COURSES PLAYED 2016

DECEMBER

TRILOGY AT VISTANCIA (Peoria, AZ) Native grasses over rolling desert in Northwest metro Phoenix... PICTURES

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY (Phoenix, AZ) Revitalized muni home to D1 Lopes golf teams... PICTURES

GOLF CLUB OF ESTRELLA (Goodyear, AZ) Troon managed delight in West Valley... PICTURES

RED MOUNTAIN RANCH (Mesa, AZ) Private club features difficult Pete Dye track... PICTURES

NOVEMBER

INWOOD (Joliet) - Fun, low frills muni at bargain fall rate ($15 walk)...
SCHAUMBURG - Well appointed 27 holes scheduled for major renovation starting in 2017... PICTURES

OCTOBER
PRAIRIE LANDING (West Chicago) - RTJ Jr Prairie links a top play at reduced fall rates... PICTURES
SPRINGBROOK (Naperville) - Solid Roger Packard parkland layout... PICTURES
SEVEN BRIDGES (Woodridge) - DuPage River and several ponds creates havoc at upscale 18... PICTURES
TAMARACK (Naperville) - Water on every hole presents stiff challenge... PICTURES
HILLDALE (Hoffman Estates) - Rare RTJ Windy City layout... PICTURES

SEPTEMBER
ORCHARD VALLEY (Aurora) - Highly regarded Ken Kavanaugh design has matured well... PICTURES
ST. ANDREWS #2 (West Chicago) - High volume west suburban standard has top practice facility... PICTURES
REDTAIL (Village of Lakewood) - Protected wetlands over rolling landscape is a top value... PICTURES
PINECREST (Huntley) - Tee and Green conditions shine at parkland layout... PICTURES

AUGUST
BLOOMINGDALE - Renovated 8th and 11th holes stand out at village run facility...
CARILLON (Plainfield) - 27 hole links style in 55+ community is more than just for seniors...
LOST MARSH (Hammond) - Intimidating start along water transitions to wooded wetlands at scenic IN course...PICTURES
HUGHES CREEK (Elburn) - Acres of yellow wildflowers over hilly Kane County terrain... PICTURES
HERITAGE BLUFFS (Channahon) - Acclaimed Dick Nugent design is a personal favorite... PICTURES
GLENEAGLES WHITE (Lemont) - Woodlands course is the harder of the 2 southwest suburban tracks... PICTURES 
ARROWHEAD (Wheaton) - 3 equally good nines at busy Park District facility... PICTURES
BLACKSTONE (Marengo) - Semi-private club successfully mixes woods and wetlands... PICTURES
PALOS HILLS - 40 well maintained bunkers at challenging 9 hole track... PICTURES

JULY
GREEN GARDEN GOLD (Frankfort) - Improved conditions at good far south layout... PICTURES
VILLAGE GREENS OF WOODRIDGE - Popular west suburban muni is a solid play...
VILLA OLIVIA (Bartlett) - Improvements are evident at golf course / ski hill combo... PICTURES
OLD OAK (Homer Glen) - Thick woods define scenic southwest suburban facility... REVIEW 
GLENEAGLES RED (Lemont) - Fun, sporty par 70 in golf rich Lemont... PICTURES
SQUARE LINKS (Frankfort) - Well conditioned executive 10 holes has expansive practice area... PICTURES
MEADOWLARK (Hinsdale) - Lengthy Cook County 9 hole course has zero sand traps but thousands of mature hardwoods...
MILL CREEK (Geneva) - Acres of wetlands add visual interest to quirky layout... REVIEW

JUNE
WILLOW CREST (Oak Brook) - Compact par 70 layout at Hilton resort features six par three's... REVIEW
BARTLETT HILLS (Bartlett) - Classic parkland layout off Route 59 qualifies as a hidden gem... PICTURES
RUFFLED FEATHERS (Lemont) - Upscale sub-division track is only Pete Dye course in Chicagoland...REVIEW

MAY
SETTLER'S HILL (Batavia) - Hilly prairie/parkland golf with big views of the Kane County countryside... PICTURES
EAGLE RIDGE (Galena) - 63 holes of exceptional, scenic golf in the hilly northwest corner of Illinois...
BOUGHTON RIDGE (Bolingbrook) - Par 32 layout is more than the average executive course... PICTURES
CHEVY CHASE (Wheeling) - Country club feel at Lohmann renovated layout... PICTURES
BITTERSWEET (Gurnee) - Abundant woods and wetlands has been softened, but still a stiff challenge... PICTURES

APRIL
HIGHLANDS OF ELGIN - Highly regarded prairie links delivers exceptional layout and value. REVIEW
DEERFIELD GC - Easily accessible north suburban muni boasts top notch learning center and polished layout. PICTURES

FEBRUARY
CINNAMON HILL (Montego Bay, Jamaica) - Seaside front nine rises 350 on back side for perfect complement to the White Witch at Rose Hall Estate. PICTURES
WHITE WITCH (Montego Bay, Jamaica) - Spectacular views of the Caribbean highlight first class layout in the foothills east of Montego Bay. PICTURES