RedTail Golf Club - Village of Lakewood

RedTail Golf Club is nestled within a spacious sub division in the Village of Lakewood, just outside Crystal Lake (about 2 miles west of Randall Road off Ackman Road).  Designer Roger Packard (Cantigny, Oak Brook) utilized the rolling topography to provide several grand vistas of the McHenry County countryside as the course winds through wetlands and stands of mature hardwoods.  Don't be fooled by the clubhouse in a trailer, this is a big time course with a wide variety of holes and unique design elements.  

The course has 4 sets of well spaced tees, with the Black at just over 6,800 yards, the Gold at 6,500, the White at just under 6,000, and the Red at 5,400.  I played the Gold tees (71.1/130) on a recent visit, but I would have been better off if I listened to my head rather than my ego and played the White, as RedTail will punish anyone who is less than accurate with the driver.  This is not to say that the course is unfair, as the short grass is ample on most holes and the majority of the hazards are there for you to see, but the wetlands and prairie are in close proximity (especially on the front side), lurking to swallow any wayward shots. 

The 1st hole is a good indicator of what's to follow, a downhill par 4 with a slight turn to the right that offers a panoramic view from the tee box.  The front nine continues in prairie links mode through the 8th hole as it meanders through the neighborhood (but not near enough to be a nuisance to homeowners or a distraction to golfers), with each hole nicely separated from one another.  The 5th & 6th holes stood out, a dogleg left par 5 and a long par 4 which wrap around a lake; the par 5 has a large tree and bunker at the bend, with the water in play the last 150 yards to a narrow, two tiered green, while the par 4 has a carry over the lake off the tee and a slight rise to the pin.  The 2nd (par 5) and 3rd (par 4) are also solid holes, with a creek criss-crossing the fairway about 175 - 200 yards from the tee and near the green on #2, and the wetlands bordering the right side the length of #3.  The 8th is a par 3 with the tee perched above the green. which is fronted by an enormous, glove-like trap.

RedTail transitions to a more typical parkland style on the 9th, as trees become more prevalent on most holes.  The dominant feature on the back is shared by #10 (a short par 4 with a blind tee shot over a

ridge) and #16 (a longer, 400 yard par 4), as a pond surrounds both greens, creating an island with a common bunker filling the space behind each.  I can't recall ever seeing a "double green island' before, but as quirky as this may seem, I thought it was pretty cool.  The 13th & 15th holes were 2 solid par 4's, the former with 3 deep fariway bunkers right, and the latter with 4 pot like traps on the left in play off the tee, and a steep slope front left, a large trap front right, and water behind the green.

Although it is obvious that I had a very favorable first impression of RedTail, there were a few features that gave me pause.  The narrow creek that runs across the fairway on the 2nd hole is difficult to see off the tee, making the club selection tricky; the 9th & 18th holes run parallel to one another, with the tees fairly close to each other, kind of a weird configuration; the Gold tees on the par 3 12th were set behind a mound covered with native grasses, effectively creaing a blind shot off the tee; and the  previously referenced 18th hole has a large tree in the middle of the fairway, and really, who wants a straight drive on the last hole to be penalized?

But these are minor details that did not seriously hinder my overall experience at RedTail.  The course was in good condition, has a number of scenic views, is well laid out, and has a variety of good holes.  And the cherry on the sundae...the top weekday rate is $39 with GPS equipped cart, and you can play on the weekend after 11 am for $47 and after 2 pm for $35, a super bargain for this course.  If not for the distance from my home (60 miles door to door), I would definitely be a regular at RedTail.

Mr Z Rating

Layout (20%) - 9

Playability (20%) - 8

Conditioning (15%) - 7.5

Aesthetics (15%) - 8

Amenities (10%) - 7
Value (20%) -9


Total Score - 82.25