Longwood CC - Crete

My Uncle Charlie was an avid golfer (he passed away years ago while, ironically, playing golf in Arizona), and one of his favorite courses back in the day was Longwood Country Club (www.longwoodcc.com) in Crete.  I clearly remember my last trip to Longwood before my recent visit in early July; it was about 20 years ago and I had just received a new set of PowerBilt Grand Slam irons as a gift from my stepfather (another avid golfer), and after the 10th or so swing on the driving range, the head of the 5 iron sheared off and flew about 50 yards!  I don't think that my time away was due to the bad karma from my last trip, but that more courses have been built closer to where I was living.  But I added Longwood to my courses to play list for 2012 and was determined to get there this year.

And what I found was that very little has changed over the years at Longwood, which originally opened in 1920.  The clubhouse is still the vintage mid 20th century building that I remembered, the driving range is still there and the course still maintains a uniqueness that places it just a little bit outside the norm.  This hilly, fairly challenging (70.5 rating / 123 slope) track has plenty of water and mature trees to test your skills, and enough sand traps (around 40) to be annoying.  The course  has a country feel to it, which is my way to politely say that the conditions are a little lesss than stellar, as patches of clover in the rough (and a few fairways) are common, and the lips of the bunkers and the tee boxes are a bit ragged.  But the overall layout is diverse and spacious (with one glaring exception) and ultimately a lot of fun.

We were feeling a bit cocky and decided to play the par 70 course from the back tees, and Longwood was a handful at 6,400 yards (the Regular tees at 6,000 yards will eliminate some of the hazards that were brought into play from the tips).  The creeks that meander through the course affects shots on no less than 11 holes, and ponds are found on 4, so the water presence is not insignificant.  There are 6 par 4's over 400 yards, and the 5th hole is a monster (and also the best hole on the course), a 443 yard dogleg right with dense woods bordering the right side and the creek cutting across the fairway about 75 yards from the elevated green; if you can't bust a drive about 250 yards, you'll be playing for bogey.  The 7th hole is another long par 4 with an elevated green, but in place of the



creek is a large pond unavoidably placed in the middle of the fairway.  The 9th hole is a tricky little par 4, with your drive needing to carry the creek and a ridge to have a clear view of the flag, with 2 traps fronting and thick brush behind the green.  
The start to the back nine features a quirky par 4, as #10 has a long carry (about 225 from the back tees) over the creek, but should you lay up, a minimum 160 yard uphill approach through a narrow chute of trees will be required.  Another quirky feature is the configuration of the 6th and 16th holes, par 4's that have side by side tee boxes and that run parallel the first couple of hundred yards before angling away from one another, with a pond splitting the shared border.  #6 is short and runs up a hill to the green, while #16 is 100 yards longer, but both have super tight landing areas that may

make you think twice about using your driver (although you'll have to on the 464 yard 16th if you hope to reach the green in two).  The 2 best holes on the back are #'s 14 and 15, a 404 yard par 4 and a 505 yard par 5, respectively (nice symmetry), with each hole having an uphill approach shot, and the ever present creek crossing the 15th fairway around 200 yards from the green.  These 2 holes, along with the 16th, could make or break your round (2 triples and a double scuttled mine...).

We completed the round in a snappy 4 hours on a Saturday afternoon, and the $34 w/cart rate was quite easy on the wallet.  After 2 pm, the rate drops to $25 w/c, but Longwood operates on a first come, first serve basis for this price, one of the few courses that does this.  If you prefer morning play, the Saturday and Sunday greens fees w/cart top at $39 & $42 for prime time.  The old adage "You get what you pay for" applies to a certain degree at Longwood, so don't expect lush fairways and super smooth greens.  But what you can expect is an entertaining track with some really good holes and big views, and a course comfortable in its own skin and worthy of a return visit (and much sooner than 20 years!).

Mr Z Rating

Layout (20%) - 7
Playability (20%) - 8
Conditioning (15%) - 6
Aesthetics (15%) - 7.5
Amenities (10%) - 7
Value (20%) - 8.5

Total Score - 74.25

Longwood Country Club

3503 E. Steger Rd, Crete (708)758-1811
3 tees, 6,404 / 5,636 yds, par 70
70.5/123  - 68.6/119 rating / slope
M-F $20/29 to 2 pm, $25 w/c after 2
Sa $25/39 to 10 am, $25/34 to 2 pm, $25 w/c after 2
Su $30/42 to 10 am, $25/37 to 2 pm, $25 w/c after 2
Seniors (62) $20/26 M-F
Driving Range on site