Village Greens of Woodridge

The intersection of 75th Street and Lemont Road is a shopping mecca, with big box retailers and chain restaurants well represented within a 2 mile radius.  But head west and on your left you'll discover a leafy green oasis of golfing activity tucked neatly between the suburban strip mall desert landscape.  The Village Greens of Woodridge dates back to 1959, designed by renowned mid-century architect Robert Bruce Harris, and is a lively 6,600 yard, par 72 track that has more elevation change then one would ever suspect from a ride down 75th Street.

VGW has plenty of mature hardwoods, water hazards and environmentally protected area (local rules allow a free drop from most) to provide an aesthetically pleasing experience in the midst of west suburban sprawl.  The course resides in the happy place of not too easy but not too hard, as the slope / rating from the tips measures 71.8 / 128.  The first 2 holes offer opportunities for par or better, with plenty of room off the elevated tees on the 378 yard par 4 and 483 yard par 5, with the latter featuring a steep climb to the green.  The #1 handicap hole follows, a long par 4 (443 yards) with the tee box tucked back in the trees and another sizable incline to the hole, and a par here requires four well executed shots.

 The first (and best, in my opinion) par three appears next, 163 yards and downhill with water and native grasses providing a scenic hazard (an alternate tee box to the left heightens the challenge as the hazard must be carried).  The green is large and multi-tiered, one of the trickier putting surfaces at Village Greens.  But my favorite hole on the front side is #5, at 423 yards the 2nd longest par 4, with the pin out of sight off the tee.  A pond and wetlands to the left, trees to the right and a nicely framed green comes into view over the ridge.  The 6th hole also has some chops, a sharp dogleg right with OB left.  The par 5 has several large blue spruces in play on the far side of the fairway at the turn, and I know first hand that you don't want to be behind (or in) one.  The smallish green may be reachable in two, but a deep bunker right and a severely sloped putting surface protect par.

 The back nine is 70 yards shorter, with the 411 yard par four 14th the toughest, a tight driving hole as the tee shot must be threaded between OB left and a pond right, with both running up to a large, back to front sloping green.  Another 400 yard par 4 follows on the parallel side of the water hazard, and the 16th is also a good one, 366 yards with a fairway trap at the top of a mound on the left, and a tiny water hazard hidden off to the left towards the green.  A large tree hangs over the front of the sloping putting surface, and thick woods are fairly tight behind.  

The two par 5's, #'s 11 & 18, are the longest holes at VGW (523 and 536 yards, respectively).  The 11th requires a short carry over water off the tee, but an additional hazard is more in play and largely out of sight to the left.  A long drive paired with a slightly  downhill approach to the green may allow a chance to arrive in two, but the green is on the small side and well bunkered.  The 18th may well be the signature hole, a dogleg left with a significant carry over the prairie fringed water hazard that bisects the fairway and continues up the left side for an interesting risk / reward play.  The green is perched on a ledge 20 feet above, and a great view looking back down the 18th fairway is available for those enjoying a beverage on the patio outside the clubhouse.

I usually play Village Greens at least once a year as it's an easy 15 minute drive from my home, but being located in the northeast corner of the intersection of I's-55 and 355 and just a mile east of the 75th Street exit, it's pretty easy to get to from anywhere.  The conditions have been sketchy at times over the years, but 2 rounds in a member / guest Men's club tournament in July proved the course to be in good condition.  Could the layout use a little more space?  Sure, and the tee shots on the 9th and 10th holes might make you a little queasy if you have a tendency to go left, as about 10 paces and a bunch of trees is all that's between the fairway and the parking lot (all the spots in the middle fill up first), and the driving range is tightly wedged between the 1st and 2nd holes (no woods allowed, but you can stop at the Zigfeld Troy driving range down the street to use your full bag).  On the plus side, the few homes that border the course are rarely in play, always a good thing in my golf world.
 

Village Greens gets a ton of traffic and is a popular spot for outings, and the staff does a great job in keeping things flowing smoothly.  As with most any course over 50 years old, there is some capital needed for renovations, and the Village of Woodridge was

considering closing the course or reducing it to 9 holes for more retail, but thankfully the decision was made to keep the course open and provide the money for the enhancements, which started this summer with a rebuilding of the sand traps near the 17th green.  When you add the reasonable green fees ($60 w/cart in prime time) and 9 minute tee time intervals, Village Greens is a solid play for area golfers, especially if they keep the course conditions in check.  This is truly a village course and is part of the fabric of Woodridge and is worth a detour off the highway for a round.
 

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

Total Score - 76.75

Village Greens of Woodridge

1575 West 75th Street, Woodridge

630-985-3610   www.villagegreensgolf.com
18 holes, 4 tees - 6,638 / 5,146 par 72

71.8/128 - 68.2/119 rating/slope (men)

73.4/124 - 69.4/119 rating/slope (women)

M-F $37/50 to 1 pm, $28/40 to 4 pm, $28/38 to 6 pm, $13.50/23.50 after 6
Sa-Su $44/60 to 2 pm, $30/40 to 4 pm, $12/22 after 4 pm
Seniors / Juniors $25/40 M-F, Sa-Su after Noon   Resident Rates Available

Onsite Driving Range - 9 minute tee time interval