WELCOME BACK! NEW AND IMPROVED SETTLER'S HILL RETURNS AFTER GREG MARTIN UPDATE
The renovated Kane County Forest Preserve course reopened on August 5th and new greens, tees and bunkers and improved playability, plus a couple of cool new holes, could bring Settler's Hill to the next level in the Windy City golf scene. CLICK HERE for all you need to know about the updated west suburban course...
OPPORTUNITY IN EXPLODING INDOOR GOLF MARKET REALIZED AT X-GOLF NAPERVILLE
Indoor golf simulators are blanketing the Windy City, and California based X-Golf operates 10 facilities locally. CLICK HERE for the story of 2 golf buddies who made the entrepreneurial leap into this rapidly growing entertainment market...
WINDY CITY PUBLIC GOLF 2022 YEAR IN REVIEW
Settler's Hill and Mill Creek reopened and Gleneagles closed was the big local news. I played just over 1,200 holes of golf in 2022 in 7 states outside Illinois, plus 42 different courses in Chicagoland, it was a good year! CLICK HERE for all the details of the last year...
2021 YEAR IN REVIEW - WINDY CITY PUBLIC GOLF ON THE UPSWING IN SLOW RETURN TO NORMALCY
2021 was another strange year of golfing in a pandemic, but there were several encouraging signs that things were slowly returning back to normal as restrictions were lifted and many local golfers boasted full tee sheets. CLICK HERE to read my personal account of the 2021 season...
A "CLUB IN THE COUNTRY" - RUSTIC CHARM AND MEMORABLE LAYOUT WELCOMES GOLFERS TO THE BOURNE
About 40 miles west of Joliet lies The Bourne, a golf course that combines rugged scenery with a unique layout that needs to be experienced to believe. CLICK HERE for a feature story about the one of a kind The Bourne...
FOLLOWED HIS DREAM...GEORGE KAPPOS AND CINDER RIDGE CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF GREAT WINDY CITY PUBLIC GOLF
George Kappos had a dream to build a golf course, and what he accomplished with Cinder Ridge 25 years later is still amazing. Click Here to read the story of how George Kappos followed his dream...
I SURVIVED A GOLF BOARD...AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY IT AGAIN!
Golf Boards have been around since 2014, and I finally overcame my apprehension and gave one a try...and it was a blast! Click Here to read my experience to the fun alternative to golf carts...
2020 WINDY CITY GOLF YEAR IN REVIEW...AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2021
2020 was a crazy and incredible year for Windy City Golf, with the game having a surprising uptick as people flocked to the course as a safe haven from Covid. Can the growth of the game continue in an uncertain 2021 season? Click Here for a personal review of my 2020 experience and what to look for in the new year...
2 YEARS AFTER SALE, IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL AT BALMORAL WOODS
Long Time owners the Mortell family sold Balmoral Woods over 2 years ago, but little has changed and the course remains a top play in the Windy City. Click Here for the full update on this south suburban club...
COURSE REVIEW - RENOVATION DONE RIGHT - MT. PROSPECT CHANNELS CLASSIC ERA OF GOLF DESIGN
Mt. Prospect underwent a $9M update in 2015 to revitalize the 1920's design, Was it money well spent? Click Here for the full story on MPCG...
COURSE REVIEW - HIDDEN GEM STATUS FITS PRAIRIE ISLE
Prairie Isle is closer to Rockford than the Chicago Loop, but it's a course that packs a load of fun in its compact 135 acre footprint. Is it worth the drive to the Northwest suburbs? Click Here for a comprehensive review of this under the radar layout...
THE GLEN CLUB SUCCESSFULLY STRADDLES THE PRIVATE CLUB / PUBLIC ACCESS LINE
The Glenview golf club competes with traditional North Shore country clubs, while providing public fee golfers access to the Tom Fazio designed course. Click Here to read how TGC has thrived in both domains...
COURSE REVIEW - WIND SWEPT LINKS DEFINES PRAIRIE BLUFF
Prairie Bluff may not be in the conversation of top Windy City prairie links courses, but should it be? Click Here for my thoughts on this solid southwest suburban track...
COURSE REVIEW - AMENITY RICH BOLINGBROOK PROVIDES PRIVATE CLUB EXPERIENCE
This prairie links layout was once open farmland, but is the Hills-Forrest design worth the drive and price? Click Here for the skinny on this upscale southwest suburban facility...
EAGLEWOOD SHORT ON DISTANCE, LONG ON CHARACTER
Long Time owners the Mortell family sold Balmoral Woods over 2 years ago, but little has changed and the course remains a top play in the Windy City. Click Here for the full update on this south suburban club...
2019 PUBLIC GOLF YEAR IN REVIEW
From historic private clubs opening their doors to the public for the 1st time to a rain soaked season, public golf in the Windy City remains among the best in the country. Click Here for my exploration of the public golf scene in 2019...
Mt. Prospect underwent a $9M update in 2015 to revitalize the 1920's design, Was it money well spent? Click Here for the full story on MPCG...
COURSE REVIEW - HIDDEN GEM STATUS FITS PRAIRIE ISLE
Prairie Isle is closer to Rockford than the Chicago Loop, but it's a course that packs a load of fun in its compact 135 acre footprint. Is it worth the drive to the Northwest suburbs? Click Here for a comprehensive review of this under the radar layout...
THE GLEN CLUB SUCCESSFULLY STRADDLES THE PRIVATE CLUB / PUBLIC ACCESS LINE
The Glenview golf club competes with traditional North Shore country clubs, while providing public fee golfers access to the Tom Fazio designed course. Click Here to read how TGC has thrived in both domains...
COURSE REVIEW - WIND SWEPT LINKS DEFINES PRAIRIE BLUFF
Prairie Bluff may not be in the conversation of top Windy City prairie links courses, but should it be? Click Here for my thoughts on this solid southwest suburban track...
COURSE REVIEW - AMENITY RICH BOLINGBROOK PROVIDES PRIVATE CLUB EXPERIENCE
This prairie links layout was once open farmland, but is the Hills-Forrest design worth the drive and price? Click Here for the skinny on this upscale southwest suburban facility...
EAGLEWOOD SHORT ON DISTANCE, LONG ON CHARACTER
The resort course in Itasca barely crosses 6,000 yards, but the par 72 layout called "The Little Green Menace" is no pushover. Click Here to find out why a trip to Eaglewood is worthwhile...
SMT EVENTS ADDS THE SPICE TO LOCAL GOLF OUTINGS
SMT Events has helped organizations raise over $6 million since 2009 by increasing the fun factor at local golf outings. Click Here to read all about SMT and its founder, PGA pro Mike Tait...
MEN'S CLUB AT VILLAGE GREENS OF WOODRIDGE BUILT ON "BAND OF BROTHERS" BOND
The Men's Club at VGW has been in continuous operation since 1961, making it one of the oldest at a public course in the Windy City. Click Here to find the story behind its successful run...
The course at the Lincolnshire Marriott has scaled back green fees in 2017, making the George Fazio design all the more enticing for area public golfers. Click Here to read about the changes at the Landing...
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THE 2018 CHICAGOLAND GOLF SHOWS
I spent a day each at the 3 Chicagoland Golf Shows in February, a great way to get the buzz on all things golf for the upcoming season. Click Here for my spin on the good, the better and the brst of the shows...
IS THIS REALLY ILLINOIS? EAGLE RIDGE SOARS IN SCENIC GALENA - The vast Eagle Ridge resort in Galena is only 3 hours from Chicago but a world away. Click Here to see why this 63 hole golf mecca is well worth the drive to the northwest corner of Illinois...
A thousand holes was the goal and a thousand it was, including 772 in the vibrant landscape of Windy City Public Golf. Click Here to read all about my journeys through Chicagoland golf and points beyond...
SIMPLE STEPS TO MINIMIZE EARLY SEASON INJURIES - Mr Z talked to a trio of fitness experts to get some tips on how to avoid those early season aches and pains from a winter of inactivity. Click Here to read the simple and logical advice to stay on the course and keep your swing in sync...
COG HILL OFFERS TWILIGHT RATE ON #4COURSE IN 2014
A new twilight rate will be
available for golfers on the #4 course at Cog Hill, the iconic Dubsdread.
Click Here to read the details
of the discount...
UNDERAPPRECIATED TEE TIME INTERVAL KEY FACTOR IN PACE OF PLAY
Mr Z brushed off his stats book and looked at the relationship between green fees and tee time intervals at metro Chicago courses, and reviewed several that have increased the spacing in an effort to enhance the customer experience. Click Here to read an in depth analysis of tee times in the Windy City...
LET'S PLAY TWO! 36 HOLES OF GREAT WINDY CITY GOLF ON A BUDGET
To borrow a famous phrase from a Chicago sports legend, playing 2 rounds of golf on a beautiful summer weekday in the Windy City is a great alternative to a day at work. Click Here to view some of the best combo's, all for under $90 and within a short drive (less than 30 minutes) of one another, with plenty of time for lunch in between...
* VILLAGE OF HOMER GLEN PURCHASES WOODBINE
* COG HILL OFFERS TWILIGHT RATE ON #4 COURSE IN 2014
* MISTWOOD RECEIVES GOLF MAGAZINE AWARD
* MR Z's 2013 GOLF YEAR IN REVIEW (JAN 2014)
* FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE 2014 GOLF SHOWS (MAR 2014)
* WINDY CITY GOLFERS BRAVE COLD, SNOW TO ATTEND TINLEY PARK GOLF EXPO (FEB 2014)
* HAPPY HOUR AT VILLAGE LINKS ALL ABOUT THE GOLF (JUNE 2013)
* MR Z's 2013 COURSES TO PLAY LIST (May 2013)
* Crowds Flock to Tinley and Rosemont Golf Shows (March 2013)
* Golf Shows Heat Up Long Winter (February 2013)
* Thoughts on the 2012 Golf Season (January 2013)
* R.I.P. Evergreen Golf Club (October 2012)
* Mr Z Turns 55, Senior Discounts Await!! (August 2012)
* 10 Most impressive College Golf Courses (July 2012)
* Mr Z's Course Play List for 2012 (May 2012)
* Pine Meadow Reduces Rates for 2012 (April 2012)
* Settler's Hill Opening Delayed Until Early May (April 2012)
* Thoughts on the 2012 Chicago Golf Show (February 2012)
* The Essence of Golf - A Poem (February 2012)
* Big Changes at Silver Lakes in 2012 (April 2012)
No comments:
Post a Comment