1 MINUTE READ - COG HILL #2

COG HILL #2  BY THE NUMBERS

• 12294 Archer Avenue, Lemont   630-257-5872
• YARDAGE - 5 Tees - 6,863 / 5,212 yds Par 72
• SLOPE/RATING - 72.7/127 - 65.1/109 (M) 73/125 - 69.9/118 (W)
• MAXIMUM GREEN FEES - $86 M-TH, $93 F-SU (W/CART) 
• Cog Hill #2 Website

The #2 course at Cog Hill, the 72 hole mega complex in southwest suburban Lemont, is called "Ravines" for good reason.  The start (two straight forward par 4's and a long par 5) and finish (four par 4's, including 3 doglegs) are good holes on the flatter part of the layout and would fit quite nicely on course 1 or 3, but the 11 in between are a roller coaster golf odyssey.  The first ravine appears on the 4th hole, a beauty of an uphill par 3 over the chasm (there is actually a 4L and 4R, but the right is the likelier option in play).

The up/down elevation change continues, highlighted by the 8th hole, 420 yards from the tips with the last half straight up to a severely sloping green.  The 9th and 10th holes were added a number of years ago at the far end of the property.  The 9th is a par 5 with the tee shot funneled through woods and over a ravine and then a turn right with a pond guarding the huge two tiered green the last 150 yards.  The 10th is a nasty 440 yard par 4, another tight driving hole with the ravine fronting the wide green and thick woods right, in my opinion one of the hardest pars at any course at Cog Hill, including Dubsdread.

The most memorable hole at CH2 may well be #13, only 330 yds from the tips but quite a sight as the fairway unfurls up the steep hill to a green fronted by a side hill trap.  The last ravine is crossed on the 14th, the 3rd (and last) par 3, a short iron at a downhill 150 yards to a tricky green.

LOST BALL QUOTIENT - Medium - The ravines will hungrily swallow mishits and there are several areas of woods and prairie in play, but the only water hazard of significance is the formidable pond guarding the 9th green.

HIT A HOUSE FACTOR - As with all the courses at Cog Hill, there are no homes in play, this is a pure golf experience in the truest sense.

WALKER FRIENDLY RATING (0-10) - 2.  The start and finish is a nice walk in the park, but some of the steepest terrain in the Windy City occupies the middle of the course.  Taking a cart may be the prudent choice for less than fit golfers.

FINAL VERDICT - Ravines is often mentioned as one of the top plays in Chicagoland and a more affordable and less difficult alternative to CH4.  It may not quite reach my top 20 public course list, but it's not far off, a fun and unique course that I always enjoy playing.

CLICK HERE to view the complete Photo Tour of Cog Hill #2...