1 MINUTE READ - CHAPEL HILL

CHAPEL HILL BY THE NUMBERS

• 2500 N. Chapel Hill Road, Johnsburg    815-344-1894
• YARDAGE - 3 Tees - 6,113 / 5,359 yds Par 70
• SLOPE/RATING - 68.9/120 - 67.5/118 (M) 70.6/122 (W)
• MAXIMUM GREEN FEES - $34 M-F, $42 SA-SU (W/CART) 
• Chapel Hill Website

Price tends to set expectations, so when I made my first visit to Chapel Hill in Johnsburg, the green fees indicated a low bar for the experience on hand.  And though you won't find it on any list of the best Windy City courses, CH was peppered with some fun holes and the conditions were better than I hoped at an amazing $25 w/cart weekday Senior rate. 

The course is a little over 6,000 yards (or 6,100 if you decide to play the jumbo tees on 17) and the layout uses up much of that distance at the start with four imposing holes, three par 4's ranging from 410 to 435 yards and a par 3 stretching to 225 yards from the tips.  It eases up with the longest par 4 remaining being the 365 yard 6th, a big bender right that is bookended by the uphill 5th and slight dogleg right 7th, a 3 hole stretch that was my favorite at Chapel Hill.  The 9th hole is a dogleg right par 5 that has a pond to the left at the bend and a steep side hill with an embedded bunker to the right, arguably the best hole on the course.

The back nine is 200 yards shorter and is dominated by the 703 yard 17th hole, which I was told is the longest in the state (I played the 605 yard tees, plenty of distance for me).  As with most holes at Chapel Hill, 17 tumbles over the hilly terrain between mature hardwoods with a small green at the end.  The other hole on the back that stood out was 14, a dogleg left with a hidden pond at the bend and an elevated green with a slope to the left, not an easy par.

LOST BALL QUOTIENT - Low - Only 2 water hazards and not a lot of ball swallowing native grasses, you should be able to get around with minimum penalty strokes.

HIT A HOUSE FACTOR - Low.  There are homes left of the 11th and 14th fairways, but that's about it.

WALKER FRIENDLY RATING (0-10) - 6.  Rolling hills throughout the main part of the property (holes 11 thru 14 are across the street and relatively flat) could make for a taxing walk.

FINAL VERDICT - Although not a course you'd travel a long way to play, if you live in McHenry County and are looking for a quick, inexpensive round with decent conditions, Chapel Hill is a viable option.

CLICK HERE to view the complete Photo Tour of Chapel Hill...