Bridges of Poplar Creek - Hoffman Estates

The first time I played the Poplar Creek Country Club a few years ago, three of the holes were flooded and unplayable from the heavy rains the previous day and the rest of the course was a soggy mess.  This chronic problem provided two basic paths to the Hoffman Estates Park District, owners of the course: either continue to apply band aids and keep their fingers crossed each time the skies opened, or go bold and invest a sizable amount and fix the issues once and for all.  The powers that be chose the latter, and after playing the new, improved and renamed Bridges of Poplar Creek, I can report that area golfers should be pleased with the remodeled layout.

The centerpieces of the redesign are the eight new wooden bridges that traverse the numerous water hazards that torment golfers, as the par 70 Bridges plays to a steep 71.2 rating / 136 slope from the 6,500 yard back tees.  There are 4 distinct sets of tees (not including the 6,200 yard "Bridges" tee that combines tees from the Black and Gold sets), and the 6,000 yd Gold tees will provide plenty of challenge for other 20 handicappers like myself with a still hefty 132 slope.

The new layout offers the same routing of holes as before, although the nines were flipped which means that you jump right in with the #1 handicap hole on the course, a 424 yard par 4 with a full water carry to the green and a chance to see one of the elegant new bridges.  The 2nd hole is not much easier, a 367 yard dogleg right with water the entire length on the right which cuts across the fairway at the green, requiring another shot over a hazard to the pin, two difficult holes to start the round. 

Things ease up a bit with #3, a straight, slightly uphill 380 yard par 4, but water / wetlands come into play to varying degrees on each of the first nine, and on every hole except for #'s 14 and 15.  The biggest changes that I noticed were on #6 (381 yard par 4), where a number of trees and brush were cleared out from in front of the water to the left, and #16, with a new fairway bunker added and the raising of this often swamped low lying fairway. 

Other changes are more subtle, such as reshaping and deepening several traps, and overall 15 of the 18 holes had improvements completed.  The four par 3's are standouts, all demanding tee shots over creeks / ponds, with the two on the back nine (11 & 17) especially daunting at over 200 yards from the tips, with the shallow green on 17 an exceptionally difficult target to hit.  My favorite, however, was #4, the shortest at 175 yards but surrounded by trees with a large sloped green just on the far side of the creek, one of the most scenic holes on the course.  Other holes that stood out for me were #8, the longest at 538 yards and featuring the only significant elevation change on the way up to the green; #9, a dogleg left requiring a well placed drive to avoid the large trees blocking the 2nd shot (and with a pond lurking behind the trees for those bold enough to attempt clearing them); and #15, the shortest par 4 (341 yds) but with the well bunkered green over a ridge providing both a nice view and the best chance at birdie.

There is no doubt that the new Bridges is an upgrade over the previous version, but there are still some very tight parallel holes (3rd / 5th, 8th / 9th, 14th / 15th) were being in the opposite fairway is always a possibility, the townhomes along the 10th hole are easily within reach of a pulled / hooked drive, and the area where the 12th green, 13th tee, 16th green and 17th tee converge has always felt congested to me.  But the expansive driving range, top notch clubhouse and the uniqueness of the new bridges help balance the overall experience, and the bottom line is that the Bridges of Poplar Creek is a solid and challenging course.  At a top rate of $65 w/cart and discounted fees offered midday and twilight, this course is well worth a visit for northwest suburban golfers.

Mr Z Rating

Layout (20%) - 7
Playability (20%) - 7.5
Conditioning (15%) - 8
Aesthetics (15%) - 7
Amenities (10%) - 8.5
Value (20%) - 7.5

Total Score - 75

Bridges of Poplar Creek CC

1400 Poplar Creek Dr, Hoffman Estates
847-781-3681
4 tees 6,500/4,597 yds par 70, 71.2/136 - 63.5/118
Green Fees - M-F $34 walk/48 ride yo 1:30 pm, $28/40 to 3 pm, $25/35 to 5:30 pm, $18/23 after 5:30
Sa-Su $65 w/c to 10 am, $59 w/c to 1 pm, $38/49 to 3 pm, $22/33 after 3
Srs (60)/Jrs (17 & Under) $28/36 M-F
Driving Range on site, GPS
9 minute tee time interval