1 MINUTE READ - CARY CC

 

CARY BY THE NUMBERS

• 2400 Grove Lane, Cary    847-639-3161
• YARDAGE - 3 TEES - 6,247 / 5,495 yds Par 72
• SLOPE/RATING - 69.9./124 - 66.8/116 (M) 75.5/130 - 71.8/122 (W)
• MAXIMUM GREEN FEES - $47 M-F, $58 SA-SU (W/CART) 
• www.carycountryclub.com

1 MINUTE READ

Significant elevation change is a rare commodity at Windy City golf courses, but it's featured in abundance at the Cary Country Club.  Though the heavily wooded par 72 layout is short by today's standards at 6,200 yards, the steep climbs on holes 5, 7 and especially 11 will

ratchet up the degree of difficulty.  The 11th is listed at only 316 yards, but the last 100 is straight uphill for a blind shot to the plateau green.  The par five 7th hole is a steady rise through the mature hardwoods, and the 429 yard 5th is the hardest hole to par with thick woods the entire left side to the sloping green.

But the star at CCC are the big views from the various elevated tees. The 2nd and 3rd holes are short (325 and 293 holes) par 4's that will tempt big hitters to test their length off the tee to reach the green.  The 6th,12th and 14th holes are all downhill par 3's, with the 14th a picture perfect 179 yds with large hardwoods framing the tee shot and a creek meandering across the front of the green.  The 9th and 13th holes are par 5's with some of the best vistas east of Galena.

The course flattens out but adds some distance the last 3 holes, all par 4's averaging 400 yards, with the stately white clubhouse in the background.  The only water hazard besides the creek is the pond that fronts the 16th tee, and sand traps are not prominently featured, which explains the relatively benign 69.9 slope / 124 rating.  But a course doesn't have to be brutally hard to be fun, and Cary falls in the happy place where it's challenging for the average golfer with a chance to write a few pars (and maybe a birdie) on the scorecard. 

LOST BALL QUOTIENT - Low. Patches of prairie can occasionally snag an errant shot, and big trouble lurks behind the 1st, 7th and 8th greens and along the woodsy edges of the layout, but you should be able to finish the round with close to the same amount of balls you started.

HIT A HOUSE FACTOR - Very Low. I don't recall any homes remotely in play, unless you hit a shot across the street on the par three 4th and par four 16th, possible but highly unlikely.

WALKER FRIENDLY RATING (0-10) - 4.  Although the green to tee distance is manageable on this relatively compact layout, Cary is one of the hillier courses in the area with some steep climbs so unless you're in good shape, a cart is recommended. 

FINAL VERDICT - Cary CC may be too tame for low handicappers, but for the typical golfer it will provide plenty of challenge as the elevation changes make picking the right club a premium. Conditions are certainly not pristine but acceptable at an under $60 price point for prime time weekend play.  The exquisite views alone make CCC worth a visit.

CLICK HERE to view the complete Photo Tour of Cary Country Club...