Wedgewood Golf Course - Joliet

Traveling south down Route 59 towards Caton Farm Road in the far southwest suburbs, you'll notice a golf course to the right that fills the northwest quadrant of the intersection.  It doesn't look like much from the road, open with a few trees scattered about.  Those were my thoughts on the way to my first round at Wedgewood, one of the 3 facilities operated by the Joliet Park District.  But looks can be deceiving, as Wedgewood revealed itself as a scenic challenge, a nice balance of open links and thick woods that will please most everyone.

Wedgewood stretches out to just over 6,900 yards from the blue tees, which will satisfy lengthier golfers, and I played the 6.500 yard white tees and was quite comfortable at that distance.  (The Gold tees are 5,800 yards, and a "hybrid" tee combining the White and Gold are 6,150.)  The tips are at a 72.5/128 rating/slope, and the Whites are slightly less at 71/125, so the water in play on 9 holes, contoured greens and 40+ mostly large bunkers pose enough challenge to keep you interested.  The 1st hole is a straight forward par 4 with a pond to the right (not really in play), and one trap guarding the left to right sloping green, but it's game on at #2.  The longest hole

at Wedgewood (563 yards) starts innocently enough, straight ahead for 250 yards with the edge of the pond on the 17th hole to the left, but the fairway bends to the right, funneling through old growth hardwoods with a twist to the left the last 100 yards.  The green is severely sloped from back to front, with the Dupage River behind.

The 3rd hole continues the wooded odyssey, at 402 yards the tightest drive on the course and a well deserving #1 handicap.  Anything left is in the forest or the river, and the shot to the green is slightly uphill with a big trap protecting each side. Wedgewood opens up after the 354

yard 5th hole (the shortest par four), with water replacing the trees as the dominant feature.  The 7th hole is a lengthy 436 yards, with a pond the last 150 yards to the left and a well-protected elevated green, and the same water is crossed on the par three 8th hole, with the slope fronting the green depositing any short approaches into the hazard.  The front finishes with a dogleg right with another pond filling the turn; left is open except for the huge fairway bunker about 250 yards out.

The back side is about 150 yards longer, with the five par 4's all between 390 and 440 yards, and the par three 13th is a hefty 230

yards, and if into the wind you might be reaching for your driver to reach the oversized green.  The 14th hole is 400 yards with a pond on the right extending across the fairway near the green, with a thick willow tree at the left edge of the hazard.  The next hole mimics #2, open off the tee with the woods bordering the last 200 yards and downhill to the pin with a deceptive approach that looks shorter than it is.  (And kudos to the greenskeeper with the sense of humor who added a "Just Hit It" plate on the sprinkler head 319 yards from the hole.)  The 424 yard 16th has an uphill drive through a narrow path between the trees, with a solitary large oak tight left to the green blocking approaches from that direction.

I've heard chatter that the conditions at Wedgewood can be a little rough around the edges when the weather heats up, but my visit in early August found the course in fine shape in an admittedly mild summer.  The tiny pro shop is a reminder that this is a municipal course, but the oversized bar/restaurant and the outdoor patio is a nice touch, as is the smell of grilled burgers and dogs at the turn.  There is an expansive

driving range located between the 10th and 11th holes if you need to loosen up, nicely bordered by mounds to keep practice balls where they belong.  There was some confusion on my mid-morning Sunday tee time, but the friendly staff handled the problem appropriately and we were able to start on time.  The top rate at Wedgewood is $54 on the weekend, but we choose to hoof it and save $16, as this is a very walker friendly track.  The 9 minute tee time interval was a surprise, an extra bonus at a heavy traffic public course, and our foursome was able to get through the round in just over 4-1/2 hours, not too bad on a crowded weekend morning.  Will I be returning to Wedgewood?  You bet!, and I suggest giving this fun, affordable course a whirl, too.

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

Total Score - 77.25

Wedgewood Golf Course

5001 Caton Farm Road, Joliet

815-741-7270   www.wedgewoodgc.com
18 holes, 4 tees - 6,923 / 5,792 par 72
72.5/128 - 67.7/117 rating/slope (men)

75.3/131 - 73.1/126 rating/slope (women)

M-F $29 w/c before 8 am, $32/48 to 3 pm, $22/38 after 3; M Special $30 w/c
Sa-Su $38/54 to 3 pm, $27/43 after 3
Seniors/Juniors $27/43 M-F, $27 w/c Seniors M-W 11am-3 pm
Resident Rates AvailableOnsite Driving Range - 9 minute tee time interval