Poplar Creek CC - Hoffman Estates

Poplar Creek CC is hidden in back of the Alexian Brothers hospital on Higgins Rd, just west of Moon Lake Blvd. I’ve always wondered what amenities a golf course needs to call itself a country club; this facility is owned and operated by the Hoffman Estates Park District, so I’m going to guess that a park board member thought that “Country Club” sounds more upscale than “Golf Course” and maybe they could charge a few more dollars for green fees. Whatever the logic, Poplar Creek is a short (6,300 yds), compact, but challenging (133 slope from the tips) par 70 layout designed by Dick Nugent, who I believe worked on about half the courses in Chicagoland. The course shares similarities to other Nugent designs such as Willow Crest and Arboretum, shorter courses with an abundance of water hazards where placement off the tee is a requirement to score well, but Poplar Creek will cost you considerably less money than those two courses (even though they are not “country clubs”).

The 1st hole at Poplar Creek is atypical, a par 5 (one of two on the course) with out of bounds (townhomes) on the left, followed by a lake further towards the green, with more water/wetlands on the right. Water significantly comes into play on 4 more holes on the front, plus all but one hole on the back, as a creek meanders its way across the property. The toughest hole on the front is #7, a long, uphill par 4 that requires a 2nd shot over the creek, but my favorite is the easiest, #6, a short par 4 with a tee shot over a ridge to a well bunkered green that sits up on a little plateau from the fairway. The four par 3’s at Poplar Creek are really the definitive holes, as all are long (between 175 and 203 yds from the back tees) and over water, with #2 a beast with a forced carry over a lake to a huge, back to front sloping green and #8 a downhill tee shot to a wide, shallow putting surface that is hard to hold if you’re hitting a hybrid or fairway wood.

I found the back nine a bit more compelling, as it is hillier and the trees come more into play.  Holes 10 and 11 are
the top 2 handicaps on the back, both requiring carries over water hazards to the green, and #12 is an uphill par 4 with trees right and bunkers left off the tee.  #13 is a

great looking par 3 surrounded by thick woods, with the creek and 3 large sand traps protecting the green.  The 14th hole is a short, super tight par 4 (about 35 paces wide), with the creek and a huge willow tree about 100 yds from the green.  My favorite on the back is probably #15, with water bordering the left side that creeps halfway across the fairway about 75 yds from the green, which sitss up above the fairway.  The 17th is the other par 5, a slight dogleg right that slowly rises to the green, and 18 is an interesting finisher, a sharp dogleg left which dares you to try to carry the enormous trees and the pond that

protects the turn.

We had the unfortunate timing of playing at Poplar Creek right after the storms from last week, so there was some serious flooding and 3 of the holes were unplayable, but a number of courses were totally closed, and the 15 holes that were open were in better shape than I anticipated (plus green fees were discounted appropriately).  But my issues with Poplar Creek are related to the layout, specifically the proximity of some holes to each other. The 12th and 14th fairway are uncomfortably close, and even though there are trees separating them, I can almost guarantee that someone in your group will

be in the wrong fairway. And the area around the 3rd green, 4th tee, 7th green and 8th tee is very congested, a stop light or traffic cop would be helpful.

There is a substantial driving range and practice area to warm up for your round, and the top rate of $62 w/cart (including GPS) is priced about right (plus discount coupons are frequently available) so Poplar Creek provides a good option for Hoffman Estates and other Northwest suburban golfers, although I don’t consider this layout a destination for those living outside this area.
 

Mr Z Rating

Layout - 7

Playability - 7.5

Conditioning -7

Aesthetics -6.5

Amenities -8

Value -7

Total Score - 71