The Highlands of Elgin

Several golfing acquaintances strongly suggested that I check out The Highlands of Elgin, so with great anticipation (and a little apprehension) I recently made my way west on Route 20 on a sunny early fall afternoon for my initial visit.  Well, I'm happy to report that the Highlands, without a doubt, exceeded my expectations!!  This thrill ride of a prairie links course dives up, down and around mounds of native grasses and wildflowers with an array of interesting, intimidating and intriguing holes that grabbed me on the 1st tee and held me through the 18th green.

The centerpiece of the Highlands is the quarry lake that first appears on the 4th hole, a magnificient short par 3 with a forced carry over a ravine to a plateau green, with a steep mound backing the pin.  Short is bad, but long isn't much better, with a deft chip required to avoid rolling down into the gulley.  Three other holes reside perilously close to the edge of the lake: the 7th is a stout 254 yard par 3 from an elevated tee with the lake bordering the entire left side; the 8th a short par 4 dogleg left with a decision as to how much of the lake you dare to carry; and the monstrous 11th, another dog left and 100 yards longer then the 8th, where any drive

over the hazard and in the fairway should be considered a success.


The remaining holes at the Highlands are hardly without drama.  The 561 yard 2nd has water on the right and a stand of thick trees left off the tee and the ever present prairie flanking both sides of the wide fairway, with several bunkers scattered closer to the green.  The 5th is a difficult par 4 dogleg left with 3 deep bunkers to carry at the bend, and the 6th hole, the longest at 581 yards, is another dogleg left with a blind approach from the left side over a mound to the lone bunkerless green.

The 12th hole is a deceptively short 530 yard par 5 (it looked like 700 yards from the elevated tee), with a ravine crossing the fairway around 100 yards from the green.  The 15th is another signature like hole, a 166 yarder to a peninsula green surrounded on three sides by water (all 4 par 3's have water in play to varying degrees), and the 16th is a lengthy 440 yards, with a ribbon of wetlands right that expands into a pond near the green. 

Two of the best holes start and finish the back nine.  The 10th is downhill with 4 bunkers lined along the left rough and a difficult 2nd shot over a creek/wetlands which cuts diagonally across the fairway near the green; the 18th is a dogleg right with sand encroaching across half the tee shot landing area, with a gradual climb to the green with the appropriately styled prairie clubhouse in the background.

The Highlands fully opened in the summer of 2010, with the 8 holes at the west end (1,2,10, 14-18) combined with several holes from the old Spartan Meadow course to provide an 18 hole round. The newest holes (3-9, 11-13) have not fully grown in and are a bit rough in spots, but the original 8 were in fine shape and by next year the conditions should be consistent.  In true links style, the fairways were fast (think billiard table), which meant my sliced tee shots rolled directly into the native grasses, never to be seen again.  The greens were large and undulating, the fairways ample, and the prairie everywhere.  If you are directionally challenged, you'll be reaching into your bag quite often to reload.

The Highlands is a robust 7,000 yards from the back tees (73.8/136), but I felt comfortable at just under 6,400 yards from the Gold (71.1/130).  However, if you have difficulty getting shots airborne, or trouble escaping sand traps, then the several forced carries and 70 plus bunkers may overwhelm you.  But the view from the clubhouse looking out over this layout is truly one of stark beauty, and with greens fees topping out in the low $60's, the Highlands is one of the best tracks I've played the last few years.

Mr Z Rating

Layout (20%) - 9

Playability (20%) - 8
Conditioning (15%) - 7
Aesthetics (15%) - 9
Amenities (10%) - 8.5
Value (20%) - 9.5

Total Score - 85.5