Before last summer, the town of Marengo was only a rumor on my golfing radar, a distant point somewhere on the way toward Rockford at the fringe of the Windy City metro area. But after playing Blackstone Golf Club, I am now fully aware of where Marengo is located (about 25 miles northwest of Elgin on Route 20), and I expect to make a return visit in the near future to test myself on this Bob Lohmann designed gem.
The round begins with a 352 yard par 4, with the green tucked behind a pond to the right, one of four (also #7, 11, 16) short, interesting par 4's at Blackstone. After draining a 10 footer for birdie, this 20 handicapper had visions of a memorable score, but that quickly evaporated after a triple bogey on #3, an uphill beauty of a par 4 with large trees guarding the left side of the fairway signaling the transition into the woods. The wetlands come into play prominently on the next hole, the longest at Blackstone (564 yards), as the drive must carry the hazard and avoid the pond to the right. The second of the three par 5's on the front, #6, requires a precise drive through thick hardwoods and at just over 500 yards offers the best chance at putting for eagle. And the 8th hole is a picture perfect par 3, downhill with water behind the green and 2 large
side hill bunkers embedded to the right.
You're back to the links style on the par five 9th and continues to the 12th, a scenic, uphill par 5 that demands a carry over wetlands off the tee with the fairway funneled through four large, deep bunkers toward a green partially hidden by mounds, one of my favorites at Blackstone. The short par three 13th is surrounded by mature trees, and the woods frame the next 2 holes, with #14 a difficult 418 yarder with a carry over marshland on the 2nd shot to an elevated green fronted by a sand trap. This hole screams "disaster" if you struggle off the tee, which I can attest after I carded a snowman.
The course jumps to the open links on the way back to the clubhouse, with the short, downhill 16th offering a chance for par or better if you can navigate around the bunkers to the steeply sloped green. But the last two holes are worthy of a top tier course, as 17 is a monster par 3 (234 yards from the back tees) with a long carry over water, and 18 is a 476 yard par 4 with two large fairway traps and a three tiered green in the shadow of the stately clubhouse that will make a 2 putt improbable if you are on the wrong level.
I've never been a big fan of courses routed through sub-divisions, but Blackstone does it right as the main street (the appropriately named St. Andrews Drive) is crossed only to reach the 1st and 10th tees, and the few homes that currently share the space are out of range for all but the most wayward shots. This layout is expansive (although the par three 5th felt shoe horned between the 4th and 6th fairways), and the 10 minute tee time intervals will keep the play nicely spaced. Gimmicks are kept to a minimum, with the depression that cuts horizontally across the 5th green and the multi-tiered 18th as close as it comes. 
Blackstone is a semi-private facility, and about half the rounds are played by members per Susan Concialdi, the friendly clubhouse manager who doubled as the starter on the afternoon I played last August. Which means there are plenty of times available for public fee play, and the rates are very reasonable for a course of this quality, topping out at $54 weekdays and $74 weekend mornings (with reduced fees after 10 am and Noon Saturdays and Sundays), and the $44 twilight rate at 3 is ideal for golfers who like to keep it under half a hundred. So although Marengo may be out of the way for many Windy City golfers, the combination of smooth, fast greens (over 11 on the stimpmeter), plush bentgrass fairways, diverse holes and scenic views makes Blackstone a Windy City golf destination and well worth the drive to the edge of metro Chicagoland.
Mr Z Rating
Layout (20%) - 9
Playability (20%) - 8
Conditioning (15%) - 9
Aesthetics (15%) - 8.5
Amenities (10%) - 8.5
Value (20%) - 8.5
Total Score - 85.75
Blackstone Golf Club
9700 St. Andrews Drive, Marengo 60152
4 tees, 6,734 / 4,932 yds, par 72
72.8/139 - 68.8/120 rating / slope
M-F $54 w/c to 3 pm, $44 w/c after 3
Sa-Su $74 to 10 am, $62 to Noon pm, $56 to 3 pm, $44 after 3
Srs $8 discount M-Th, Jrs (18 & Under) $15 discount
On site driving range - GPS equipped carts
4 tees, 6,734 / 4,932 yds, par 72
72.8/139 - 68.8/120 rating / slope
M-F $54 w/c to 3 pm, $44 w/c after 3
Sa-Su $74 to 10 am, $62 to Noon pm, $56 to 3 pm, $44 after 3
Srs $8 discount M-Th, Jrs (18 & Under) $15 discount
On site driving range - GPS equipped carts
10 minute tee time intervals
Click Here to see more pictures of Blackstone on Windy City Public Golfers Guide Facebook page...
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