I was rooting hard for Phil today, and he gave it another good go, but it was not to be, and for the fifth time, Phil is the bridesmaid at the Open (more than anyone in history). A Phil victory would have, in my opinion, immediately legitimized this year's Championship, but now, with Glover as the Champion, we will have to wait for a little while to see how this victory shapes his career so we can decide if he was truly the best golfer in the world this past weekend.

Fairways and Greens!

GOLF COURSE REVIEW: Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort

Looking for a great Las Vegas golf experience that won't break the bank? About a 25-30 minute drive from The Strip lies the Paiute Golf Resort, and it is well worth the drive.

The Paiute resort offers three world-class 18-hole courses highlighted by their signature Wolf course. True desert golf is a stunning and unique experience. Carpets of fairways and greens have been meticulously intertwined with the native desert landscape creating a wild and stunning mosaic of bright green with the brown hued colors of the desert.

For the seasoned golfer, the Wolf is the truest test out here, and even features an island green on the Par 3 15th! At 7,604 yards from the back tees, it will challenge all but the greatest golfers, but allows for all levels of play with five sets of tees. I can proudly claim one of my 3 career eagles came at this course with a short chip-in on the Par 5 6th.

Both of the other two courses provide an enjoyable round for everyone with reasonable challenges along with perfect conditioning. Named by the local Native American tribes, Nu-Wav-Kaiv (Snow Mountain) and Tav-Ai-Kaiv (Sun Mountain) are outstanding options for the average golfer.

Now is a great time to take advantage of the rates at Paiute. From June through the end of August, the Wolf is $99 (a deal for Vegas) and the other two are $79...OR you can choose the GOLFaPalooza 2009 special which gets you all day unlimited play along with lunch and 50% off rental clubs if needed for only $109 ($129 for the Wolf). Just click the link above and go to Rates for details.

Just to wet your whistle, here are a few pics from our round on the Snow Mountain course back in April 2003 while in Vegas for a bachelor party!

A lot of fun, and actually can save you some dough by keeping you away from the tables for 5-6 hours!

Fairways & Greens!

Being in "Golf Shape" no longer means round...

Hey, good post from Move Your Body blog with some tips for golf fitness. Check it out!

http://moveurbody.com/how-to-improve-your-golf-game-and-get-fit-too/

Fairways and Greens!

GOLF COURSE REVIEW: World Woods Golf -- Brooksville, FL

If you are like me and love not just playing golf, but playing on some of the greatest tracks in the world, then you have got to make your way to a hidden gem on Florida's Gulf Coast.

World Woods Golf sits just northwest of the small city of Brooksville, FL...two counties north of Tampa/St. Pete. This golf complex features two world-class 18-hole courses named Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks, as well as an incredible practice area that I believe can be used as a short Par 3 course for outings and such.

I have personally played at World Woods twice. The first time was in early 2005 (Super Bowl weekend to be exact) for a quick jaunt before a week of work back down in Orlando. I flew into Orlando, then drove up to Weeki Wachee where I had booked a stay & play at a nearby Best Western. I rose early and played Pine Barrens, then after a quick lunch, plowed through Rolling Oaks. I shot 81 and 83 respectively, and fell in love with the courses...particularly Pine Barrens. I knew that I had to get my friends to see this place.

So, one year later (again on Super Bowl weekend), I convinced my two buddies to join me on a return visit. This time we flew into Tampa and stayed in Wesley Chapel to act as a base from which we would also play two rounds at TPC @ Tampa Bay. The morning we went to World Woods was terrible. It had been raining for days and was still coming down pretty hard when we arrived. We waited for a couple of hours before we could tee off on the back nine of Pine Barrens, and by the time we finished, were not able to play Rolling Oaks. While it was unfortunate to have only played half the complex, and in near flood conditions, I still found the Pine Barrens course to be incredibly entertaining, and shot another tidy 81 to make it worthwhile.

I would recommend the World Woods resort to any group of golfers looking for a challenging and entertaining place to play golf for bargain prices relative to other far more over-priced areas of Florida. If you go, or have already played there, let me know what your opinions are.

Fairways and Greens!

Happy Birthday to me!

As is sit here and listen to the fireworks going off at Navy Pier from my "home office" at 10:15 Saturday night, I contemplate the last 31 hours that made up an extended 38th birthday celebration.

Friday after work, my friends and I squeezed in 18 holes at Steeple Chase Golf Club in Mundelein to start it off. I played decently, but not great shooting 86 and breaking my string of at least 1 birdie in every round this year. The weather was almost unbeatable, and I have played this course many times, so no excuses, I just couldn't pull it all together to shoot my age on either nine.

Steeple Chase is nice. The fairways are generous, but still narrow enough to challenge an 8 handicap like me. The greens were firm and lightning fast, and the bunkers were in excellent condition. If the two nines didn't each end with a goofy type of hole, there would be little reason not to play here all the time for a non-resident twilight rate of only $32. Oh yeah, except that it is about 400 miles from the city!

Anyway, after a medium long ride, I was welcomed home by my family with a birthday cake that had been "decorated" with M&Ms and several little finger-shaped gashes in the frosting along the side (courtesy of Xavier doing a little pre-celebration snaking unbeknownst to Mom, of course). A good day to say the least.

I woke up this morning and headed straight back out to the course, this time Prairie Bluff Golf Club in Lockport. I have played Prairie Bluff well over 50 times before, so am entirely familiar with every place you should not hit the ball, but did that stop me today??? No, it did not. I only took 29 putts, but sprayed my drives and couldn't hit a green to save my life (one Green in Regulation to be exact...and on the hardest hole on the course). Shot a somewhat miserable 89, shooting 11-over on the back nine...very poor, very poor.

So, Brad and I dragged ourselves over to Wendy's where I partook of The Baconator -- and all was well with me. After a painfully long Saturday afternoon ride home on the normally placid Stevenson (that's I-55 to you non-Chicagoans), I made it home for a quick shower, and was shortly thereafter presented with a gift by Xavier. Somehow without me knowing Kerry had gotten me a $50 gift certificate to Harborside International Golf right here in Chicago! Fantastic, now I can head out to the range in the morning...OK, maybe the afternoon.

Fairways & Greens!

Is the USGA Rating System Fair?

I have been tracking my handicap for about 8 years now, and played at least 50 different courses during that time. One thing that simply baffles me on a regular basis is how the USGA determines the rating it assigns to each course.

Sure, I understand that if a particular course is a Par 71, or even a Par 70, the rating will be a touch lower simply due to the lower expected strokes. What is becoming apparent to me over time, however, is that the actual length of the course appears to carry far too much weight in the rating, and the condition of the course far too little.

I had the "opportunity" on Memorial Day to play with my Dad and Step mom at a local Chicago Park District course at Jackson Park. Jackson Park is a short Par 70 course on the near south side of Chicago...total yardage is only 5,508, and only one of the holes, the Par 5 14th, is over 500 yards (559). The five Par 3s on the other hand measure up with most other higher rated courses at 133, 144, 176, 183, and 212 yards. The rating the USGA gave to this course is a stunning 65.7 with a slope of only 107! That is from the "tips" if you will.

Wow, what a piece of cake dandelion of a course...right? Well, maybe, on the perfect day with all the right breaks. First, many of the holes are short, yes, but just banging your Driver onto, or near the green doesn't always get you the results you might expect. The greens are small, sometimes downright tiny, roll with inconsistent speed, and have some absolutely gnarly breaks to them. Should you be slightly less than perfect with your driver or 3-wood off the tee, you are often faced with a shot from behind the multitude of trees surrounding the greens, from out of what might be accurately called "dirt" bunkers, or (and this is if you are really lucky) from out of a patch of mud and grass in a depression just feet off the edge of the green.

So go ahead and take a hybrid or even an iron off the tee...hell, knock it into the middle of the fairway. Now, should you manage to land in one of the more narrow than you would ever expect fairways, there is a pretty fair chance that you are going to be in a divot, a patch of weeds, or perhaps just some bare dirt. Should you miss the fairway, the rough is often just like hitting out of a well-fertilized, yet rarely mown front lawn.

So, you must think I went out and shot 100 the way I describe it. Nope, I shot a 79. I made 3 birdies, and only putted 28 times all day. I nearly drove onto 4 different Par 4 greens. I was slightly "wild" off the tees, only hitting 2 fairways all day. On any other day, I would be very content with a 9-over par...especially breaking 80. Here is the issue...I currently play to an 8.8 handicap. That means that just to meet my handicap differential, I needed to shoot a 74.

Now, could I have shot a 74? No doubt I could have, but I can tell you that I would have a far easier time shooting an 86-88 on any other of the courses I normally play with ratings around 71-72. So, I walked away with 3 birdies, one double bogey, and a 14 handicap differential...the same differential I had from a less than inspired 89 I had shot a couple weeks earlier at Prairie Landing in West Chicago.

Here are two other examples to help support my point, then you can let me know if you agree, or if I am just blowing so much smoke (or both I suppose).

Heritage Bluffs - Channahon, IL - 72.1/132 - Par 72
VS.
Orchard Valley - Aurora, IL - 70.6/130 - Par 72

Pacific Dunes - Bandon, OR - 69.3/125 - Par 71
VS
The Links at Carillon - Plainfield, IL - 72.5/125 - Par 72

Fairways & Greens!

Looking forward to the U.S.Open?

I certainly am! Bethpage Black has to be one of the greatest venues ever to host an Open. First, it is a public facility that anyone can play...admittedly easier for some than others. Second, it is a classic layout, full of trouble to challenge the best golfers in the world, but entirely fair in that hitting good shots is rarely penalized. Finally, it sits just that close to the largest city in the United States, yet feels like pastoral farmland as you make your way around the course.

I am proud to say I have played Bethpage's Black course, and don't even live in NYC. A few years back, myself and a couple of co-workers were able to walk on in the late-afternoon on a very rainy and grey day. Yes, a stoppage of play during a deluge on the 3rd tee caused us to eventually stop our round on the 16th green lest we become lost and never find our way back in the darkness, but I played enough of the couse to experience its greatness.

If you have a chance to play this course, do yourself a favor and make the necessary effort to play. Not only will you be able to walk the very ground that has humbled the likes of ever golfer who has played it (save for Tiger...maybe), but I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy every one of your 100+ strokes. I play to an 8 handicap and I had an 81 through 16.

Finally, I think I can safely assume that you all have a T.V. Well, make some time over Father's Day weekend to watch the players try to tackle this beast while it is setup for the Open, should be a blast!

One of my favorite golf photos...

Pacific Dunes 10th Hole -- Bandon, OR

Itching to play

So, my new daughter, Hayden, was born on Friday afternoon. Kerry and Hayden just came home yesterday, and I am one proud dad. Xavier, my 2-year-old son has been growing up right before my eyes, and seems to be very excited to be a big brother.

As great as all that is, I last hit a shot on the afternoon of April 4th (and it was a good one - solid putt for par to tie Brad for the day out at Orchard Valley), and can't stop thinking about golf. A week ago, the day before Hayden arrived, I received a new Cobra 3-wood in the mail after exchanging one I had purchased a week earlier. I am DYING to hit this new club, as well as all the rest of my clubs.

The weather is finally getting warmer, and it looks like it will get well into the 60s tomorrow and Friday. The problem is that Kerry can't lift Xavier for another 5 weeks or so, making a full round impossible without some help from others. So, I turn to my mother, and wil ask her to come on by sometime in the next few days so that I might steal away, at least to the driving range, to hit some golf balls.

Short term goal...enter and play in the CDGA tournament at Balmoral Woods on June 9th.

Later...

D

Will this be the year?

Though it could be the first year in my memory that all five of the major professional sports franchises here in Chicago make the playoffs, I am actually talking about golf. More precisely, will 2009 be the year in which I finally play a round of golf at even par or better? Only time will tell.

One thing standing in my way is the weather here in Chi-town. It is already April and I have only played three rounds of golf so far! Another thing standing in my way (or could possibly help me) is my consistent inconsistency. In three rounds this year I have shot 77, 95, and 87...but I have had 2 birdies in each round. By best round ever was a 74 back in 2005 (I think), and I have a couple of 76 rounds in there as well, but even par is elusive, and as anyone who plays this game with any regularity can tell you, it only takes one bad hole to ruin a round.

Anyway, it had been more than a year since I posted to this blog, and since late 2006 since my Beaver Tour gathered, so I wanted to get the conversation going with a post.

Let me know what your goals for 2009 are, and please become a follower of this blog, and contribute regularly...perhaps we can make the tour bigger and better than ever!

D

Hey all. Long time - no post. All this snow on the ground is making me realize that we still have quite a while before we can start knocking down flags here in Chicagoland. So...let's go somewhere else!

Week Nineteen Tee Times at Mistwood

This week we are playing at Mistwood in Romeoville on Saturday, August 19th. Our tee times are as follows:

9:40 - Brad, David, Kerry, Angelique

Mistwood is now under new management, and from what I understand, back in tip-top shape. It is a cool layout and another SBGT value at around $50. Let me know ASAP if you would like to join us this week.