Fox Bend Golf Course - Oswego

Fox Bend Golf Course, owned and operated by the Oswegoland Park District, lies on the south side of Route 34 in the far Southwest suburb, about 8 miles west of the retail madness of Route 59.  The course begins its 46th year of operation in 2013, and a visit last summer showed that although it is beginning to show some signs of wear and tear, it has aged well and continues to be one of the jewels of Windy City municipal courses.

The par 72 layout stretches to a few steps shy of 6,900 yards from the Black tees, with Blue (6,500), Gold (6,100) and Red (5,300) tees also available for golfers of varying abilities.  This is a pure parkland track,
 

with a combination of mature hardwoods and conifers framing most fairways, streams and ponds in play on half the holes, and the only semblance of prairie grass on the left side of the 14th hole.  Add 40 well placed sand traps and Fox Bend tops out at a 73.1 / 130 rating / slope from the back tees.  I played the Gold tees on my latest visit, and the course still packed plenty of punch at 69.2 / 121.    The first 2 holes (a 385 yard par 4 and a 200 yard par 3) are direct and provide the opportunity for a good start if you can avoid the greenside bunkers, but the meandering stream cuts straight across the 3rd fairway about 140 yards from the elevated green, forcing an early decision on club
selection off the tee.  The stream continues up the left side of the following 2 holes, a long (440 yard) par 4 and a short par 5.  The 4th hole features several enormous trees encroaching on the fairway from the left near the tee and the largest green on the course at the end.  The 5th, the signature hole at Fox Bend, is reachable in two for bigger hitters, but the water expands to front the green the last 100 yards, making for a classic risk / reward decision.  The best chance for birdie on the front may be #7, a 540 yard dogleg left par 5, as long as you can stay clear of the pines and spruces occupying the bend.  The front side ends with 2 mid 400 yarders where pars are a successful finish to the first nine.

The back is 200 yards shorter and a bit less penal than the front, with a whiff of modernization on several holes.  The trio of deep fairway bunkers on the 14th hole, plus another guarding the raised green to the left, and the mounds and traps funneling access to the 16th green (which is protected by 2 additional large sand traps), give both holes a fresh feel.  The 15th is an excellent par 3, with 4 traps in front of a wide green that's only 18 yards deep, with a ridge running diagonally from right to left making putting a challenge.  The short par four 17th is aptly named "Slicer's Swamp" as anything pushed right will find a watery grave, and the green tucked behind the pond has an unusual front to back slope.  The final hole is the longest at Fox Bend, 565 yards with the creek crossing the fairway twice to form a tight landing area off the tee. 

Fox Bend has normally been in good condition on previous visits, but the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 11th greens had patches of brown that were reminders of the excessively hot summer of 2012.  Still, this is a prime, old school layout with appropriate distance between holes (though I thought the 2nd tee box is a bit too close to the 4th fairway), and nary a home within striking distance of an ill-played shot.  Fox Bend is loaded with good holes, although there may not be any that will drop your jaw, which keeps it from being great, but this remains a super solid track that is both fair and challenging, about all that I ask for from a course.





The top rate for 2013 is a buck under $60 with cart on weekend mornings ($54 Monday thru Friday), and a round at 4 pm can be scored for $29 walking ($39 w/cart), and this is an easily walkable course for those inclined.  Plus Oswegoland, Fox Valley and Plainfield Park District residents receive discounts between $3 and $7.  Couple Fox Bend with other nearby courses such as Phillips Park or Whitetail Ridge for 36 holes, and you'll have a great day of golf in the far southwest suburbs. 

Mr Z Rating

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

Total Score - 80.5

Fox Bend Golf Course

3516 Route 34, Oswego 60543 

630-554-3939

4 tees, 6,890 / 5,325 yds, par 72

73.1/130 - 69.2/121 rating / slope

M-F $38/54 to 2 pm, $33/49 to 4 pm, $25/35 after 4

Sa-Su $43/59 to 2 pm, $38/54 to 4 pm, $29/39 after 4

Seniors (60) $34 w/c before 2 pm M-F

Reduced Rates Available for Oswegoland, Fox Valley and Plainfield Park District residents

8 minute tee time intervals